R. Balestrini et al., Differential expression of chitin synthase III and IV mRNAs in ascomata ofTuber borchii Vittad, FUNGAL G B, 31(3), 2000, pp. 219-232
Balestrini, R., Mainieri, D., Soragni, E., Garnero, L., Rollino, S., Viotti
, A., Ottonello, S,, and Bonfante, P. 2000. Differential expression of chit
in synthase III and IV mRNAs in ascomata of Tuber borchii Vittad. Fungal Ge
netics and Biology 31, 219-232. A full-length genomic clone encoding a clas
s III chitin synthase (CHS) and one DNA fragment corresponding to a class I
V CHS were isolated from the mycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii and used for
an extensive expression analysis, together with a previously identified DNA
fragment corresponding to a class II CHS, All three Chs mRNAs are constitu
tively expressed in vegetative mycelia, regardless of the age, mode of grow
th, and proliferation capacity of the hyphae, A strikingly different situat
ion was observed in ascomata, where class III and IV, but not class II, mRN
As are differentially expressed in a maturation stage-dependent manner and
accumulate, respectively, in sporogenic and vegetative hyphae, These data,
the first on the expression of distinct Chs mRNAs during fruitbody developm
ent, point to the different cellular roles that can be played by distinct c
hitin synthases in the differentiation of spores of sexual origin (CHS III)
or in ascoma enlargement promoted by the growth of vegetative hyphae (CHS
IV), (C) 2000 Academic Press.