Mating type‐dependent partner sensing as mediated by VEL1 in Trichoderma reesei. Issue 6 (16th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bazafkan, Hoda; Dattenböck, Christoph; Böhmdorfer, Stefan; Tisch, Doris; Stappler, Eva; Schmoll, Monika
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 96:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 1103
• Page End: 1118
• Publication Date: 2015-04-16
• Subjects: Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Sexual development in the filamentous model ascomycete <italic>T</italic><italic>richoderma reesei</italic> (syn. <italic>H</italic><italic>ypocrea jecorina</italic>) was described only a few years ago. In this study, we show a novel role for VELVET in fungi, which links light response, development and secondary metabolism. <italic>V</italic><italic>el1</italic> is required for mating in darkness, normal growth and conidiation. In light, <italic>vel1</italic> was dispensable for male fertility but essential for female fertility in both mating types. VEL1 impacted regulation of the pheromone system (<italic>hpr1</italic>, <italic>hpr2</italic>, <italic>hpp1</italic>, <italic>ppg1</italic>) in a mating type‐dependent manner and depending on the mating partner of a given strain. These partner effects only occurred for <italic>hpp1</italic> and <italic>hpr2</italic>, the pheromone precursor and receptor genes associated with the MAT1‐2 mating type and for the mating type gene <italic>mat1‐2‐1</italic>. Analysis of secondary metabolite patterns secreted by wild type and mutants under asexual and sexual conditions revealed that even in the wild type, the patterns change upon encounter of a mating partner, with again distinct differences for wild type and <italic>vel1</italic> mutants. Hence, <italic>T</italic><italic>. reesei</italic> applies a language of pheromones and secondary metabolites to communicate with mating partners and that this communication is at least in part mediated by VEL1.</p> </abstract>