Tracing the origin of the fungal α1 domain places its ancestor in the HMG-box superfamily: implication for fungal mating-type evolution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fungal mating types in self-incompatible Pezizomycotina are specified by one of two alternate sequences occupying the same locus on corresponding chromosomes. One sequence is characterized by a gene encoding an HMG protein, while the hallmark of the other is a gene encoding a protein with an α1 domain showing similarity to the Matα1p protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DNA-binding HMG proteins are ubiquitous and well characterized. In contrast, α1 domain proteins have limited distribution and their evolutionary origin is obscure, precluding a complete understanding of mating-type evolution in Ascomycota. Although much work has focused on the role of the S. cerevisiae Matα1p protein as a transcription factor, it has not yet been placed in any of the large families of seq

SUBMITTER: Martin T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2999568 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature