Cloning and characterization of Fpmtr1, an amino acid transporter gene of Fusarium proliferatum (Gibberella intermedia)

• Published in: Journal of basic microbiology Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 16 - 24
• Main Authors: Jeney, Apor, Béki, Emese, Keszthelyi, Anita, Leslie, John F., Hornok, László
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.02.2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Amino Acid Transport Systems - genetics; Amino Acid Transport Systems - metabolism; amino acid transporter; Cloning, Molecular; Crossing Over, Genetic; DNA, Fungal - metabolism; expression; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Fusarium; Fusarium - drug effects; Fusarium - genetics; Fusarium - metabolism; Fusarium proliferatum; Genes, Fungal; Mutation; p-Fluorophenylalanine - pharmacology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Time Factors; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0233-111X; 1521-4028
• DOI: 10.1002/jobm.200610197

Fpmtr1, an amino acid transporter gene from Fusarium proliferatum was strongly expressed during conidial germination and repressed in late stationary phase. To identify the specific function of this gene, ΔFpmtr1 knock‐out mutants were generated by gene replacement. Vegetative growth of the ΔFpmtr1 mutants was normal both in liquid and on solid media, but conidial germination was delayed. The ΔFpmtr1 mutants and the wild type were equally fertile when used as males in sexual crosses, however if the mutants were used as the female parent then the fertility of the cross decreased dramatically. Inactivation of Fpmtr1 abolished vegetative self‐incompatibility in strain ITEM 2287 of F. proliferatum, but the ΔFpmtr1 mutants were still vegetatively incompatible with the other strains of the fungus. Endophytic colonization capability of the mutants, assessed on maize seedlings also was adversely affected. These data suggest that Fpmtr1 is involved in multiple developmental processes related to both sexual and parasexual events in F. proliferatum. Furthermore, the fungus might have problems in adapting to a less than optimal environment if this otherwise dispensable transporter has been inactivated. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)