Project description:The RNA-Seq technique was used to investigate the differentially transcribed genes of the caterpillar fungus Cordyces militaris. It was calculated that >63% of total annotated genes were expressed, including >55% of putative pathogen-host interaction genes. Overall, the fruiting-body development and mycelium growth by C. militaris activated high expression levels of genes in association with translation and post-translational modifications. Otherwise, there were many differentially expressed genes when the fungus was grown on insect pupae to different stages or in liquid medium. In general, the transcriptional profiles were more similar with each other during fungal fruiting-body developmental stages than during growth in a liquid culture. Examination of differential gene expressions by Cordyceps militaris during fruiting-body developments on silkmoth pupae and growth in a liquid medium.
Project description:Myxobacteria are social bacteria distinguished among prokaryotes by a multicellular stage in their life cycle known as fruiting bodies formations, which is a response to nutrient deprivation. Additionally, fruiting body formation in Stigmatella aurantiaca is stimulated by light. Genome sequence of Myxococcus macrosporus, revealed the presence of a red-light photoreceptor, bacteriophytochrome (BphP), found in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria. BphPs belong to a large phytochrome family of photoreceptors originally discovered in plants, where they are directly linked to the circadian clock genes. BphPs have been implicated in carotenoid synthesis, motility, and photodynamic stress in non-photosynthetic bacteria. The role of the BphPs in M. macrosporus remains unknown although it has been linked to fruiting body formation in related S. aurantiaca. We have observed that M. macrosporus displays differential photomorphogenic behaviors under constant light, and 12:12 hour light/dark (LD) cycle as compared to constant dark (DD) conditions. We hypothesize that BphP plays a role in these behaviors. In this study we demonstrate light and nutrient dependent pattern of fruiting bodies development in Myxococcus macrosporus HW-1. Additionally, we characterized light induced differential gene expression with the special focus on the circadian clock, and carotenoid biosynthesis genes in M. macrosporus and M. xanthus.