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Sexual Development in Fungi and Its Uses in Gene Expression Systems

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Gene Expression Systems in Fungi: Advancements and Applications

Part of the book series: Fungal Biology ((FUNGBIO))

Abstract

The sexual cycle offers valuable opportunities to study and modify fungal gene expression. However, exploitation of sexual reproduction has often been overlooked because many fungal species of importance in biotechnology, medicine and agriculture lack a sexual cycle, and therefore gene manipulation techniques have been used in preference to sex. It has been discovered in the last decade though that many supposedly asexual species have the potential for sexual development if the correct environmental conditions and mating partners can be identified. This has led to renewed interest in experimental exploitation of fungal sexual cycles. An overview of fungal sexual reproduction is first provided. We then describe a series of ways in which fungal sexual cycles can be used to study and modify gene expression systems. These include the use of sexual reproduction in determining the genetic basis of traits of interest, use in identification of candidate genes, use in industrial strain development, and verification of gene function in deletion and complementation studies. Finally the use of mating-type (MAT) genes to enhance expression of desirable traits relating to primary and secondary metabolism is discussed, given recent finding about their wide-ranging transcriptional activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    George D. Ashton & Paul S. Dyer B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. George D. Ashton
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  2. Paul S. Dyer B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Paul S. Dyer B.A., M.A., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. and Environment-Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology Department of Health, Tulln, Australia

    Monika Schmoll

  2. and Environment-Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology Department of Health, Tulln, Australia

    Christoph Dattenböck

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Ashton, G.D., Dyer, P.S. (2016). Sexual Development in Fungi and Its Uses in Gene Expression Systems. In: Schmoll, M., Dattenböck, C. (eds) Gene Expression Systems in Fungi: Advancements and Applications. Fungal Biology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27951-0_15

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