A peroxidase gene family and gene trees in Heterobasidion and related genera

Four putative peroxidase-encoding gene fragments, named mnp1a, mnp1b, mnp2 and mnp3, were amplified with degenerative primers from the white-rot basidiomycete genus Heterobasidion. The fragments were cloned and sequenced. Similar fragments were produced and analyzed from the related genera Amylostereum, Bondarzewia and Echinodontium. Each amplified fragment contains three identically positioned introns. According to the predicted amino acid sequence, these fragments are most similar to two Mn peroxidase-encoding genes (MPGI and mnp2) and gene pgv of Trametes versicolor. Conserved residues thought to be essential for peroxidase function were identified. All four MnP gene loci of Heterobasidion were detected only in H. parviporum. Variation occurred in the predicted amino-acid sequences (131-132 amino acids) of all four fragments originating from the 47 Heterobasidion isolates tested. Amino acid variation in fragments of mnp2 and mnp3 separated European Heterobasidion parviporum ("S-type") and H. abietinum ("F-type"), known to have identical rDNA sequences. Asian and western North American isolates from fir, spruce and other hosts had the peroxidase amino acid sequences of European H. parviporum. American and European H. annosum ("P-type") isolates had different amino acid sequences and might be cryptic species.