Genomic and experimental evidence for a potential sexual cycle in the pathogenic thermal dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei

FEBS Lett. 2006 Jun 12;580(14):3409-16. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.05.014. Epub 2006 May 11.

Abstract

All meiotic genes (except HOP1) and genes encoding putative pheromone processing enzymes, pheromone receptors and pheromone response pathways proteins in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans and a putative MAT-1 alpha box mating-type gene were present in the Penicillium marneffei genome. A putative MAT-2 high-mobility group mating-type gene was amplified from a MAT-1 alpha box mating-type gene-negative P. marneffei strain. Among 37 P. marneffei patient strains, MAT-1 alpha box and MAT-2 high-mobility group mating-type genes were present in 23 and 14 isolates, respectively. We speculate that P. marneffei can potentially be a heterothallic fungus that does not switch mating type.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers
  • Genome, Fungal*
  • Mating Factor
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Penicillium / classification
  • Penicillium / genetics*
  • Penicillium / physiology*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Peptides
  • Mating Factor