GPD genes encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were isolated from the homobasidiomycetes
Schizophyllum commune, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and
Agaricus bisporus. All three species contain one transcriptionally active
GPD gene, but
A. bisporus also contains an inactive
GPD gene (tandemly linked to the active gene). These genes contain 5–9 introns located at conserved positions, differing (except in one case) from intron positions in ascomycetous
GPD genes. The predicted amino-acid sequences of the proteins encoded by the three active
GPD genes are highly homologous. A comparison with protein sequences from filamentous ascomycetes shows a clear distinction, whereas the
GPD genes from ascomycetous yeasts are quite distinct from both the filamentous ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Promoter regions of ascomycetous
GPD genes do not correspond to those of the
GPD genes of basidiomycetes which may (partly) explain poor expression in basidiomycetes of introduced genes driven by an ascomycete
GPD promoter.
Key words Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) - Basiodiomycete - Sequence - Evolution
Communicated by K. Esser