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

虽然青霉属为我们提供了一些应用微生物学中使用的最重要的真菌物种，但对其在有性生殖方面的发育特性知之甚少。此外，观察到交配型基因座（MAT）编码的转录因子（TF）的调节功能远远超出了与交配直接相关的过程的编排，强调了它们与生物技术的相关性，因此需要进一步分析MAT控制的细胞和发育功能。除了MAT TF的功能和结构表征之外，MAT蛋白控制的基因调控网络以及诱导各种青霉属物种的性生活周期的能力的全面知识也是非常重要的。 我们希望深入了解MAT TF与其特异性靶DNA和其他蛋白质的协同相互作用。因此，我们将讨论以下问题：a.）MAT TF在蛋白质水平上的相互作用伙伴是什么？和B.）来自产黄青霉的α结构域MAT 1 -1-1 TF的X射线结构是什么？我们进一步感兴趣的交配型系统和Penicillia成员的性生活周期，而不是P. chrysogenum。我们会问：a.）MAT TF如何介导其特定靶基因在不同青霉属物种中的时间和发育依赖性表达？和B.）在应用微生物学中使用的两种青霉菌，即短密青霉菌和桔青霉菌，是否存在性生活周期？

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?