Project description:Multi-targeting priming (MTP) for genome-wide gene expression assays provides selective targeting of multiple sequences and counter-selection against undesirable sequences. We demonstrated superior performance of two MTPs compared to oligo-dT microarray profling and RNA tag sequencing the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to nitrogen deficiency and profiling Neurospora crassa early sexual development. Priming with MTPs in addition to oligo-dT resulted in higher sensitivity, a greater number of well-measured genes, more genes significantly differentially expressed, and a greater power to detect meager differences. Neurospora crassa mat A FGSC#2489 2 developmental stages and oligo(dT) primers.
Project description:Multi-targeting priming (MTP) for genome-wide gene expression assays provides selective targeting of multiple sequences and counter-selection against undesirable sequences. We demonstrated superior performance of two MTPs compared to oligo-dT microarray profling and RNA tag sequencing the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to nitrogen deficiency and profiling Neurospora crassa early sexual development. Priming with MTPs in addition to oligo-dT resulted in higher sensitivity, a greater number of well-measured genes, more genes significantly differentially expressed, and a greater power to detect meager differences. Neurospora crassa mat A FGSC#2489 Three developmental stages and two different primers used for reverse transcription: mycelium oligo(dT) M1 protoperithecia oligo(dT) PP1 perithecia oligo(dT) PT1 mycelium oligo(dT)+ Multi-Targeted Primer [MTP] (M2) protoperithecia oligo(dT)+ MTP (PP2) perithecia oligo(dT)+ MTP (PT2)
Project description:Many fungi form complex three-dimensional fruiting bodies, within which the meiotic machinery for sexual spore production has been considered to be largely conserved over evolutionary time. Indeed, much of what we know about meiosis in plant and animal taxa has been deeply informed by studies of meiosis in Saccharomyces and Neurospora. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of fruiting body development and its regulation in relation to meiosis in fungi is barely known, even within the best studied multicellular fungal model Neurospora crassa. We characterized morphological development and genome-wide transcriptomics in the closely related species Neurospora crassa, Neurospora tetrasperma, and Neurospora discreta, across eight stages of sexual development. Despite diverse life histories within the genus, all three species produce vase-shaped perithecia. Transcriptome sequencing provided gene expression levels of 2479 orthologous genes among all three species. Expression of key meiosis genes and sporulation genes, corresponded to developmental differences among these Neurospora species during sexual development. Screening N. crassa knockout crosses of genes selected for their expression differences across species, eight genes, whose functions were previously unknown, are found to be critical for the successful formation of perithecia. The absence of these genes in mutant crosses resulted in either no perithecium formation or in arrested development at an early stage. Our results provide insight into the genetic basis of Neurospora sexual reproduction, which is also of great importance with regard to other multicelluar ascomycetes, including fungal pathogens closely related to Neurospora in the Sordariomycetes, such as Fusarium spp, Magnaporthe oryzae, and Nectria haematococca mRNA were sampled and compared from eight time points across sexual reproduction in three Neurospora species
Project description:Transcriptional profiling with next-generation sequencing methods demonstrated that a Neurospora crassa mutant with the three most highly expressed beta-glucosidase genes deleted had a transcriptional response to cellobiose similair to that of wild type N. crassa exposed to cellulose.
Project description:RNA-seq from Neurospora crassa at 5 time points of light induction, with 2 replicates for each, totalling 10 samples RNA-seq from Neurospora crassa at 5 time points of light induction, with 2 replicates for each, totalling 10 samples
Project description:To determine the genes directly and indirectly under the control of the Grainy-head homolog (GHH) transcription factor in Neurospora crassa Three different sample types (Aerial Hyphae & Conidia; Mycelia; or Whole Colonies) of both wild-type (FGSC #2489) and grainy-head homolog (FGSC #13563) strains of Neurospora crassa were subjected to transcriptome analyses to determine the genes differentially expressed in the ghh background compared to wild type.
Project description:Many fungi form complex three-dimensional fruiting bodies, within which the meiotic machinery for sexual spore production has been considered to be largely conserved over evolutionary time. Indeed, much of what we know about meiosis in plant and animal taxa has been deeply informed by studies of meiosis in Saccharomyces and Neurospora. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of fruiting body development and its regulation in relation to meiosis in fungi is barely known, even within the best studied multicellular fungal model Neurospora crassa. We characterized morphological development and genome-wide transcriptomics in the closely related species Neurospora crassa, Neurospora tetrasperma, and Neurospora discreta, across eight stages of sexual development. Despite diverse life histories within the genus, all three species produce vase-shaped perithecia. Transcriptome sequencing provided gene expression levels of 2479 orthologous genes among all three species. Expression of key meiosis genes and sporulation genes, corresponded to developmental differences among these Neurospora species during sexual development. Screening N. crassa knockout crosses of genes selected for their expression differences across species, eight genes, whose functions were previously unknown, are found to be critical for the successful formation of perithecia. The absence of these genes in mutant crosses resulted in either no perithecium formation or in arrested development at an early stage. Our results provide insight into the genetic basis of Neurospora sexual reproduction, which is also of great importance with regard to other multicelluar ascomycetes, including fungal pathogens closely related to Neurospora in the Sordariomycetes, such as Fusarium spp, Magnaporthe oryzae, and Nectria haematococca
Project description:Heterochromatin is a specialized form of chromatin that restricts access to DNA and inhibits genetic processes, including transcription and recombination. In Neurospora crassa, constitutive heterochromatin is characterized by trimethylation of lysine 9 on histone H3, hypoacetylation of histones, and DNA methylation. Here we explore whether the conserved histone demethylase, lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), regulates heterochromatin in Neurospora, and if so, how. Though LSD1 is implicated in heterochromatin regulation, its function is inconsistent across different systems; orthologs of LSD1 have been shown to either promote or antagonize heterochromatin expansion by removing H3K4me or H3K9me respectively. We identify three members of the Neurospora LSD complex (LSDC): LSD1, PHF1, and BDP-1, and strains deficient for any exhibit variable spreading of heterochromatin and establishment of new heterochromatin domains dispersed across the genome. Heterochromatin establishment outside of canonical domains in Neurospora share the unusual characteristic of DNA methylation-dependent H3K9me3; typically, H3K9me3 establishment is independent of DNA methylation. Consistent with this, the hyper-H3K9me3 phenotype of LSD1 knock-out strains is dependent on the presence of DNA methylation, as well as HCHC-mediated histone deacetylation, suggesting spreading is dependent on some feedback mechanism. Altogether, our results suggest LSD1 works in opposition to HCHC to maintain proper heterochromatin boundaries.
Project description:To determine the genes directly and indirectly under the control of the Grainy-head homolog (GHH) transcription factor in Neurospora crassa
Project description:Transcriptional profiling with next-generation sequencing methods demonstrated that a Neurospora crassa mutant with the three most highly expressed beta-glucosidase genes deleted had a transcriptional response to cellobiose similair to that of wild type N. crassa exposed to cellulose. N. crassa was pregrown in Sucrose and transferred to Avicel (cellulose), Cellobiose, Sucrose or media with no carbon added. Biological triplicates used to identify differentially expressed genes in WT on Avicel. Single libraries for mutant strains identify which genes show similair expression on cellobiose as in the WT on cellulose.