The role of mating genes in the speciation processes of smut fungi

高度特异性的植物寄生物的进化，如黑穗病真菌，与其宿主植物的进化密切相关。对玉米黑粉菌-担子菌植物寄生虫的模式生物-的研究揭示了黑穗病真菌中交配和感染之间的遗传联系。这两个交配位点调控着双核体的发育和侵染过程。因此，寄生虫/宿主相互作用，宿主特异性和物种形成的进化更紧密地联系在黑穗病真菌比在其他系统。这项研究将集中在早期交配过程中所涉及的基因的进化，并分析进化对不同物种专门化的影响。对与交配和侵染相关的基因的发生、替换率和结构进化的分析将为黑穗病菌的进化提供新的视角。因此，我们将有助于了解植物寄生虫和他们的主机的协同进化。

The evolution of highly specific plant parasites, such as the smut fungi, is closely linked to the evolution of their host plants. Studies of Ustilago maydis - the model organism of basidiomycetous plant parasites - have revealed a genetic link between mating and infection in smut fungi. The two mating loci regulate the development of the dicaryon and the infection process. Therefore, the evolution of parasite/host interaction, host specificity, and speciation are closer linked in smut fungi than in other systems. This study will concentrate on the evolution of the genes involved in the early processes of mating and analyse the evolutionary impact on specialisation of different species. The analysis of phylogeny, substitution rates, and structural evolution of genes related to mating and infection will provide new insight into the evolution of smut fungi. Thus we will contribute to the understanding of coevolution of plant parasites and their hosts.