What is your main interest in your science lab?

A question of primary interest in my lab is how genes regulate multicellular development in a relatively simple eukaryotic model. Our experimental organism is Schizophyllum commune. S. commune is typical of the mushroom producing fungi in that its multispecific mating-type genes initiate and regulate the events of sexual development leading to mushroom formation and genetic recombination. These genes are located within two unlinked genetic complexes called A and B, each of which consists of two redundantly functioning loci which are linked. Each of these four loci is multigenic and determines numerous mating-type specificities -- in fact there are an estimated number of over 20,000 mating types in nature! The A and B gene complexes regulate separate and complementary events of sexual development. The numerous mating-type determinants in this genetically tractable system present a unique opportunity to characterize families of genes which encode interacting molecules that recognize self versus many nonselves to initiate defined developmental programs.

In my laboratory we are characterizing the structure and function of the two B mating-type loci. Our evidence suggests that both loci contain several genes encoding two kinds of molecules: small signal peptides called pheromones; and membrane bound pheromone receptors. Similar molecules are known to regulate molecular signalling, not only in other fungi but in a broad range of other organisms from bacteria to humans. One goal of this study is to understand the genetic and structural features governing the specificity of interactions between these two types of molecules. Another goal is to understand how the two types of B genes may have co-evolved to generate so many different mating types. We are using molecular and classical genetic methods as well as the techniques of cell biology to address these questions.

   Back to Online Interviews Menu