Umchs5, a gene coding for a class IV chitin synthase in Ustilago maydis

A fragment corresponding to a conserved region of a fifth gene coding for chitin synthase in the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis was amplified by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified fragment was utilized as a probe for the identification of the whole gene in a genomic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fungal genetics and biology 1997, Vol.22 (3), p.199-208
Main Authors: Xoconostle-Cazares, B, Specht, C.A, Robbins, P.W, Liu, Y, Leon, C, Ruiz-Herrera, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
amino acid sequences
chitin
chitin synthase
Chitin Synthase - genetics
enzyme activity
Evolution, Molecular
Fungal Proteins - classification
Fungal Proteins - genetics
genbank/af030553
genbank/af030554
gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
Genes, Fungal
Genomic Library
growth rate
messenger RNA
Molecular Sequence Data
Morphogenesis
Mutagenesis
mutants
nucleotide sequences
pathogenicity
Phenotype
Phylogeny
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
species differences
structural genes
umchs5 gene
Ustilago - enzymology
Ustilago - genetics
Ustilago zeae
virulence
Zea mays
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Summary:A fragment corresponding to a conserved region of a fifth gene coding for chitin synthase in the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis was amplified by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified fragment was utilized as a probe for the identification of the whole gene in a genomic library of the fungus. The predicted gene product of Umchs5 has highest similarity with class IV chitin synthases encoded by the CHS3 genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, chs-4 from Neurospora crassa, and chsE from Aspergillus nidulans. Umchs5 null mutants were constructed by substitution of most of the coding sequence with the hygromycin B resistance cassette. Mutants displayed significant reduction in growth rate, chitin content, and chitin synthase activity, specially in the mycelial form. Virulence to corn plantules was also reduced in the mutants. PCR was also used to obtain a fragment of a sixth chitin synthase, Umchs6. It is suggested that multigenic control of chitin synthesis in U. maydis operates as a protection mechanism for fungal viability in which the loss of one activity is partially compensated by the remaining enzymes.
ISSN:1087-1845
1096-0937
DOI:10.1006/fgbi.1997.1014