Aspergillus nidulans swo Mutants Show Defects in Polarity Establishment, Polarity Maintenance and Hyphal Morphogenesis

Corresponding author: Michelle Momany, Department of Botany, 2502 Plant Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602., momany{at}dogwood.botany.uga.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: P. J. PUKKILA

When the spores of filamentous fungi break dormancy, they grow isotropically, adding cell wall material uniformly in every direction. Later they switch to polarized growth, with new material added to the tip of an emerging germ tube. To identify genes involved in the synthesis and localization of cell wall material in filamentous fungi, we screened a collection of temperature-sensitive Aspergillus nidulans mutants for swollen cells. We have isolated mutants representing eight genes involved in polarity establishment, polarity maintenance, and hyphal morphogenesis. On the basis of the results of temperature-shift experiments, swo C, D, and F are required to establish polarity, while swoA is required to maintain polarity. swo B, E, G, and H are involved in later hyphal morphogenesis. Our results suggest that polarity establishment and polarity maintenance are genetically separate events and that a persistent signal is required for apical extension in A. nidulans.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Li, L. Zhang, D. Wang, H. Zhou, H. Ouyang, J. Ming, and C. Jin Deletion of the msdS/AfmsdC gene induces abnormal polarity and septation in Aspergillus fumigatus Microbiology, July 1, 2008; 154(7): 1960 - 1972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Jackson-Hayes, T. W. Hill, D. M. Loprete, L. M. Fay, B. S. Gordon, S. A. Nkashama, R. K. Patel, and C. V. Sartain Two GDP-mannose transporters contribute to hyphal form and cell wall integrity in Aspergillus nidulans Microbiology, July 1, 2008; 154(7): 2037 - 2047. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Breakspear and M. Momany Aspergillus nidulans Conidiation Genes dewA, fluG, and stuA Are Differentially Regulated in Early Vegetative Growth Eukaryot. Cell, September 1, 2007; 6(9): 1697 - 1700. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Knechtle, J. Wendland, and P. Philippsen The SH3/PH Domain Protein AgBoi1/2 Collaborates with the Rho-Type GTPase AgRho3 To Prevent Nonpolar Growth at Hyphal Tips of Ashbya gossypii Eukaryot. Cell, October 1, 2006; 5(10): 1635 - 1647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Hill, D. M. Loprete, M. Momany, Y. Ha, L. M. Harsch, J. A. Livesay, A. Mirchandani, J. J. Murdock, M. J. Vaughan, and M. B. Watt Isolation of cell wall mutants in Aspergillus nidulans by screening for hypersensitivity to Calcofluor White. Mycologia, May 1, 2006; 98(3): 399 - 409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Oka, Y. Sameshima, T. Koga, H. Kim, M. Goto, and K. Furukawa Protein O-mannosyltransferase A of Aspergillus awamori is involved in O-mannosylation of glucoamylase I Microbiology, November 1, 2005; 151(11): 3657 - 3667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Harris, N. D. Read, R. W. Roberson, B. Shaw, S. Seiler, M. Plamann, and M. Momany Polarisome Meets Spitzenkorper: Microscopy, Genetics, and Genomics Converge Eukaryot. Cell, February 1, 2005; 4(2): 225 - 229. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Konzack, P. E. Rischitor, C. Enke, and R. Fischer The Role of the Kinesin Motor KipA in Microtubule Organization and Polarized Growth of Aspergillus nidulans Mol. Biol. Cell, February 1, 2005; 16(2): 497 - 506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Momany, R. Lindsey, T. W. Hill, E. A. Richardson, C. Momany, M. Pedreira, G. M. Guest, J. F. Fisher, R. B. Hessler, and K. A. Roberts The Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall is organized in domains that are remodelled during polarity establishment Microbiology, October 1, 2004; 150(10): 3261 - 3268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Oka, T. Hamaguchi, Y. Sameshima, M. Goto, and K. Furukawa Molecular characterization of protein O-mannosyltransferase and its involvement in cell-wall synthesis in Aspergillus nidulans Microbiology, June 1, 2004; 150(6): 1973 - 1982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Lin, C. Momany, and M. Momany SwoHp, a Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase, Is Essential in Aspergillus nidulans Eukaryot. Cell, December 1, 2003; 2(6): 1169 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Seiler and M. Plamann The Genetic Basis of Cellular Morphogenesis in the Filamentous Fungus Neurospora crassa Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2003; 14(11): 4352 - 4364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Lin and M. Momany The Aspergillus nidulans swoC1 Mutant Shows Defects in Growth and Development Genetics, October 1, 2003; 165(2): 543 - 554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Knechtle, F. Dietrich, and P. Philippsen Maximal Polar Growth Potential Depends on the Polarisome Component AgSpa2 in the Filamentous Fungus Ashbya gossypii Mol. Biol. Cell, October 1, 2003; 14(10): 4140 - 4154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Bachewich, D. Y. Thomas, and M. Whiteway Depletion of a Polo-like Kinase in Candida albicans Activates Cyclase-dependent Hyphal-like Growth Mol. Biol. Cell, May 1, 2003; 14(5): 2163 - 2180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Bowman, P. S. Hicks, M. B. Kurtz, H. Rosen, D. M. Schmatz, P. A. Liberator, and C. M. Douglas The Antifungal Echinocandin Caspofungin Acetate Kills Growing Cells of Aspergillus fumigatus In Vitro Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., September 1, 2002; 46(9): 3001 - 3012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Shaw, C. Momany, and M. Momany AspergillusnidulansswoF Encodes an N-Myristoyl Transferase Eukaryot. Cell, April 1, 2002; 1(2): 241 - 248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Cheng, T.-S. Park, A. S. Fischl, and X. S. Ye Cell Cycle Progression and Cell Polarity Require Sphingolipid Biosynthesis in Aspergillus nidulans Mol. Cell. Biol., September 15, 2001; 21(18): 6198 - 6209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. J. Boyce, M. J. Hynes, and A. Andrianopoulos The CDC42 Homolog of the Dimorphic Fungus Penicillium marneffei Is Required for Correct Cell Polarization during Growth but Not Development J. Bacteriol., June 1, 2001; 183(11): 3447 - 3457. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Wendland and P. Philippsen Cell Polarity and Hyphal Morphogenesis Are Controlled by Multiple Rho-Protein Modules in the Filamentous Ascomycete Ashbya gossypii Genetics, February 1, 2001; 157(2): 601 - 610. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Momany and I. Taylor Landmarks in the early duplication cycles of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans: polarity, germ tube emergence and septation Microbiology, December 1, 2000; 146(12): 3279 - 3284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. McGuire, D. L. Roe, B. W. Carter, R. L. Carter, S. P. Grace, P. L. Hays, G. A. Lang, J. L. C. Mamaril, A. T. McElvaine, A. M. Payne, et al. Extragenic Suppressors of the nimX2cdc2 Mutation of Aspergillus nidulans Affect Nuclear Division, Septation and Conidiation Genetics, December 1, 2000; 156(4): 1573 - 1584. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y Ayad-Durieux, P Knechtle, S Goff, F Dietrich, and P Philippsen A PAK-like protein kinase is required for maturation of young hyphae and septation in the filamentous ascomycete Ashbya gossypii J. Cell Sci., January 12, 2000; 113(24): 4563 - 4575. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J Wendland and P Philippsen Determination of cell polarity in germinated spores and hyphal tips of the filamentous ascomycete Ashbya gossypii requires a rhoGAP homolog J. Cell Sci., January 5, 2000; 113(9): 1611 - 1621. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Bormann, D. Baier, I. Hörr, C. Raps, J. Berger, G. Jung, and H. Schwarz Characterization of a Novel, Antifungal, Chitin-Binding Protein from Streptomyces tendae Tu901 That Interferes with Growth Polarity J. Bacteriol., December 15, 1999; 181(24): 7421 - 7429. [Abstract] [Full Text]