Only cultures of opposite mating type can sexually reproduce.
Mating type is determined by genes present at the mating type locus.
We are using genetic and biochemical approaches to determine the mechanisms by which the mating type genes act. This work focuses upon the MT a-1 polypeptide, which appears to be a transcription factor that regulates a set of effector genes. Opportunistic fungal pathogens are leading causes of death in AIDS patients, yet therapies are very limited. One of the most frequent and severe infections is P. carinii pneumonia, for which a primary therapy is pentamidine. Functional analyses of the Neurospora crassa MT a-1 mating type polypeptide.