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 ResearchConceptsModel 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 ResearchConceptsLineage-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 barrierOrigins of lineage‐specific elements via gene duplication, relocation, and regional rearrangement in Neurospora crassa
Wang Z, Wang Y, Kasuga T, Hassler H, Lopez‐Giraldez F, Dong C, Yarden O, Townsend J. Origins of lineage‐specific elements via gene duplication, relocation, and regional rearrangement in Neurospora crassa. Molecular Ecology 2023 PMID: 37843462, DOI: 10.1111/mec.17168.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLineage-specific genesGene duplicationNew genesLineage-specific elementsWeighted gene correlation network analysisRecent gene duplicationNon-coding DNACell wall integrityCo-regulatory modulesGene correlation network analysisNon-coding sequencesCorrelation network analysisAntifungal toxinsGene syntenyNeurospora speciesGenus NeurosporaEvolutionary biologistsSuch cladesRegulatory machinerySequence repeatsModel speciesAncestral statusNeurospora crassaTranscriptomic dataDiverse functions
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 ResearchConceptsSM 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 phenotypes
2021
The GUL-1 Protein Binds Multiple RNAs Involved in Cell Wall Remodeling and Affects the MAK-1 Pathway in Neurospora crassa
Herold I, Zolti A, Garduño-Rosales M, Wang Z, López-Giráldez F, Mouriño-Pérez R, Townsend J, Ulitsky I, Yarden O. The GUL-1 Protein Binds Multiple RNAs Involved in Cell Wall Remodeling and Affects the MAK-1 Pathway in Neurospora crassa. Frontiers In Fungal Biology 2021, 2: 672696. PMID: 37744127, PMCID: PMC10512220, DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.672696.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCell wall integrityRNA-binding proteinCell wall remodelingGul-1Endoplasmic reticulumCell wallGenomic RNA speciesP-body proteinsPolar hyphal growthMultiple cellular processesMAPK pathway componentsWall remodelingAdditional RNA-binding proteinsAltered phosphorylation levelsSTRIPAK complexCot-1Cellular processesRNA speciesMultiple RNAsNeurospora crassaHyphal growthMAK-1Wall integrityBind mRNAsCircadian clock