A MAT1–2 wild‐type strain from Penicillium chrysogenum: functional mating‐type locus characterization, genome sequencing and mating with an industrial penicillin‐producing strain. Issue 5 (30th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Böhm, Julia; Dahlmann, Tim A.; Gümüşer, Hendrik; Kück, Ulrich
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 95:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 859
• Page End: 874
• Publication Date: 2015-01-30
• Subjects: Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12909
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>In heterothallic ascomycetes, mating is controlled by two nonallelic idiomorphs that determine the 'sex' of the corresponding strains. We recently discovered mating‐type loci and a sexual life cycle in the penicillin‐producing fungus, <italic>P</italic><italic>enicillium chrysogenum</italic>. All industrial penicillin production strains worldwide are derived from a <italic>MAT1‐1</italic> isolate. No <italic>MAT1‐2</italic> strain has been investigated in detail until now. Here, we provide the first functional analysis of a <italic>MAT1‐2</italic> locus from a wild‐type strain. Similar to <italic>MAT1‐1</italic>, the <italic>MAT1‐2</italic> locus has functions beyond sexual development. Unlike <italic>MAT1‐1</italic>, the <italic>MAT1‐2</italic> locus affects germination and surface properties of conidiospores and controls light‐dependent asexual sporulation. Mating of the <italic>MAT1‐2</italic> wild type with a <italic>MAT1‐1</italic> high penicillin producer generated sexual spores. We determined the genomic sequences of parental and progeny strains using next‐generation sequencing and found evidence for genome‐wide recombination. SNP calling showed that derived industrial strains had an uneven distribution of point mutations compared with the wild type. We found evidence for meiotic recombination in all chromosomes. Our results point to a strategy combining the use of mating‐type genes, genetics, and next‐generation sequencing to optimize conventional strain improvement methods.</p> </abstract>