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Transcription Factors of Schizophyllum commune Involved in Mushroom Formation and Modulation of Vegetative Growth

Summary

This research reveals how mushroom-forming fungi control the balance between growing as simple filaments and developing complex mushroom structures. The study identified several genetic switches that either promote or restrict fungal growth, showing how fungi can redirect their energy from simple growth to forming mushrooms. This has important implications for both basic science and practical applications. Impacts on everyday life: • Could lead to improved mushroom cultivation techniques for food production • May help develop better methods for controlling fungal growth in agricultural settings • Could contribute to more efficient production of fungal-derived medicines and materials • Helps understand how fungi make decisions about growth and reproduction in nature • Could lead to methods for increasing mushroom yields in commercial production

Background

Mushroom forming fungi play important roles in plant waste degradation, mycorrhizal interactions, and as food sources and producers of bioactive compounds. The formation of mushrooms involves complex developmental programs that have been studied in model systems like Coprinopsis cinerea and Schizophyllum commune. Previous research identified several transcription factors involved in mushroom development, but their roles in regulating vegetative growth were not fully understood.

Objective

To investigate how transcription factors involved in mushroom formation in S. commune also modulate vegetative growth and to understand the regulatory networks controlling the switch between vegetative growth and reproductive development.

Results

The study found that transcription factors Bri1 and Hom1 stimulate vegetative growth, while Wc-2, Hom2, and Fst4 repress biomass formation. The newly identified transcription factor Tea1 was found to stimulate mushroom formation while repressing vegetative growth. A constitutively active version of Hom2 strongly reduced colony formation and induced immediate mushroom formation, even in sterile strains. The research revealed complex regulatory networks where these transcription factors influence each other’s expression and coordinate the switch between vegetative growth and reproductive development.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates for the first time a direct link between repression of vegetative growth and initiation of sexual reproduction in mushroom-forming fungi. The transcription factors studied play dual roles in controlling both vegetative growth and mushroom development, with some promoting growth while others repress it. The research suggests similar signaling pathways may be involved in growth-development decisions across different fungal groups.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-017-00483-3
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