Nucleus-specific expression in the multinuclear mushroom-forming fungus Agaricus bisporus reveals different nuclear regulatory programs

Author: mycolabadmin
2018-04-11
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Summary

This research examined how different nuclei within mushroom cells contribute to gene expression and cellular function. Scientists discovered that the two types of nuclei in button mushroom cells have distinct roles in controlling cell behavior and development. This finding helps us better understand how fungi grow and develop. Impacts on everyday life: – Improved understanding of mushroom cultivation for food production – Better insights into controlling fungal growth in agriculture – Potential applications in biotechnology and industrial fermentation – Enhanced knowledge for developing disease-resistant crops – More efficient methods for commercial mushroom breeding

Background

Fungi are vital organisms that contribute to ecosystems through soil health, plant growth, and nutrient recycling. Many fungi contain multiple nuclei per cell, with different nuclear types in heterokaryons. The button mushroom Agaricus bisporus contains 2-25 nuclei per cell from two different nuclear types (P1 and P2), but the differential contribution of these nuclei to mRNA expression has not been systematically investigated at the genome-wide scale.

Objective

To assess the differential mRNA contribution of individual nuclear types (P1 and P2) and their functional impact throughout mushroom development in various tissue types of Agaricus bisporus. The study aimed to understand how the two nuclear types contribute differently to gene regulation and cellular function.

Results

The study found that P1 and P2 produced specific mRNA profiles that changed through mushroom development. P1 dominated mRNA production throughout development, while P2 showed more differentially up-regulated genes in important functional groups. In vegetative mycelium, P2 up-regulated almost threefold more metabolism genes and carbohydrate active enzymes than P1. The researchers identified 411 genes that were differentially expressed between nuclear types, with colocalized gene clusters showing coregulation. Differential methylation states between P1 and P2 were also observed.

Conclusion

The study revealed widespread transcriptomic variation between the nuclear types of A. bisporus, with distinct regulatory programs for each nuclear type that change across development and tissue types. The findings demonstrate that nuclear-specific expression likely influences fungal phenotype in the polykaryotic stage, providing new insights into gene regulation in heterokaryotic fungi. This work advances understanding of transcriptomic variation introduced by genomic nuclear separation.

Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Study Type:Genomic Analysis,
Source: 10.1073/pnas.1721381115