Genes with increased transcript levels following harvest of the sporophore of Agaricus bisporushave multiple physiological roles

We screened a cDNA library generated from harvested and stored sporophores of Agaricus bisporusand identified 19 genes with higher transcript levels than at the time of harvest. Five of these genes had no detectable mRNA levels prior to detachment from the mycelium. Sequence analysis of ten clones revealed significant similarities to known genes, these code for proteins involved in polymer breakdown and metabolism, cell wall synthesis, stress tolerance, cytochrome P450 activity and DNA binding. The diversity of functions of these genes suggests the changes in the sporophore after harvest involve several different physiological processes.