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Regulation and functions of alternative polyadenylation in fungi

Summary

This review explains how fungi use a process called alternative polyadenylation to create different versions of proteins from the same gene. Think of it like different recipes using the same ingredients but with different instructions. This process is important for fungal survival, growth, and ability to cause disease. Scientists are developing new tools and techniques to study this process, which could lead to better treatments for fungal infections.

Background

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a widespread regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes that generates diverse mRNA isoforms from a single gene by utilizing multiple polyadenylation sites. APA significantly alters mRNA abundance, stability, localization, and translation, playing crucial roles in gene expression regulation across various biological processes.

Objective

This review synthesizes current knowledge on APA in fungi by outlining critical factors and mechanisms for polyadenylation site selection, summarizing experimental and bioinformatic technologies for studying APA, and highlighting the role of APA in fungal growth and development, metabolism, stress responses, and virulence during host infection.

Results

APA is highly prevalent in fungi, with approximately 84.7% of genes in S. cerevisiae and 82.4% in S. pombe exhibiting multiple polyadenylation sites. APA plays key roles in fungal growth and development, metabolism, nutrient sensing, stress adaptation, and pathogenic virulence. Different environmental conditions and developmental stages induce distinct patterns of polyadenylation site usage.

Conclusion

APA represents a conserved regulatory mechanism across eukaryotes with important implications for fungal biology and pathogenicity. Future research should employ integrated genomic approaches, CRISPR-based tools for precise APA manipulation, and broader studies on animal and plant pathogenic fungi to fully elucidate APA functions and develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting fungal infections.
  • Published in:Mycology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41334523, PMC12667328, doi: 10.1080/21501203.2025.2486776
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