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Investigation of Mating Pheromone-Pheromone Receptor Specificity in Lentinula edodes

Summary

This research investigated how shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) recognize compatible mating partners through specific chemical signals called pheromones. The study revealed that mushroom cells can detect and respond to specific pheromone signals from potential mates, similar to a lock-and-key system. This understanding has important implications for mushroom cultivation and breeding. Impacts on everyday life: – Improved methods for commercial mushroom cultivation – Better breeding techniques for developing new mushroom varieties – Enhanced understanding of natural mushroom reproduction – Potential applications in biotechnology and agriculture – More efficient production of edible mushrooms for food industry

Background

The B mating-type locus of Lentinula edodes, an edible mushroom, has a complex structure with allelic variations in mating pheromone receptors (RCBs) and mating pheromones (PHBs) in both Bα and Bβ subloci. The B mating-type locus contains five Bα subloci with five RCB1 alleles and nine PHBs, plus three Bβ subloci with three RCB2 alleles and five PHBs. The specificity between pheromones and receptors plays a key role in non-self recognition during mating but had not been fully characterized.

Objective

To investigate the specificity of interactions between mating pheromones (PHBs) and pheromone receptors (RCBs) in Lentinula edodes using a yeast model system and synthetic pheromones.

Results

RCB1-2 was activated by PHB1 (4.3-fold) and PHB2 (2.1-fold) from the Bα1 sublocus. RCB1-4 was activated by PHB5 (3.0-fold), PHB6 (2.7-fold) from Bα2 sublocus and PHB13 (3.0-fold) from Bα5 sublocus. RCB2-1 showed strong activation (59-fold) by PHB3 from Bβ2 and PHB9 from Bβ3. The interactions were confirmed in L. edodes through increased clp1 expression and clamp cell formation.

Conclusion

A single PHB can interact with non-self RCB in a sublocus-specific manner to activate mating pheromone signaling pathways in L. edodes. RCBs show specificity toward certain groups of PHBs, with Bα receptors specific to Bα PHBs and Bβ receptors specific to Bβ PHBs. The study demonstrates that some synthetic PHBs can activate mating pathways without C-terminal farnesylation, though this modification may be required for full functionality.
  • Published in:Genes (Basel),
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/genes11050506
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