Deletion of nudC, a nuclear migration gene of Aspergillus nidulans, causes morphological and cell wall abnormalities and is lethal.

AUTOR(ES)

Chiu, Y H

RESUMO

Nuclear migration is required for normal development in both higher and lower eukaryotes. In fungi this process is mediated by cytoplasmic dynein. It is believed that this motor protein is anchored to the cell membrane and moves nuclei by capturing and pulling on spindle pole body microtubules. To date, four genes have been identified and shown to be required for this process in Aspergillus nidulans. The nudA and nudG genes, respectively, encode the heavy and light chains of cytoplasmic dynein, and the nudF and nudC gene products encode proteins of 49 and 22 kDa. The precise biochemical functions of the nudF and nudC genes have not yet been identified. In this report we further investigate NUDC protein function by deleting the nudC gene. Surprisingly, although deletion of nudA and nudF affect nuclear migration, deletion of nudC profoundly affected the morphology and composition of the cell wall. Spores of the strain deleted for nudC grew spherically and lysed. The thickness of the cell wall was increased in the deletion mutant and wall polymer composition was abnormal. This phenotype could be repressed by growth on osmotically buffered medium at low temperature. Similar, but less severe, effects were also noted in a strain depleted for NUDC by down-regulation. These results suggest a possible relationship between fungal cell wall biosynthesis and nuclear migration.

Documentos Relacionados

• NudF, a nuclear migration gene in Aspergillus nidulans, is similar to the human LIS-1 gene required for neuronal migration.
• Extragenic Suppressors of Nudc3, a Mutation That Blocks Nuclear Migration in Aspergillus Nidulans
• Genetic and Molecular Analysis of a Trna(leu) Missense Suppressor of Nudc3, a Mutation That Blocks Nuclear Migration in Aspergillus Nidulans
• Cytoplasmic dynein is involved in nuclear migration in Aspergillus nidulans.
• Isolation of Aneuploid-Generating Mutants of ASPERGILLUS NIDULANS, One of Which Is Defective in Interphase of the Cell Cycle