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Occurrence of N ‐acetylhexosaminidase‐encoding genes in ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes
Author(s) -
Lindahl Björn D.,
Taylor Andy F. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01147.x
Subject(s) - biology , chitin , ectomycorrhiza , gene , botany , monosaccharide , isozyme , paxillus involutus , enzyme , biochemistry , symbiosis , mycorrhiza , bacteria , genetics , chitosan
Summary• The genetic potential of ectomycorrhizal fungi to produce N ‐acetylhexosaminidases was investigated here. N ‐acetylhexosaminidases are enzymes that cleave monosaccharides from oligomers of N ‐acetylhexosamines and play an important role in the degradation of chitin. • Degenerate PCR‐primers were designed against genes coding for N ‐acetylhexosaminidases in basidiomycetes. PCR was performed with DNA templates extracted from sporocarps of 26 ectomycorrhizal fungal species and two saprotrophs. • PCR‐products were obtained from 18 species representing 12 genera distributed throughout the basidiomycete phylogeny. Sequencing confirmed that the products were homologous with N ‐acetylhexosaminidase genes from plants, animals and other fungi. Some species yielded two PCR‐products representing isoenzymes. • Chitin constitutes a potentially important nitrogen source in soil. Our results demonstrate that a wide range of ectomycorrhizal fungi have the genetic potential to produce N ‐acetylhexosaminidases, and the expression of this potential would enable them to exploit polymers of amino sugars as a source of nitrogen for themselves and their host plants.