| Ustilago maydis is a model pathogenic basidiomycete fungus that causes common smut of corn. Its genome has been sequenced but its full utility will only be realized after thorough annotation. To facilitate annotation, I created and sequenced three cDNA libraries from U. maydis strain 521 haploid cells grown in complete, nitrogen starved and carbon starved media. My analysis included a dormant teliospore library to improve gene coverage and accuracy of contig assembly. Using the genome as a backbone, 4157 contigs were assembled from 15,901 ESTs. Comparison of EST and genomic sequences uncovered the presence of antisense transcripts. The functional categorization of ESTs provides insight into the response of U. maydis to nutritional stress. RT-qPCR confirmed differential gene expression and revealed a previously undescribed regulation of gene expression. Together these analyses provide a wealth of new information on genes expressed and the control of gene expression this model plant pathogen. |
