Wilson, Andi M.Wilken, Pieter MarkusVan der Nest, Magrieta AlettaWingfield, Michael J.Wingfield, Brenda D.2020-10-082020-04Wilson, A.M., Wilken, P.M., Van der Nest, M.A. et al. 2020, 'The novel Huntiella omanensis mating gene, MAT1-2-7, is essential for ascomatal maturation', Fungal Genetics and Biology, vol. 137, art. 103335, pp. 1-11.1087-1845 (print)1096-0937 (online)10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103335http://hdl.handle.net/2263/76398Sexual reproduction is a highly conserved feature of the eukaryotes, yet sexual compatibility is determined by a wide variety of mechanisms. In ascomycete fungi, sexual development is controlled by genes at the mating type (MAT) locus that confer either MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 mating identity. Although the locus harbours, at minimum, a single gene, the individual MAT loci of certain species, including Huntiella omanensis, encode for two or more genes. The MAT1-2 idiomorph of H. omanensis is made up of MAT1-2-1, a primary MAT gene that is highly conserved in the Pezizomycotina and possesses a well-characterized DNA binding motif, the HMG-box domain. The idiomorph also harbours a novel secondary MAT gene, named MAT1-2-7, with no recognizable functional domains. In this study, we developed a transformation and CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing protocol to characterize the MAT1-2-7 gene with respect to its function in mating. We have shown that MAT1-2-7 is essential for sexual reproduction and that isolates carrying the truncated MAT1-2-7 gene are incapable of ascomatal maturation and further sexual development. MAT1-2-7 was also shown to influence the vegetative radial growth rate of H. omanensis, illustrating the pleiotropic effects often associated with MAT genes.en© 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Fungal Genetics and Biology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Fungal Genetics and Biology, vol. 137, art. 103335, pp. 1-11, 2020. doi : 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103335.Mating type (MAT)Sexual reproductionNovel secondary MAT geneMAT gene characterizationProtoplast-based transformationCRISPR-Cas9 genome editingPostprint Article