Figure 3: TFs involved in sexual differentiation in C. neoformans.
From: Systematic functional profiling of transcription factor networks in Cryptococcus neoformans
(a) TFs required for sexual differentiation of C. neoformans. In the mating assay, the WT strain H99 and each TF mutant were cocultured with the opposite mating type KN99a strain on V8 media and incubated at room temperature in the dark for 7 days. Cells and the periphery of colonies were visualized under a microscope (upper two panels: × 100 magnification; bottom panel: × 7.5 magnification) equipped with a digital camera. Scale bars, 200 μm. (b) TFs involved in cell fusion. Cell-fusion efficiency of each TF mutant was calculated relative to that of control strains (NAT-marked WT α strain (YSB119) × NEO-marked WT a strain (YSB121)). (c) TFs involved in pheromone gene expression. Indicated TF mutants were cocultured with the KN99a strain on V8 medium at room temperature for 18 or 24 h and then cells were collected for total RNA isolation. (d) The proposed model for the role of Fzc1, Usv101, Bzp2, Zap104, Hap2, Hlh1, Gat1 and Skn7 in various mating stages of C. neoformans.
