I am analysing the frequency and distribution of mating type idiomorphs of a heterothallic ascomycete fungus using mat specific primers. However some isolates amplify for both mating types. Is this expected and how does it happen?
Both mating types in the heterothallic fungus Ophiostoma quercus contain MAT1- 1 MAT1 - 2 genes........ type 1 idiomorph, and MAT1 - 2 - 1 ( of the mating type 2 idiomorph ) genes in these isolates. Reults obtained showed that all isolates contained the full gene sequence for the MAT1 - 2 - 1 gene. In addition fragments of the MAT1 - 1 and MAT1 - 1 - 3 genes were sequenced from all isolates. These results were unexpected, as each isolate from a heterothallic species would typically contain only one of the two possible MAT idiomorphs. For more details consult https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov - pubmed.
Thank you @Sylvester. I have seen at least two papers reporting this and its thought to occur during meiosis where some spores receive nuclei from complementary mating types. Another school of thought is that its a result of anastomosis....
Yes, of course. Think e.g. about the cassette model of mating type determination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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