Premium
The fle1 gene encoding a C2H2 zinc finger protein co‐ordinates male and female sexual differentiation in Podospora anserina
Author(s) -
Coppin Evelyne
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2002.02819.x
Subject(s) - biology , podospora anserina , genetics , zinc finger , mutant , gene , aspergillus nidulans , neurospora crassa , open reading frame , frameshift mutation , repressor , fungal protein , phenotype , peptide sequence , gene expression , transcription factor
Summary The flexuosa ( fle1‐1 ) mutant, isolated in Podospora anserina , displays vegetative defects and two antagonistic sexual phenotypes: it produces several 1000‐fold fewer microconidia (male gametes) than the wild‐type strain and, conversely, more abundant protoperithecia (female organs). Cloning and sequencing of the fle1 gene and of cDNA identified an open reading frame encoding a 382‐amino‐acid polypeptide with two C2H2 zinc finger motifs. The predicted FLE1 protein shares 46% identity with the FlbC protein of Aspergillus nidulans and 68% identity with a putative protein identified by a search in the Neurospora crassa database. The nuclear localization of FLE1 was demonstrated by fusion with the green fluorescent protein. Sequencing of the fle1‐1 mutant allele revealed a frameshift mutation upstream of the zinc finger domain. The fle1‐1 mutant was a null mutant, as targeted disruption of fle1 sequence led to the same pleiotropic phenotype. When fle1 was overexpressed by introduction of a transgenic copy of the native fle1 gene or a fusion with a strong promoter, formation of protoperithecia was impaired, leading to partial or complete female sterility. We propose that fle1 acts as a repressor of female sexual differentiation in order to maintain the balance between male and female sexual pathways.