University of California, Berkeley. Molecular Genetics of Fungi. Only cultures of opposite mating type can sexually reproduce.
Mating type is determined by genes present at the mating type locus.
The DNA at this locus differs completely in the two mating types. My lab's work on mating type currently focuses upon the MT a-1 polypeptide, which appears to be a transcription factor that regulates a set of effector genes. These effector genes control the cellular functions that identify a cell as a , such as putative pheromones and pheromone receptors. Mating type genes also cooperate to regulate the process of ascosporogenesis, in which zygotic and maternal development are coordinated. My second research project aims to improve therapy for opportunistic fungal pathogens, which are leading causes of death inAIDS patients.