Fig. 3

Structure, gene expression and loss-of-function analyses of the mating-type loci. a Structure comparison of the idiomorphic region between different fungi. In contrast to the structures of heterothallic or homothallic fungi, the MAT1-2 type of C. cicadae contains a truncated MAT1-1-1 gene. b Structure comparison of the MAT1-1-1 protein between different fungi. The truncated MAT1-1-1 encoded in the MAT1-2 type of C. cicadae has lost the N-terminus α-box domain. The MAT1-1-1 (AKV94677) from a MAT1-1 type of C. cicadae has a structure similar to those of C. militaris and B. bassiana. c RT-PCR analysis of MAT genes expressed by C. cicadae at different developmental stages. The mycelia harvested from the SDB (3 dpi), and primordia (13 dpi) and stroma (23 dpi) produced on silkworm pupae were used for RNA extraction and gene expression analysis. d Fruiting body production by the WT and mutant strains. Conidia of the WT and mutant strains were injected in the tussah silkworm pupae for 25 days