Featured Publications
Light sensing by opsins and fungal ecology: NOP‐1 modulates entry into sexual reproduction in response to environmental cues
Wang Z, Wang J, Li N, Li J, Trail F, Dunlap JC, Townsend JP. Light sensing by opsins and fungal ecology: NOP‐1 modulates entry into sexual reproduction in response to environmental cues. Molecular Ecology 2017, 27: 216-232. PMID: 29134709, PMCID: PMC5797489, DOI: 10.1111/mec.14425.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceConserved SequenceEcological and Environmental PhenomenaFungal ProteinsGene Expression Regulation, FungalGene Knockout TechniquesGene Regulatory NetworksGenes, FungalLightModels, BiologicalMultienzyme ComplexesNADH, NADPH OxidoreductasesNeurospora crassaOpsinsOxidation-ReductionOxidative StressPhenotypePhylogenyProtein Structure, SecondaryReproductionUp-RegulationConceptsNOP-1Opsin-like proteinFungal ecologyPlant-associated fungiRapid environmental changeOxidative stress responseKey amino acidsFungal genomesComparative transcriptomicsSexual reproductionOrganismal functionNeurospora crassaEnvironmental cuesGenetic basisSensory rhodopsinStress responseNAD/NADPTransmembrane movementRetinal binding siteGenesAmino acidsFungiEnvironmental changesSexual developmentOpsinMetabolism and Development during Conidial Germination in Response to a Carbon-Nitrogen-Rich Synthetic or a Natural Source of Nutrition in Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Miguel-Rojas C, Lopez-Giraldez F, Yarden O, Trail F, Townsend JP. Metabolism and Development during Conidial Germination in Response to a Carbon-Nitrogen-Rich Synthetic or a Natural Source of Nutrition in Neurospora crassa. MBio 2019, 10: 10.1128/mbio.00192-19. PMID: 30914504, PMCID: PMC6437048, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00192-19.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDevelopmental regulatory genesVegetative growthAsexual reproductionConidial germinationRegulatory genesNutritional environmentLife historyNitrogen metabolismLife-history decisionsMode of reproductionAdaptive life historiesKnockout of genesGenome-wide transcriptomicsEarly life historySexual developmentMetabolic gene expressionReproductive dispersalSexual reproductionDevelopmental genesMetabolic genesNeurospora crassaDiverse ecosystemsNutrient conditionsGene expressionMajor switchThe Fast-Evolving phy-2 Gene Modulates Sexual Development in Response to Light in the Model Fungus Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Li N, Li J, Dunlap JC, Trail F, Townsend JP. The Fast-Evolving phy-2 Gene Modulates Sexual Development in Response to Light in the Model Fungus Neurospora crassa. MBio 2016, 7: 10.1128/mbio.02148-15. PMID: 26956589, PMCID: PMC4810495, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02148-15.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsGene Expression Regulation, FungalLightMeiosisNeurospora crassaPhytochromeRecombination, GeneticConceptsModel fungus Neurospora crassaFungus Neurospora crassaSexual reproductionNeurospora crassaPHY-2Plant developmentPlant pathogensBacterial physiologyEnvironmental signalsSexual developmentSexual development-related genesEvolution of phytochromesDestructive plant pathogensDevelopment-related genesFungal growthRed light sensorFunction of phytochromeVariable light conditionsCritical roleFungal biologyPHY-1Asexual growthPhytochrome functionMost speciesPostfire environmentSex-specific gene expression during asexual development of Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Kin K, López-Giráldez F, Johannesson H, Townsend JP. Sex-specific gene expression during asexual development of Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genetics And Biology 2012, 49: 533-543. PMID: 22626843, PMCID: PMC3397379, DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2012.05.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMating-type genesAsexual developmentMating typesNeurospora crassaGene expressionSex-specific gene expressionFungal life historyLight-responsive genesOverall gene expressionExpression levelsDifferent mating typesExpression of pheromonePheromone genesHigh expression levelsMat AType genesLife historyResponse genesExpression differencesDevelopment stagesGenesClonal developmentImpact of lightReceptor geneCrassaGlobal Gene Expression and Focused Knockout Analysis Reveals Genes Associated with Fungal Fruiting Body Development in Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Lopez-Giraldez F, Lehr N, Farré M, Common R, Trail F, Townsend JP. Global Gene Expression and Focused Knockout Analysis Reveals Genes Associated with Fungal Fruiting Body Development in Neurospora crassa. MSphere 2013, 13: 154-169. PMID: 24243796, PMCID: PMC3910948, DOI: 10.1128/ec.00248-13.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPerithecial developmentNeurospora crassaGene expressionSexual developmentBody developmentFruiting-body developmentMost upregulated genesReverse genetics approachGlobal gene expressionSimilar expression patternsSame developmental stageMulticellular organismsSexual crossingMat AUnclassified proteinsDevelopmental traitsN. crassaKnockout analysisTranscriptomic landscapeType genesUpregulated genesGenetic basisDiverse functionsExpression patternsStage specificity
2023
Lineage-specific genes are clustered with HET-domain genes and respond to environmental and genetic manipulations regulating reproduction in Neurospora
Wang Z, Wang Y, Kasuga T, Lopez-Giraldez F, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Dong C, Sil A, Trail F, Yarden O, Townsend J. Lineage-specific genes are clustered with HET-domain genes and respond to environmental and genetic manipulations regulating reproduction in Neurospora. PLOS Genetics 2023, 19: e1011019. PMID: 37934795, PMCID: PMC10684091, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsFungal ProteinsGene Expression ProfilingGenes, FungalNeurosporaNeurospora crassaPhenotypeReproductionConceptsLineage-specific genesHET domain genesSexual reproductionFunctional roleUnusual carbon sourcesPotential functional roleMating lociAsexual growthGenetic mutantsNeurospora crassaPossible functional roleSexual phaseGenetic manipulationTranscriptomic profilingReproduction regulationGene knockoutPP-1ADV-1Environmental alterationsGenesSexual developmentNeurosporaReproductionCarbon sourceGenetic barrier
2022
Secondary Metabolism Gene Clusters Exhibit Increasingly Dynamic and Differential Expression during Asexual Growth, Conidiation, and Sexual Development in Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Lopez-Giraldez F, Slot J, Yarden O, Trail F, Townsend JP. Secondary Metabolism Gene Clusters Exhibit Increasingly Dynamic and Differential Expression during Asexual Growth, Conidiation, and Sexual Development in Neurospora crassa. MSystems 2022, 7: e00232-22. PMID: 35638725, PMCID: PMC9239088, DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00232-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsGene Expression ProfilingMultigene FamilyNeurospora crassaSecondary MetabolismSexual DevelopmentConceptsSM clustersComparative genomicsSecondary metabolitesAsexual growthN. crassaNeurospora crassaSecondary metabolism gene clustersSexual developmentDevelopmental stagesSecondary metabolite clustersComparative genomic analysisExtensive transcriptomic dataGene expression patternsEnvironmental conditionsFungal toxin productionLevel of RNASMC genesLife cycleRegulatory switchComputational annotationGene clusterEnvironmental signalsMetabolite clustersGenomic analysisKnockout phenotypesTranscriptional Divergence Underpinning Sexual Development in the Fungal Class Sordariomycetes
Kim W, Wang Z, Kim H, Pham K, Tu Y, Townsend JP, Trail F. Transcriptional Divergence Underpinning Sexual Development in the Fungal Class Sordariomycetes. MBio 2022, 13: e01100-22. PMID: 35638737, PMCID: PMC9239162, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01100-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsFruiting Bodies, FungalFungal ProteinsGene Expression Regulation, FungalNeurospora crassaSexual DevelopmentTranscriptomeConceptsSingle-copy orthologous genesFungal class SordariomycetesTranscriptional divergenceOrthologous genesHypothetical proteinsNovel genesPerithecial developmentTranscriptional activationClass SordariomycetesGene expressionRich genomic resourceGene expression divergenceMulticellular fruiting bodiesBody developmentSuccessful sexual reproductionKey developmental genesSpecies-specific functionsFunctional protein domainsKnockout of genesRecent common ancestorGene expression levelsOrthologous counterpartsSordariomycetes speciesDevelopmental transcriptomeExpression divergence