Open AccessPolymorphisms and intronic structures in the 18S subunit ribosomal RNA gene of the fungi Scytalidium dimidiatum and Scytalidium hyalinum
Author(s) -
Machouart M.,
Lacroix C.,
Bui H.,
Feuilhade de Chauvin M.,
Derouin F.,
Lorenzo F.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2004.tb09789.x
Subject(s) - biology , 18s ribosomal rna , intron , ribosomal rna , group i catalytic intron , homing endonuclease , genetics , gene , ribosomal dna , dermatomycosis , physarum polycephalum , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , phylogenetics , rna , rna splicing
The fungi Scytalidium dimidiatum ( Nattrassia mangiferae synanamorph) and Scytalidium hyalinum are mainly encountered in (sub)tropical areas as plant pathogens and agents of human dermatomycosis. Because the classification and differentiation of these two species is unclear, we studied 22 S. dimidiatum and 15 S. hyalinum isolates in order to identify potential species‐specific insertions and polymorphisms in the 18S subunit ribosomal gene. The presence of an IE intron in S. dimidiatum , together with a single polymorphism (A in S. dimidiatum , G in S. hyalinum ) in the coding region, allowed us to differentiate these two species in most cases. Moreover, in one S. dimidiatum isolate we found a group IC1 intron containing a putative truncated His‐Cys endonuclease gene. This enzyme shows strong similarity to the intronic homing endonuclease of Physarum polycephalum . Based on these results and our previous findings, we propose an evolutionary pathway for 18S rDNA S. dimidiatum insertions, implying independent events.