Premature Death in Podospora anserina: Sporadic Accumulation of the Deleted Mitochondrial Genome, Translational Parameters and Innocuity of the Mating Types

Abstract

Abstract The Podospora anserina premature death syndrome was described as early growth arrest caused by a site-specific deletion of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and occurring in strains displaying the genotype AS1-4 mat−. The AS1-4 mutation lies in a gene encoding a cytosolic ribosomal protein, while mat− is one of the two forms (mat− and mat+) of the mating-type locus. Here we show that, depending on culture conditions, death due to the accumulation of the deleted mtDNA molecule can occur in the AS1-4 mat+ context and can be delayed in the AS1-4 mat− background. Furthermore, we show that premature death and the classical senescence process are mutually exclusive. Several approaches permit the identification of the mat-linked gene involved in the appearance of premature death. This gene, rmp, exhibits two natural alleles, rmp− linked to mat− and rmp+ linked to mat+. The first is probably functional while the second probably carries a nonsense mutation and is sporadically expressed through natural suppression. A model is proposed that emphasizes the roles played by the AS1-4 mutation, the rmp gene, and environmental conditions in the accumulation of the deleted mitochondrial genome characteristic of this syndrome.