Structural and functional analysis of mating type locus encoded transcription factors from the Penicillia

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Although the genus Penicillium provides us with some of the most important fungal species used in applied microbiology, only little is known about their developmental peculiarities in terms of sexual reproduction. Moreover, the observation that regulatory functions of mating type locus (MAT) encoded transcription factors (TFs) reach far beyond the orchestration of processes directly related to mating emphasizes their relevance for biotechnology, and therefore the need for further analysis of MAT controlled cellular and developmental functions. Besides the functional and structural characterization of MAT TFs, a comprehensive knowledge of gene regulatory networks controlled by MAT proteins as well as the ability to induce the sexual life cycle in various Penicillium species, are of major importance. We want to get insight into the cooperative interaction of MAT TFs with their specific target DNA and other proteins. We will therefore address the following questions: a.) What are the interaction partners of MAT TFs on the protein level? and b.) What is the X-ray structure of the alpha-domain MAT1-1-1 TF from P. chrysogenum?.We are further interested in mating type systems and sexual life cycles of members of the Penicillia, other than P. chrysogenum. We will ask: a.) How do MAT TFs mediate the time and development-dependent expression of their specific target genes in different Penicillium species? and b.) Is there a sexual life cycle in two Penicillium species, used in applied microbiology, namely P. brevicompactum and P. citrinum?