Isolation, characterisation and expression patterns of a RAD51 ortholog from Pleurotus ostreatus

AB: Using degenerated primers for conserved regions of RecA homologs we have isolated a gene from Pleurotus ostreatus that shows characteristic features of RAD51 homologs. The encoded amino acid sequence of P. ostreatus RAD51 (PoRAD51) shows greatest sequence similarities with RAD51 from Coprinus cinereus (89% identity). Furthermore the genomic organisation of PoRAD51 is almost identical to that of RAD51 from C. cinereus. Northern analysis shows that the expression of PoRAD51 is found in vegetative mycelium, and fruit body tissue, and that it is expressed at elevated levels in lamellae/basidia and following DNA damage. A sporulation deficient mutant strain of P. ostreatus (ATTC 58937) showed expression patterns of the RAD51 gene that are similar those of the normal sporulating strain