Evolution of Fungal Mating Genes

本课题的研究成果将有利于基础研究和应用研究。基础研究的好处是，这些数据将有助于我们理解交配基因的进化。担子菌蘑菇具有像灰菌一样的交配基因，构成了世界菌群的主要部分。此外，类似的进化压力被认为会影响植物的交配基因。我选择的系统是分子必须同时保持功能和扩展多样性的极端例子。因此，通过了解这种交配基因的进化，我将获得与当今生物学中心问题有关的结果；新的基因功能是如何进化的？对应用研究的潜在好处是显而易见的。C.cinereus是一大类真菌的代表，其中许多具有重要的经济价值。举几个例子，玉米的病原菌黑穗病菌（Ustilago maydis）和目前用于木制品生物制浆的真菌黄孢平革菌（Phanerochaete chrysosporium）都是担子菌。它们的交配系统很像C. cinereus。当人类需要管理和控制这些真菌和其他真菌时，他们需要知道这些生物是如何从一个地方移动到另一个地方的，以及它们进化的速度有多快。交配基因，因为它们难以置信的可变性为迁徙提供了很好的遗传标记。由于它们在生物进化中的内在作用，研究它们的进化对于理解生物进化将是重要的。

9307591 May The results of the proposed work will have benefits to basic and applied research. The benefits to basic research are that these data will contribute to our understanding of the evolution of mating genes. Basidiomycetes mushrooms have mating genes like Coprinus cinereus and constitute a major part of the world's flora. In addition, similar evolutionary pressures are thought to affect plant mating genes. The system I have chosen is an extreme example of molecules that must simultaneously conserve functions function and expand diversity. Consequently, by understanding the evolution of this mating gene, I will obtain results bearing on a central problem in biology today; how do new gene functions evolve? %%% Potential benefits to applied research are apparent. C.cinereus is representative of a large class of fungi, many of which are economically important. To name a few, Ustilago maydis, a pathogen of corn and Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a fungus currently used for biopulping of wood products, are both Basidiomycetes fungi. Their mating systems are much like that found in C. cinereus. As humans need to manage and control these and other fungi, they need to know how the organisms move from one location to another and how fast they evolve. Mating genes, because of their incredible variability provide very good genetic markers for migration. Because of their inherent role in the evolution of such organisms, studying their ev olution will be important to understanding organismal evolution.