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Title: Analysis of a MULE-cyanide hydratase gene fusion in Verticillium dahliae

Author
item LI, ZHIFANG - Cotton Research Institute - China
item Anchieta, Amy
item Klosterman, Steven

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2015
Publication Date: 8/1/2015
Citation: Li, Z., Anchieta, A.G., Klosterman, S.J. 2015. Analysis of a MULE-cyanide hydratase gene fusion in Verticillium dahliae. Phytopathology. Available: http://www.apsnet.org/meetings/Documents/2015_meeting_abstracts/aps2015abP74.htm.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The genome of the phytopathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae encodes numerous Class II “cut-and-paste” transposable elements, including those of a small group of MULE transposons. We have previously identified a fusion event between a MULE transposon sequence and sequence encoding a cyanide hydratase in one strain of V. dahliae. Phylogenetic analyses of cyanide hydratases from filamentous fungi showed that this particular cyanide hydratase had separate origins from others. That is, the fused gene is specific to V. dahliae. Additionally, reverse transcription PCR was used to verify the expression of this unique gene fusion and further enabled characterization of the gene structure. Currently the function of this cyanide hydratase-MULE fusion is unknown, and additional gene expression experiments are underway to gain insight on the function of this unique gene. This provides an example of a direct effect of repetitive DNA elements, such as transposons, on gene modification within the genome of V. dahliae.