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Alberti F, Kaleem S, Weaver JA. Recent developments of tools for genome and metabolome studies in basidiomycete fungi and their application to natural product research. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio056010. [PMID: 33268478 PMCID: PMC7725599 DOI: 10.1242/bio.056010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Basidiomycota are a large and diverse phylum of fungi. They can make bioactive metabolites that are used or have inspired the synthesis of antibiotics and agrochemicals. Terpenoids are the most abundant class of natural products encountered in this taxon. Other natural product classes have been described, including polyketides, peptides, and indole alkaloids. The discovery and study of natural products made by basidiomycete fungi has so far been hampered by several factors, which include their slow growth and complex genome architecture. Recent developments of tools for genome and metabolome studies are allowing researchers to more easily tackle the secondary metabolome of basidiomycete fungi. Inexpensive long-read whole-genome sequencing enables the assembly of high-quality genomes, improving the scaffold upon which natural product gene clusters can be predicted. CRISPR/Cas9-based engineering of basidiomycete fungi has been described and will have an important role in linking natural products to their genetic determinants. Platforms for the heterologous expression of basidiomycete genes and gene clusters have been developed, enabling natural product biosynthesis studies. Molecular network analyses and publicly available natural product databases facilitate data dereplication and natural product characterisation. These technological advances combined are prompting a revived interest in natural product discovery from basidiomycete fungi.This article has an associated Future Leader to Watch interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Alberti
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Saraa Kaleem
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Jack A Weaver
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Yin C, Fan X, Ma K, Chen Z, Shi D, Yao F, Gao H, Ma A. Identification and characterization of a novel light-induced promoter for recombinant protein production in Pleurotus ostreatus. J Microbiol 2019; 58:39-45. [PMID: 31686390 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-020-9230-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A lectin gene (plectin) with a high level of expression was previously identified by comparative transcriptome analysis of Pleurotus ostreatus. In this study, we cloned a 733-bp DNA fragment from the start codon of the plectin gene. Sequence analysis showed that the plectin promoter (Plp) region contained several eukaryotic transcription factor binding motifs, such as the TATA-box, four possible CAAT-box, light respon-siveness motifs and MeJA-responsiveness motifs. To deter-mine whether the Plp promoter was a light-regulated promoter, we constructed an expression vector with the fused egfp-hph fragment under the control of the Plp promoter and transformed P. ostreatus mycelia via Agrobacterium tunte-faciens. PCR and Southern blot analyses confirmed the Plp-egfp-hph fragment was integrated into the chromosomal DNA of transformants. qRT-PCR, egfp visualization, and intracellular egfp determination experiments showed the Plp promoter could be a light-induced promoter that may be suitable for P. ostreatus genetic engineering. This study lays the foundation for gene homologous expression in P. ostreatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaomin Yin
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China. .,National Research and Development Center for Edible Fungi Processing (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China.
| | - Xiuzhi Fan
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Kun Ma
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Zheya Chen
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Defang Shi
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Fen Yao
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Hong Gao
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing and Nuclear-Agricultural Technology, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China.,National Research and Development Center for Edible Fungi Processing (Wuhan), Wuhan, 430064, P. R. China
| | - Aimin Ma
- College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, P. R. China.
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Jan Vonk P, Escobar N, Wösten HAB, Lugones LG, Ohm RA. High-throughput targeted gene deletion in the model mushroom Schizophyllum commune using pre-assembled Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7632. [PMID: 31113995 PMCID: PMC6529522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44133-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient gene deletion methods are essential for the high-throughput study of gene function. Compared to most ascomycete model systems, gene deletion is more laborious in mushroom-forming basidiomycetes due to the relatively low incidence of homologous recombination (HR) and relatively high incidence of non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Here, we describe the use of pre-assembled Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) to efficiently delete the homeodomain transcription factor gene hom2 in the mushroom-forming basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune by replacing it with a selectable marker. All components (Cas9 protein, sgRNA, and repair template with selectable marker) were supplied to wild type protoplasts by PEG-mediated transformation, abolishing the need to optimize the expression of cas9 and sgRNAs. A Δku80 background further increased the efficiency of gene deletion. A repair template with homology arms of 250 bp was sufficient to efficiently induce homologous recombination. This is the first report of the use of pre-assembled Cas9 RNPs in a mushroom-forming basidiomycete and this approach may also improve the genetic accessibility of non-model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Jan Vonk
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Natalia Escobar
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Han A B Wösten
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Luis G Lugones
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Robin A Ohm
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Herzog R, Solovyeva I, Bölker M, Lugones LG, Hennicke F. Exploring molecular tools for transformation and gene expression in the cultivated edible mushroom Agrocybe aegerita. Mol Genet Genomics 2019; 294:663-677. [PMID: 30778675 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-018-01528-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Agrocybe aegerita is a cultivated edible mushroom in numerous countries, which also serves as a model basidiomycete to study fruiting body formation. Aiming to create an easily expandable customised molecular toolset for transformation and constitutive gene of interest expression, we first created a homologous dominant marker for transformant selection. Progeny monokaryons of the genome-sequenced dikaryon A. aegerita AAE-3 used here were identified as sensitive to the systemic fungicide carboxin. We cloned the wild-type gene encoding the iron-sulphur protein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase AaeSdi1 including its up- and downstream regions, and introduced a single-point mutation (His237 to Leu) to make it confer carboxin resistance. PEG-mediated transformation of protoplasts derived from either oidia or vegetative monokaryotic mycelium with the resulting carboxin resistance marker (CbxR) plasmid pSDI1E3 yielded carboxin-resistant transformants in both cases. Plasmid DNA linearised within the selection marker resulted in transformants with ectopic multiple insertions of plasmid DNA in a head-to-tail repeat-like fashion. When circular plasmid was used, ectopic single integration into the fungal genome was favoured, but also gene conversion at the homologous locus was seen in 1 out of 11 analysed transformants. Employing CbxR as selection marker, two versions of a reporter gene construct were assembled via Golden Gate cloning which allows easy recombination of its modules. These consisted of an eGFP expression cassette controlled by the native promoter PAaeGPDII and the heterologous terminator Tnos, once with and once without an intron in front of the eGFP start codon. After protoplast transformation with either construct as circular plasmid DNA, GFP fluorescence was detected with either transformants, indicating that expression of eGFP is intron-independent in A. aegerita. This paves the way for functional genetics approaches to A. aegerita, e.g., via constitutive expression of fruiting-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Herzog
- Junior Research Group Genetics and Genomics of Fungi, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Cluster of Integrative Fungal Research, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Environmental Biotechnology, TU Dresden, Markt 23, 02763, Zittau, Germany
| | - Irina Solovyeva
- Junior Research Group Genetics and Genomics of Fungi, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Cluster of Integrative Fungal Research, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Bölker
- LOEWE Cluster of Integrative Fungal Research, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Luis G Lugones
- Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Florian Hennicke
- Junior Research Group Genetics and Genomics of Fungi, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,LOEWE Cluster of Integrative Fungal Research, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Sugano SS, Suzuki H, Shimokita E, Chiba H, Noji S, Osakabe Y, Osakabe K. Genome editing in the mushroom-forming basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea, optimized by a high-throughput transformation system. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1260. [PMID: 28455526 PMCID: PMC5430836 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00883-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mushroom-forming basidiomycetes produce a wide range of metabolites and have great value not only as food but also as an important global natural resource. Here, we demonstrate CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in the model species Coprinopsis cinerea. Using a high-throughput reporter assay with cryopreserved protoplasts, we identified a novel promoter, CcDED1pro, with seven times stronger activity in this assay than the conventional promoter GPD2. To develop highly efficient genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in C. cinerea, we used the CcDED1pro to express Cas9 and a U6-snRNA promoter from C. cinerea to express gRNA. Finally, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated GFP mutagenesis was performed in a stable GFP expression line. Individual genome-edited lines were isolated, and loss of GFP function was detected in hyphae and fruiting body primordia. This novel method of high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing using cryopreserved protoplasts should be a powerful tool in the study of edible mushrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo S Sugano
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hiroko Suzuki
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Eisuke Shimokita
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.,Tokushima Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Support Center, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Chiba
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.,Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Sumihare Noji
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yuriko Osakabe
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.,Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Keishi Osakabe
- Center for Collaboration among Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan. .,Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan.
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de Mattos-Shipley K, Ford K, Alberti F, Banks A, Bailey A, Foster G. The good, the bad and the tasty: The many roles of mushrooms. Stud Mycol 2016; 85:125-157. [PMID: 28082758 PMCID: PMC5220184 DOI: 10.1016/j.simyco.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi are often inconspicuous in nature and this means it is all too easy to overlook their importance. Often referred to as the "Forgotten Kingdom", fungi are key components of life on this planet. The phylum Basidiomycota, considered to contain the most complex and evolutionarily advanced members of this Kingdom, includes some of the most iconic fungal species such as the gilled mushrooms, puffballs and bracket fungi. Basidiomycetes inhabit a wide range of ecological niches, carrying out vital ecosystem roles, particularly in carbon cycling and as symbiotic partners with a range of other organisms. Specifically in the context of human use, the basidiomycetes are a highly valuable food source and are increasingly medicinally important. In this review, seven main categories, or 'roles', for basidiomycetes have been suggested by the authors: as model species, edible species, toxic species, medicinal basidiomycetes, symbionts, decomposers and pathogens, and two species have been chosen as representatives of each category. Although this is in no way an exhaustive discussion of the importance of basidiomycetes, this review aims to give a broad overview of the importance of these organisms, exploring the various ways they can be exploited to the benefit of human society.
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Affiliation(s)
- K.M.J. de Mattos-Shipley
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - K.L. Ford
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - F. Alberti
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Life Sciences and Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - A.M. Banks
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
- School of Biology, Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - A.M. Bailey
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - G.D. Foster
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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Ford KL, Baumgartner K, Henricot B, Bailey AM, Foster GD. A native promoter and inclusion of an intron is necessary for efficient expression of GFP or mRFP in Armillaria mellea. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29226. [PMID: 27384974 PMCID: PMC4935854 DOI: 10.1038/srep29226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Armillaria mellea is a significant pathogen that causes Armillaria root disease on numerous hosts in forests, gardens and agricultural environments worldwide. Using a yeast-adapted pCAMBIA0380 Agrobacterium vector, we have constructed a series of vectors for transformation of A. mellea, assembled using yeast-based recombination methods. These have been designed to allow easy exchange of promoters and inclusion of introns. The vectors were first tested by transformation into basidiomycete Clitopilus passeckerianus to ascertain vector functionality then used to transform A. mellea. We show that heterologous promoters from the basidiomycetes Agaricus bisporus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium that were used successfully to control the hygromycin resistance cassette were not able to support expression of mRFP or GFP in A. mellea. The endogenous A. mellea gpd promoter delivered efficient expression, and we show that inclusion of an intron was also required for transgene expression. GFP and mRFP expression was stable in mycelia and fluorescence was visible in transgenic fruiting bodies and GFP was detectable in planta. Use of these vectors has been successful in giving expression of the fluorescent proteins GFP and mRFP in A. mellea, providing an additional molecular tool for this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Ford
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kendra Baumgartner
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 363 Hutchison Hall, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Béatrice Henricot
- The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB, United Kingdom
| | - Andy M. Bailey
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
| | - Gary D. Foster
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom
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A reliable in vitro fruiting system for Armillaria mellea for evaluation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation vectors. Fungal Biol 2015; 119:859-869. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Development of a transformation system for the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa: Demonstrating heterologous gene expression and RNAi-mediated gene silencing. MYCOSCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.myc.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Erjavec J, Kos J, Ravnikar M, Dreo T, Sabotič J. Proteins of higher fungi – from forest to application. Trends Biotechnol 2012; 30:259-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Protease inhibitors clitocypin and macrocypin are differentially expressed within basidiomycete fruiting bodies. Biochimie 2011; 93:1685-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2011.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ianiri G, Wright SAI, Castoria R, Idnurm A. Development of resources for the analysis of gene function in Pucciniomycotina red yeasts. Fungal Genet Biol 2011; 48:685-95. [PMID: 21402165 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2011.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2010] [Revised: 02/05/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Pucciniomycotina is an important subphylum of basidiomycete fungi but with limited tools to analyze gene functions. Transformation protocols were established for a Sporobolomyces species (strain IAM 13481), the first Pucciniomycotina species with a completed draft genome sequence, to enable assessment of gene function through phenotypic characterization of mutant strains. Transformation markers were the URA3 and URA5 genes that enable selection and counter-selection based on uracil auxotrophy and resistance to 5-fluoroorotic acid. The wild type copies of these genes were cloned into plasmids that were used for transformation of Sporobolomyces sp. by both biolistic and Agrobacterium-mediated approaches. These resources have been deposited to be available from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center. To show that these techniques could be used to elucidate gene functions, the LEU1 gene was targeted for specific homologous replacement, and also demonstrating that this gene is required for the biosynthesis of leucine in basidiomycete fungi. T-DNA insertional mutants were isolated and further characterized, revealing insertions in genes that encode the homologs of Chs7, Erg3, Kre6, Kex1, Pik1, Sad1, Ssu1 and Tlg1. Phenotypic analysis of these mutants reveals both conserved and divergent functions compared with other fungi. Some of these strains exhibit reduced resistance to detergents, the antifungal agent fluconazole or sodium sulfite, or lower recovery from heat stress. While there are current experimental limitations for Sporobolomyces sp. such as the lack of Mendelian genetics for conventional mating, these findings demonstrate the facile nature of at least one Pucciniomycotina species for genetic manipulation and the potential to develop these organisms into new models for understanding gene function and evolution in the fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Ianiri
- Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
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Knight CJ, Bailey AM, Foster GD. Investigating Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Verticillium albo-atrum on plant surfaces. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13684. [PMID: 21060684 PMCID: PMC2965119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Agrobacterium tumefaciens has long been known to transform plant tissue in nature as part of its infection process. This natural mechanism has been utilised over the last few decades in laboratories world wide to genetically manipulate many species of plants. More recently this technology has been successfully applied to non-plant organisms in the laboratory, including fungi, where the plant wound hormone acetosyringone, an inducer of transformation, is supplied exogenously. In the natural environment it is possible that Agrobacterium and fungi may encounter each other at plant wound sites, where acetosyringone would be present, raising the possibility of natural gene transfer from bacterium to fungus. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigate this hypothesis through the development of experiments designed to replicate such a situation at a plant wound site. A. tumefaciens harbouring the plasmid pCAMDsRed was co-cultivated with the common plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium albo-atrum on a range of wounded plant tissues. Fungal transformants were obtained from co-cultivation on a range of plant tissue types, demonstrating that plant tissue provides sufficient vir gene inducers to allow A. tumefaciens to transform fungi in planta. Conclusions/Significance This work raises interesting questions about whether A. tumefaciens may be able to transform organisms other than plants in nature, or indeed should be considered during GM risk assessments, with further investigations required to determine whether this phenomenon has already occurred in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J. Knight
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andy M. Bailey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Gary D. Foster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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