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Research article2003Peer reviewed

Expressed sequences from the basidiomycetous tree pathogen Heterobasidion annosum during early infection of scots pine

Karlsson M, Olson A, Stenlid J

Abstract

The pattern of gene expression of the basidiomycete Heterobasidion annosum, causal agent of the root rot of conifers, was analysed during its interaction with pine roots. A complementary DNA (cDNA) library was constructed from total RNA extracted from H. annosum mycelia challenged with Scots pine seedling roots for 6 and 72 h. Single pass sequencing of 1148 randomly selected cDNA clones resulted in 923 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Contig analysis and sequence comparisons identified 318 unigene sequences, of which 62 were repeatedly sampled. A putative cellular function was assigned to 223 contigs (70%) that showed a moderate to high homology to protein sequences from public databases. Variations in expression levels during the infection process were monitored on a set of 96 unigenes by reverse northern using dot hybridisation. Seven unigenes (7%) were shown to be either up (4) or down (3) regulated during interaction of the fungus with pine roots. Fungal genes differentially expressed during contact with roots include genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, a cytochrome P450 and a vacuolar ATP synthase. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved

Keywords

Basidiomycete; Heterobasidion annosum; Annosum root rot; Tree pathogen; Forest disease; cDNA sequencing; Expressed sequence tags

Published in

Fungal Genetics and Biology
2003, Volume: 39, number: 1, pages: 51-59
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE