The blue light receptor complex WC‐1/2 of Schizophyllum commune is involved in mushroom formation and protection against phototoxicity. (24th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ohm, Robin A.; Aerts, David; Wösten, Han A. B.; Lugones, Luis G.
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology. Volume 15:Number 3(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 943
• Page End: 955
• Publication Date: 2012-09-24
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02878.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-2912

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Blue light is necessary for initiation of mushroom formation in <italic>Schizophyllum commune</italic>. The genome of this basidiomycete contains homologues of the blue light receptor genes <italic>wc‐1</italic> and <italic>wc‐2</italic> of <italic>Neurospora crassa</italic>. Here, it is shown that inactivation of either or both of these genes <italic>in S. commune</italic> results in a blind phenotype. Mushroom formation was abolished in dikaryons and they formed symmetrical instead of asymmetrical colonies. Development was restored in a temperature dependent way in a Δ<italic>wc‐2</italic>Δ<italic>wc‐2</italic> strain by introducing a construct encompassing the <italic>wc‐2</italic> gene under control of the promoter of the heat shock gene <italic>hsp3</italic>. A genome‐wide expression analysis showed that the transcription factor genes <italic>c2h2</italic> and <italic>hom1</italic> as well as many hydrophobin genes are downregulated in light‐grown colonies of the Δ<italic>wc‐2</italic>Δ<italic>wc‐2</italic> mutant when compared with the wild‐type dikaryon. Inactivation of <italic>wc‐1</italic> and/or <italic>wc‐2</italic> also resulted in sensitivity of the mycelium to intense light. Monokaryotic mutant strains only survived exposure to 6500 lux of light by growing into the agar. Expression analysis indicates that the photosensitivity of the Δ<italic>wc‐1</italic> and Δ<italic>wc‐2</italic> strains is due to lower levels of photolyase and ferrochelatase.</p> </abstract>