Using deep-sequencing serial analysis of gene expression (DeepSAGE) to target gene expression patterns of the fungal symbiont of leaf-cutting ants.

The fungus gardens of leaf-cutting ants are natural biomass conversion systems that turn fresh plant forage into fungal biomass that provides food for the farming ants. The extent to which the fungal symbiont decomposes polysaccharides is controversial. We therefore investigated the decomposition potential of the fungal symbiont Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (synonym: Leucoagaricus gongylophorus) by obtaining mRNA expression patterns of genes coding for secreted enzymes, using quantifiable DeepSAGE technology to analyze samples from three distinct fungus-garden sections of a laboratory colony of Acromyrmex echinatior leaf-cutting ants.