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Snowball: a novel gene family required for developmental patterning of fruiting bodies of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes)

Summary

Scientists discovered a new gene called snb1 that is critical for mushroom development. When this gene is removed, mushrooms grow into simple ball-shaped structures without the normal parts like caps and stems. By studying these abnormal mushrooms, researchers identified many other genes involved in proper mushroom formation. This discovery helps explain how mushrooms develop their complex structures from simple fungal networks.

Background

Fruiting body development in mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) is a complex developmental process with poorly understood genetics. Recent studies have identified hundreds of conserved developmentally regulated genes, many of which are unannotated or encode proteins with unknown functions. This study investigates a novel gene family conserved across Agaricomycetes that may play a substantial role in fruiting body development.

Objective

To functionally characterize the snb1 gene, a highly conserved gene whose expression increases during fruiting body initiation in Coprinopsis cinerea. The study aims to determine snb1’s role in fruiting body developmental patterning through CRISPR/Cas9 deletion and transcriptomic analysis.

Results

snb1 deletion mutants produced unique snowball-shaped, undifferentiated fruiting bodies incapable of forming caps, stipes, and lamellae. Complementation with wild-type snb1 rescued the phenotype. Phylogenetic analysis revealed snb1 orthologs are present in nearly all Agaricomycetes, representing a novel conserved gene family. RNA-Seq identified 1,299 differentially expressed genes, with significant enrichment in developmental processes including cell wall biosynthesis, transcriptional regulation, secondary metabolism, and tissue-specific genes.

Conclusion

snb1 represents a novel, conserved gene family essential for developmental patterning and tissue differentiation in Agaricomycete fruiting bodies. The differentially expressed genes identified in snb1 mutants provide valuable insights into molecular pathways underlying fruiting body morphogenesis and suggest SNB1 has a central role in coordinating developmental programs during fruiting body formation.
  • Published in:mSystems,
  • Study Type:Functional Genomics Study,
  • Source: 10.1128/msystems.01208-23, PMID: 38334416
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