1. |
- Ament-Velásquez, Sandra Lorena, M.Sc. 1988-, et al.
(author)
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The taxonomy of the model filamentous fungus Podospora anserina
- 2020
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In: MycoKeys. - : Pensoft Publishers. - 1314-4057 .- 1314-4049. ; :75, s. 51-69
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The filamentous fungus Podospora anserina has been used as a model organism for more than 100 years and has proved to be an invaluable resource in numerous areas of research. Throughout this period, P. anserina has been embroiled in a number of taxonomic controversies regarding the proper name under which it should be called. The most recent taxonomic treatment proposed to change the name of this important species to Triangularia anserina. The results of past name changes of this species indicate that the broader research community is unlikely to accept this change, which will lead to nomenclatural instability and confusion in literature. Here, we review the phylogeny of the species closely related to P. anserina and provide evidence that currently available marker information is insufficient to resolve the relationships amongst many of the lineages. We argue that it is not only premature to propose a new name for P. anserina based on current data, but also that every effort should be made to retain P. anserina as the current name to ensure stability and to minimise confusion in scientific literature. Therefore, we synonymise Triangularia with Podospora and suggest that either the type species of Podospora be moved to P. anserina from P. fimiseda or that all species within the Podosporaceae be placed in the genus Podospora.
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2. |
- Maas, Marc F.P.M., et al.
(author)
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The mitochondrial plasmid pAL2-1 reduces calorie restriction mediated life span extension in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina
- 2004
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In: Fungal Genetics and Biology. ; 41, s. 865-871
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Calorie restriction is the only life span extending regimen known that applies to all aging organisms. Although most fungi do not appear to senesce, all natural isolates of the modular filamentous fungus Podospora anserina have a limited life span. In this paper, we show that calorie restriction extends life span also in Podospora anserina. The response to glucose limitation varies significantly among 23 natural isolates from a local population in The Netherlands, ranging from no effect up to a 5-fold life span extension. The isolate dependent effect is largely due to the presence or absence of pAL2-1 homologous plasmids. These mitochondrial plasmids are associated with reduced life span under calorie restricted conditions, suggesting a causal link. This has been substantiated using three combinations of isogenic isolates with and without plasmids. A model is proposed to explain how pAL2-1 homologues influence the response to calorie restriction.
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3. |
- Ament-Velásquez, S. Lorena, Ph.D. 1988-, et al.
(author)
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Allorecognition genes drive reproductive isolation in Podospora anserina
- 2022
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In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. - : Springer Nature. - 2397-334X. ; 6:7, s. 910-923
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Allorecognition, the capacity to discriminate self from conspecific non-self, is a ubiquitous organismal feature typically governed by genes evolving under balancing selection. Here, we show that in the fungus Podospora anserina, allorecognition loci controlling vegetative incompatibility (het genes), define two reproductively isolated groups through pleiotropic effects on sexual compatibility. These two groups emerge from the antagonistic interactions of the unlinked loci het-r (encoding a NOD-like receptor) and het-v (encoding a methyltransferase and an MLKL/HeLo domain protein). Using a combination of genetic and ecological data, supported by simulations, we provide a concrete and molecularly defined example whereby the origin and coexistence of reproductively isolated groups in sympatry is driven by pleiotropic genes under balancing selection.
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4. |
- Vogan, Aaron A., et al.
(author)
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Combinations of Spok genes create multiple meiotic drivers in Podospora
- 2019
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In: eLIFE. - : ELIFE SCIENCES PUBLICATIONS LTD. - 2050-084X. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Meiotic drive is the preferential transmission of a particular allele during sexual reproduction. The phenomenon is observed as spore killing in multiple fungi. In natural populations of Podospora anserina, seven spore killer types (Psks) have been identified through classical genetic analyses. Here we show that the Spok gene family underlies the Psks. The combination of Spok genes at different chromosomal locations defines the spore killer types and creates a killing hierarchy within a population. We identify two novel Spok homologs located within a large (74-167 kbp) region (the Spok block) that resides in different chromosomal locations in different strains. We confirm that the SPOK protein performs both killing and resistance functions and show that these activities are dependent on distinct domains, a predicted nuclease and kinase domain. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses across ascomycetes suggest that the Spok genes disperse through cross-species transfer, and evolve by duplication and diversification within lineages.
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5. |
- Bastiaans, Eric, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Experimental demonstration of the benefits of somatic fusion and the consequences for allorecognition
- 2015
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In: Evolution. - : Wiley. - 0014-3820 .- 1558-5646. ; 69:4, s. 1091-1099
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Allorecognition, the ability to distinguish “self” from “nonself” based on allelic differences at allorecognition loci, is common in all domains of life. Allorecognition restricts the opportunities for social parasitism, and is therefore crucial for the evolution of cooperation. However, the maintenance of allorecognition diversity provides a paradox. If allorecognition is costly relative to cooperation, common alleles will be favored. Thus, the cost of allorecognition may reduce the genetic variation upon which allorecognition crucially relies, a prediction now known as “Crozier’s paradox.” We establish the relative costs of allorecognition, and their consequences for the short-term evolution of recognition labels theoretically predicted by Crozier. We use fusion among colonies of the fungus Neurospora crassa, regulated by highly variable allorecognition genes, as an experimental model system. We demonstrate that fusion among colonies is mutually beneficial, relative to absence of fusion upon allorecognition. This benefit is due not only to absence of mutual antagonism, which occurs upon allorecognition, but also to an increase in colony size per se. We then experimentally demonstrate that the benefit of fusion selects against allorecognition diversity, as predicted by Crozier. We discuss what maintains allorecognition diversity.
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6. |
- Bastiaans, Eric, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Experimental evolution reveals that high relatedness protects multicellular cooperation from cheaters
- 2016
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In multicellular organisms, there is a potential risk that cheating mutants gain access to the germline. Development from a single-celled zygote resets relatedness among cells to its maximum value each generation, which should accomplish segregation of cheating mutants from non-cheaters and thereby protect multicellular cooperation. Here we provide the crucial direct comparison between high- and low-relatedness conditions to test this hypothesis. We allow two variants of the fungus Neurospora crassa to evolve, one with and one without the ability to form chimeras with other individuals, thus generating two relatedness levels. While multicellular cooperation remains high in the high-relatedness lines, it significantly decreases in all replicate low-relatedness lines, resulting in an average threefold decrease in spore yield. This reduction is caused by cheating mutants with reduced investment in somatic functions, but increased competitive success when fusing with non-cheaters. Our experiments demonstrate that high-genetic relatedness is crucial to sustain multicellular cooperation.
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