Open AccessIdentification of the MATa mating-type locus of Cryptococcus neoformans reveals a serotype A MATa strain thought to have been extinct
Author(s) -
Klaus B. Lengeler,
Ping Wang,
Gary M. Cox,
John R. Perfect,
Joseph Heitman
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.97.26.14455
Subject(s) - biology , mating type , cryptococcus neoformans , locus (genetics) , virulence , genetics , serotype , microbiology and biotechnology , mating , cryptococcus gattii , gene
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen with a defined sexual cycle involving mating between haploid MATa and MATα cells. Here we describe the isolation of part of the MATa mating-type locus encoding a Ste20 kinase homolog, Ste20a. We show that theSTE20a gene cosegregates with the MATa mating type in genetic crosses, maps within the mating-type locus on a 1.8-Mb chromosome, and is allelic with the MATα locus. We identify the first MATa isolate of the most common pathogenic variety ofC. neoformans (serotype A, varietygrubii ) which had been thought to be extinct. This serotype A MATa strain is sterile, fails to produce mating pheromone, and is less virulent than a serotype A MATα strain in an animal model. Our studies illustrate an association of mating type with virulence and suggest that, likeCandida albicans , pathogenic isolates ofC. neoformans may be largely asexual.