- THIS ARTICLE
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me if a correction is posted
- SERVICES
- Email this article to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Alert me to new issues of the journal
- Download to citation manager
- Reprints & Permissions
- CITING ARTICLES
- Citing Articles via HighWire
- Citing Articles via Google Scholar
- GOOGLE SCHOLAR
- Articles by Kays, A. M.
- Articles by Borkovich, K. A.
- Search for Related Content
- PUBMED
- PubMed Citation
- Articles by Kays, A. M.
- Articles by Borkovich, K. A.
Severe Impairment of Growth and Differentiation in a Neurospora crassa Mutant Lacking All Heterotrimeric G
Proteins
Ann M. Kaysa and
Katherine A. Borkovicha
a Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas 77031
Corresponding author: Katherine A. Borkovich, University of California, 2338 Webber Hall, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521., katherine.borkovich{at}ucr.edu (E-mail)
Communicating editor: J. J. LOROS
proteins play a critical role in regulating growth and differentiation in filamentous fungi. No systematic analysis of functional relationships between subunits has been investigated. This study explores the relative contributions of Neurospora crassa G
subunits, gna-1, gna-2, and gna-3, in directing development by analyzing strains deleted for various combinations of these genes. Although viable, mutants lacking all G
subunits or gna-1 and gna-3 are severely restricted in apical growth, forming small colonies. These strains form little aerial hyphae during asexual development on solid medium and exhibit inappropriate sporulation in submerged cultures. Similar to all strains carrying the
gna-1 mutation, these mutants are female sterile. Defects attributed to gna-2 are observed only in conjunction with the loss of gna-1 or gna-3, suggesting a minor role for this G
in N. crassa biology. Results from analysis of adenylyl cyclase and epistatic studies with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit (mcb) indicate separate functions for GNA-1 and GNA-3 in cAMP metabolism and additional cAMP-independent roles for GNA-1. These studies indicate that although G
subunits are not essential for viability in filamentous fungi, their loss results in an organism that cannot effectively forage for nutrients or undergo asexual or sexual reproduction.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. Kamerewerd, M. Jansson, M. Nowrousian, S. Poggeler, and U. Kuck Three {alpha}-Subunits of Heterotrimeric G Proteins and an Adenylyl Cyclase Have Distinct Roles in Fruiting Body Development in the Homothallic Fungus Sordaria macrospora Genetics, September 1, 2008; 180(1): 191 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Komon-Zelazowska, T. Neuhof, R. Dieckmann, H. von Dohren, A. Herrera-Estrella, C. P. Kubicek, and I. S. Druzhinina Formation of Atroviridin by Hypocrea atroviridis Is Conidiation Associated and Positively Regulated by Blue Light and the G Protein GNA3 Eukaryot. Cell, December 1, 2007; 6(12): 2332 - 2342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Li, G. Shen, Z.-G. Zhang, Y.-L. Wang, J. K. Thompson, and P. Wang Canonical Heterotrimeric G Proteins Regulating Mating and Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2007; 18(11): 4201 - 4209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Krystofova and K. A. Borkovich The Predicted G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR-1 Is Required for Female Sexual Development in the Multicellular Fungus Neurospora crassa Eukaryot. Cell, September 1, 2006; 5(9): 1503 - 1516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Li and K. A. Borkovich GPR-4 Is a Predicted G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Required for Carbon Source-Dependent Asexual Growth and Development in Neurospora crassa Eukaryot. Cell, August 1, 2006; 5(8): 1287 - 1300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Li, P. Bobrowicz, H. H. Wilkinson, and D. J. Ebbole A Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Essential for Mating and Contributing to Vegetative Growth in Neurospora crassa Genetics, July 1, 2005; 170(3): 1091 - 1104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Mayrhofer and S. Poggeler Functional Characterization of an {alpha}-Factor-Like Sordaria macrospora Peptide Pheromone and Analysis of Its Interaction with Its Cognate Receptor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Eukaryot. Cell, April 1, 2005; 4(4): 661 - 672. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||



