Mitochondrial inheritance in basidiomycete fungi

The mitochondrion is a vital organelle in eukaryotic cells. Unlike the inheritance of nuclear genes, that of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) does not follow Mendelian Laws. In the great majority of sexual plants and animals, mtDNA is uniparentally inherited from the maternal parent. However, there is a diversity of mtDNA inheritance patterns in basidiomycete fungi. In this commemorative review of mtDNA inheritance in basidiomycetes, we first summarize Dr. Lorna Casselton's pioneering contributions to the subject using Coprinopsis cinerea as a model organism. Using her findings as a benchmark, we then describe other mtDNA inheritance patterns found in basidiomycete fungi, both in laboratory crosses and in natural populations. We review recent research on the genes, molecular mechanisms, and environmental factors that impact mtDNA inheritance in basidiomycete fungi. The patterns and mechanisms of mitochondrial inheritance are compared between unicellular and filamentous basidiomycetes, and among basidiomycetes, ascomycetes and representatives from other groups of eukaryotes. Our analyses suggest that basidiomycetes can be excellent models for understanding the molecular, cellular, and evolutionary mechanisms governing mtDNA inheritance in eukaryotes.