Research Article

DNA and RNA polymerase activity in a Moniliophthora perniciosa mitochondrial plasmid and self-defense against oxidative stress

Published: June 13, 2013
Genet. Mol. Res. 12 (2) : 1944-1950 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2013.June.13.3
Cite this Article:
B.S. Andrade, C. Villela-Dias, D.S. Gomes, F. Micheli, A. Góes-Neto (2013). DNA and RNA polymerase activity in a Moniliophthora perniciosa mitochondrial plasmid and self-defense against oxidative stress. Genet. Mol. Res. 12(2): 1944-1950. https://doi.org/10.4238/2013.June.13.3
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Abstract

Moniliophthora perniciosa (Stahel) Aime and Phillips-Mora is a hemibiotrophic basidiomycete (Agaricales, Tricholomataceae) that causes witches’ broom disease in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). This pathogen carries a stable integrated invertron-type linear plasmid in its mi­tochondrial genome that encodes viral-like DNA and RNA polymerases re­lated to fungal senescence and longevity. After culturing the fungus and ob­taining its various stages of development in triplicate, we carried out total RNA extraction and subsequent complementary DNA synthesis. To ana­lyze DNA and RNA polymerase expression levels, we performed real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for various fungal phases of development. Our results showed that DNA and RNA polymerase gene expression in the primordium phase of M. perniciosa is related to a poten­tial defense mechanism against T. cacao oxidative attack.

Moniliophthora perniciosa (Stahel) Aime and Phillips-Mora is a hemibiotrophic basidiomycete (Agaricales, Tricholomataceae) that causes witches’ broom disease in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). This pathogen carries a stable integrated invertron-type linear plasmid in its mi­tochondrial genome that encodes viral-like DNA and RNA polymerases re­lated to fungal senescence and longevity. After culturing the fungus and ob­taining its various stages of development in triplicate, we carried out total RNA extraction and subsequent complementary DNA synthesis. To ana­lyze DNA and RNA polymerase expression levels, we performed real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for various fungal phases of development. Our results showed that DNA and RNA polymerase gene expression in the primordium phase of M. perniciosa is related to a poten­tial defense mechanism against T. cacao oxidative attack.