Characterization of phiA, a gene essential for phialide development in Aspergillus nidulans

• We have previously identified genes and proteins involved in the fungal response to the Streptomyces-produced antibiotics, bafilomycin 131 and concanamycin A, known inhibitors of V-ATPases. Using mRNA differential display we identified an Aspergillus nidulans gene with 30-fold up-regulated expression in the presence of bafilomycin. This gene, here denoted phiA, and its gene product, were further characterized by targeted gene disruption and immunohistochemistry. Phenotypically, the phiA mutation resulted in reduced growth and severely reduced sporulation. The abnormality could be traced to the phialides, which divided several times instead of forming a single flask-shaped cell. The importance of phiA for phialide and conidium development was supported by immunohistochemistry experiments that showed the protein to be mainly present in these two cell types. Attempts to relate phiA to inhibition of V-ATPases did not result in unambiguous conclusions, but suggest the possibility that changed expression of phiA is correlated with growth arrest caused by inhibited V-ATPases.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Genetik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Genetics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Aspergillus nidulans

asexual development

phialides

bafilomycin

V-ATPase

immunohistochemistry

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