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Disruption of two genes for chitin synthase in the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis
Author(s) -
Gold S. E.,
Kronstad J. W.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.1994.tb00368.x
Subject(s) - ustilago , biology , chitin synthase , fungus , chitin , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , botany , biochemistry , chitosan
Summary The phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis exhibits a dimorphic transition in which non‐pathogenic, yeast‐like cells mate to form a pathogenic, filamentous dikaryon. Northern analysis indicated that two chitin synthase genes, chs1 and chs2 , from U. maydis are expressed at similar levels in yeast‐like cells and in cells undergoing the mating reaction leading to the filamentous cell type. A mutation was constructed in each of the chitin synthase genes by targeted gene disruption. Each mutant showed a reduction in the level of trypsin‐activated enzyme activity, compared with a wild‐type strain, but retained the wild‐type morphology, the ability to mate and the ability to form the filamentous pathogenic cell type.