Solving a puzzle piece by piece: Sexual development in the basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune
Kothe, E.
Botanica Acta 110(3): 208-213
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0932-8629 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1997.tb00630.xDocument Number: 343194
In the homobasidiomycete fungus Schizophyllum commune recognition of mates is based on four multiallelic genetic loci. While Aa and AP independently but redundantly regulate formation of clamp cells, nuclear migration is under control of the B loci Ba and/or BP. In the A loci two homoeodomain transcription factors, Y and Z in Aa and one yet, V in AP, are encoded which form active heterodimers only if different specificities are combined (like Y3 Z4), e.g. via mating of strains differing in Aa loci. In both Ba and BP, pheromone receptors and several pheromone genes have been found. While the homoeodomain transcription factors are thought to directly activate downstream genes, a signal transduction cascade culminating in activation of target genes is postulated for B-regulated development. Only if both A and B pathways are turned on, fruit-body formation and spore production are observed.