MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Current Genetics' source. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:47:05 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3379142&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20229292%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang Y, Diguistini S, Wang TC, Bohlmann J, Breuil C Grosmannia clavigera is a fungal pathogen associated with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) which is devastating large areas of western Canada's conifer forests. This fungus also produces a dark melanin pigment that discolors pine sapwood. We have generated the draft genome of G. clavigera. However, functional characterization of genes identified in the genome sequence requires an efficient gene disruption method. In this work, we report a gene replacement strategy for G. clavigera using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in conjunction with linear or split-marker deletion cassettes. In addition, we used long flanking regions up to 3 kb from both sides of the targeted genes in our deletion cassettes. W... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3379142 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3379142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307736&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20179933%26dopt%3DAbstract Is the mitochondrial cloud the selection machinery for preferentially transmitting wild-type mtDNA between generations? Rewinding Müller's ratchet efficiently. Curr Genet. 2010 Feb 24; Authors: Zhou RR, Wang B, Wang J, Schatten H, Zhang YZ In animal mitochondrial DNA inheritance, it remains largely unclear where the mitochondrial genetic bottleneck localizes and how it works in rewinding Müller's ratchet. In a variety of different animals germ plasm mRNAs typically aggregate along with numerous mitochondria to form the mitochondrial cloud (MC) during oogenesis. The MC has been found to serve as messenger transport organizer for germ plasm mRNAs. Germ plasm RNAs in MC will specifically distribute to the primordial germ cells of the future embryo. It has been proposed t... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307736 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3307736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291089&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20169440%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hendrickson PG, Silliker ME Similarity searches with Didymium iridis mitochondrial genomic DNA identified six possible ribosomal protein-coding regions, however, each region contained stop codons that would need to be removed by RNA editing to produce functional transcripts. RT-PCR was used to amplify these regions from total RNA for cloning and sequencing. Six functional transcripts were verified for the following ribosomal protein genes: rpS12, rpS7, rpL2, rpS19, rpS3, and rpL16. The editing events observed, such as single C and U nucleotide insertions and a dinucleotide insertion, were consistent with previously observed editing patterns seen in D. iridis. Additionally, a new form of insertional editing, a single A insertion, was observed in a conserved region of the rpL16 ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291089 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3291089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244204&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20127336%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated the mtDNA inheritance pattern in haploid x non-haploid crosses. A total of 420 meiotic progeny and 173 fusants were obtained from five crosses and analyzed for two polymorphic mitochondrial markers. The percentage of meiotic progeny and fusants inheriting mtDNA from MATalpha or MATalpha/alpha parents ranged from 8 to 50%. The leakage was significantly greater than those observed in HH crosses, indicating that mtDNA inheritance is not uniparental in haploid x non-haploid crosses in C. neoformans. In addition, mtDNA leakage in the fusants, but not the meiotic progeny, of the MATalpha/alpha x MAT a cross was significantly higher than that in the MAT a/a x MATalpha cross, suggesting that the diploid parents with different mating types contribute differently in de... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244204 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3244204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3244205&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20127247%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim S, Yoon MK To study genetic relatedness of two male sterility-inducing cytotypes, the phylogenetic relationship among three cytotypes of onions (Allium cepa L.) was assessed by analyzing polymorphisms of the mitochondrial DNA organization and chloroplast sequences. The atp6 gene and a small open reading frame, orf22, did not differ between the normal and CMS-T cytotypes, but two SNPs and one 4-bp insertion were identified in CMS-S cytotype. Partial sequences of the chloroplast ycf2 gene were integrated in the upstream sequence of the cob gene via short repeat sequence-mediated recombination. However, this chloroplast DNA-integrated organization was detected only in CMS-S. Interestingly, disruption of a group II intron of cox2 was identified for the first time in this study... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3244205 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3244205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136960&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20043225%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reiser K, Davis MA, Hynes MJ Filamentous fungi can use a variety of fatty acids (FA) as sole carbon and energy sources. Aspergillus nidulans has been shown to possess both peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathways. In these studies, the major peroxisomal long chain fatty acyl coenzyme A oxidase AoxA was identified. AoxA was shown to be localised to peroxisomes and deletion of the aoxA gene leads to reduced growth on long chain FA, but not on short chain FA. AoxA is predicted to be part of the same peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway as the bifunctional protein FoxA. In addition, an aoxA(p)lacZ reporter gene construct is induced by short and long chain FA and the induction is dependent on the transcriptional regulators FarA, FarB and ScfA with FarA being required for... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136960 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3136960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136959&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20043226%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Banuelos MG, Moreno DE, Olson DK, Nguyen Q, Ricarte F, Aguilera-Sandoval CR, Gharakhanian E The vacuole of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been a seminal model for studies of lysosomal trafficking, biogenesis, and function. Several yeast mutants defective in such vacuolar events have been unable to grow at low levels of hygromycin B, an aminoglycoside antibiotic. We hypothesized that such severe hypersensitivity to hygromycin B (hhy) is linked to vacuolar defects and performed a genomic screen for the phenotype using a haploid deletion strain library of non-essential genes. Fourteen HHY genes were initially identified and were subjected to bioinformatics analyses. The uncovered hhy mutants were experimentally characterized with respect to vesicular trafficking, vacuole morphology... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136959 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3136959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3134214&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20041252%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lenz H, Rüdinger M, Volkmar U, Fischer S, Herres S, Grewe F, Knoop V Transcripts in mitochondria and chloroplasts of land plants are modified through RNA editing, the exchanges of pyrimidines-a post-transcriptional process that may affect more than 1,000 sites in the mitochondrial transcriptomes of some plant species. RNA editing mainly acts as a correcting mechanism to re-create evolutionary conserved coding sequences on mRNA level and can be reasonably well predicted in new plant organelle gene sequence data. Identification and annotation of RNA editing sites is cumbersome and error-prone for larger data sets or organelle sequences subject to highly frequent RNA editing. We here present PREPACT, WWW-accessible at http://www.prepact.de , which allows prediction, analysis... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3134214 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3134214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3127651&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20039042%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zeppa S, Marchionni C, Saltarelli R, Guidi C, Ceccaroli P, Pierleoni R, Zambonelli A, Stocchi V The homocysteine synthase (tbhos) and putative sulfate transporter (tbsul1) genes have been characterized in order to understand the sulfate metabolism and regulation in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii. The analyses of tbsul1 and tbhos nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences led to the identification of the typical domains shown in homologous proteins. Sulfate starvation condition upregulates both genes. The real-time PCR assay of tbsul1 revealed that gene expression was about threefold higher in mycelia grown under sulfate starvation for 2 days than in the mycelial control and in the same starvation condition, the sulfate uptake increased. Real-time PCR and enzymatic a... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3127651 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3127651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3102406&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20012864%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated a possible role for other histone modifying proteins. To this end, we tested a number of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyltransferases and we report that flocculation is induced in absence of the histone deacetylase Hda1 or the histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 during high-gravity fermentation. The absence of Gcn5 protein also improved utilization of high concentrations of maltose. Deletion of SIR2 encoding the HDA of the silent informator regulator complex, did not affect flocculation under high-gravity fermentation conditions. Despite the obvious roles for Hda1 and Gcn5 in flocculation, this work indicates that COMPASS mediated silencing is the most important amongst the histone modifying components to control the expression of the FLO genes duri... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3102406 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3102406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3102407&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20012294%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Bailis AM Studies in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have demonstrated that a substantial fraction of double-strand break repair following acute radiation exposure involves homologous recombination between repetitive genomic elements. We have previously described an assay in S. cerevisiae that allows us to model how repair of multiple breaks leads to the formation of chromosomal translocations by single-strand annealing (SSA) and found that Rad59, a paralog of the single-stranded DNA annealing protein Rad52, is critically important in this process. We have constructed several rad59 missense alleles to study its function more closely. Characterization of these mutants revealed proportional defects in both translocation formation and sponta... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3102407 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3102407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079938&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19998038%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morán-Diez ME, Cardoza RE, Gutiérrez S, Monte E, Hermosa R The evolutionarily conserved Dim1 proteins belong to the TRX fold superfamily. An EST showing high identity values with genes coding for Dim1 proteins was selected from an EST library collection of Trichoderma virens T59. Here, we report the cloning, characterization, and functional analysis of a T. virens T59 TvDim1 gene. The TvDim1 gene, with a sequence size of 614 bp, was PCR-amplified and found to contain three introns. The TvDim1 gene was present as a single copy in the T. virens genome and was also present in another five Trichoderma strains investigated. Increased levels of expression and redox-activity were detected when the fungus was grown in the presence of H(2)O(2). The overexpression and silencin... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079938 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3079938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079937&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19998039%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xue JY, Liu Y, Li L, Wang B, Qiu YL Plants have large and complex mitochondrial genomes in comparison to other eukaryotes. In bryophytes, the mitochondrial genomes exhibit a mixed mode of conservative and dynamic evolution. Here, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome from hornwort Phaeoceros laevis, to investigate the level of conservation in mitochondrial genome evolution within hornworts. The circular molecule consists of 209,482 base pairs and represents the largest known mitochondrial genome of bryophytes. It contains 30 protein genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 21 tRNA genes, with 34 cis-spliced group II introns disrupting 16 protein genes. There are 11 pseudogenes in this genome, and nine of them are shared with the other fully sequenced hornwort chondriome from Megacero... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079937 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3079937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3072236&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19967377%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, to characterize egg cell mitochondria in rice, we used nonenzymatic manual dissection to isolate unfertilized egg cells of rice and observed the egg cell mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) simultaneously. These observations showed that the mitochondria in the rice egg cell are small and grain-shaped, unlike the mitochondria in geranium, maize, I. nil, and bracken. Double staining of mitochondria by MitoTracker and mtDNA by SYBR Green I showed that mitochondria in the rice egg cell have a large amount of mtDNA compared with the rice root protoplast. We also used real-time PCR analysis to quantify the mtDNA amount in the rice egg cell. We quantified the copy numbers of four mitochondrial genes per single rice egg cell and rice leaf protoplast. Real-time PCR analysis re... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3072236 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3072236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048532&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19949798%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang NY, Lin CH, Chung KR Heterotrimeric G proteins play a profound role in the recognition and transduction of extracellular signals in eukaryotic cells. We characterized the AaGalpha1 gene, encoding a fungal Class I Galpha subunit of the GTP-binding protein, in Alternaria alternata of citrus. Interruption of AaGalpha1 with a marker gene resulted in fungal transformants producing fewer conidia, becoming hypersensitive to KCl, and displaying elevated lipolytic and pectolytic activities. Expression of a functional copy of AaGalpha1 in a null mutant restored all altered phenotypes to the wild type. The AaGalpha1 mutants, whose conidia germinate normally, caused necrotic lesions on citrus indistinguishable from wild type. Application of cAMP, its inhibitors (atropine and theophyl... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048532 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3048532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3000187&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19915845%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shin KS, Kwon NJ, Yu JH The roles of the Gbetagamma subunits of the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus were investigated. The predicted AfuSfaD (Gbeta) protein consists of 353 amino acids and shows 94-98% similarity with other Aspergillus Gbeta subunits. AfuGpgA consists of 90 amino acids showing 95-98% identity with other fungal G-protein gamma subunits. The deletion (Delta) of AfusfaD or AfugpgA resulted in severe impairment in vegetative growth, conidial germination and conidial trehalose breakdown. While the total number of conidia produced by DeltaAfusfaD and DeltaAfugpgA strains on solid medium was only about 1% of wild type, the growth-adjusted conidiation levels were twofold higher than those of wild type. Enhanced formation of conidiophores and elevate... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3000187 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3000187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947609&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876630%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yamada M, Yawata K, Orino Y, Ueda S, Isogai Y, Taguchi G, Shimosaka M, Hashimoto S The filamentous fungus Coleophoma empetri F-11899 produces an echinocandin-like compound FR901379, the original source for micafungin which is prescribed to treat deep-seated mycoses. Despite its industrial importance, no genetic information on C. empetri F-11899 is currently available. To characterize FR901379 biosynthetic genes by insertional mutagenesis and to improve the compound production genetically, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was attempted to make genetic manipulation possible in this strain. The optimum conditions for ATMT of C. empetri were determined for the cell density of bacteria, time period of co-cultivation and types of filters in co-cultivation. Us... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947609 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2886984&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820940%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Draper E, Dubrovskyi O, Bar EE, Stone DE The filamentous/invasive growth pathway is activated by nutrient limitation in the haploid form of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whereas exposure to mating-pheromone causes cells to differentiate into gametes. Although these two pathways respond to very different stimuli and generate very different responses, they utilize many of the same signaling components. This implies the need for robust mechanisms to maintain signal fidelity. Dse1 was identified in an allele-specific suppressor screen for proteins that interact with the pheromone-responsive Gbetagamma, and found to bind both to a Gbetagamma-affinity column, and to the shared MEKK, Ste11. Although overexpression of Dse1 stimulated invasive growth and transcription of both fil... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2886984 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2886984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804412&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19756627%26dopt%3DAbstract This study shows that the mitochondrial genomes evolve extremely slowly in liverworts, the earliest-diverging lineage of extant land plants, in stark contrast to what is known of highly dynamic evolution of mitochondrial genomes in seed plants. PMID: 19756627 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Genetics) Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804412 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2804412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804411&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19756628%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim JH, Kim HW, Heo DH, Chang M, Baek IJ, Yun CW The function of endocytic pathway in filamentous fungi has remained elusive. Recently, we have identified that FgEnd1, which has a 27% amino acid homology and shares specific EH3 domain with ScEnd3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is a putative member of the endocytic machinery in Fusarium graminearum. The failure of the scend3 mutant to uptake Lucifer yellow (LY) was recovered by introducing FgEnd1 into S. cerevisiae. The deletion of fgend1 in F. graminearum resulted in a 2-fold decrease in the rate of uptake of the endocytic marker FM4-64 when compared to wild-type cells. The rate of uptake was similar to that seen in latrunculin A (Lat-A)-treated cells. Furthermore, fgend1 deletion strain of F. graminearum showed lower ferrichrom... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804411 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2804411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804410&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19756629%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we discovered multiple variants, a putative "gene family", of the gene psbA in the plastid minicircles of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense, which have persisted for almost 3 years in culture. Each variant, like the ordinary psbA, existed on distinct minicircles of similar size (5-6 kb). These psbA variants retained all, or almost all, the coding sequence of the ordinary gene, and all four were transcribed and edited after transcription, even though they could not encode the entire protein due to intervening or translocated sequences. Repeat elements were generally found in the relatively large non-coding region of these minicircles. Each psbA variant might have been generated by DNA recombination and/or replication slippage, as for previously reported aberrant minici... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804410 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2804410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770320&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19730866%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Manalil NS, Junior Te'o VS, Braithwaite K, Brumbley S, Samson P, Nevalainen KM Metarhizium anisopliae is a naturally occurring cosmopolitan fungus infecting greyback canegrubs (Dermolepida albohirtum). The main molecular factors involved in the complex interactions occurring between the greyback canegrubs and M. anisopliae (FI-1045) were investigated by comparing the proteomes of healthy canegrubs, canegrubs infected with Metarhizium and fungus only. Differentially expressed proteins from the infected canegrubs were subjected to mass spectrometry to search for pathogenicity related proteins. Immune-related proteins of canegrubs identified in this study include cytoskeletal proteins (actin), cell communication proteins, proteases and peptidases. Fungal proteins identified inclu... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770320 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2770320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2711930&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19685245%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sieńko M, Natorff R, Owczarek S, Olewiecki I, Paszewski A Homocysteine is an intermediate in methionine synthesis in Aspergillus nidulans, but it can also be converted to cysteine by the reverse transsulfuration pathway involving cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CGL). Because homocysteine is toxic to the cell at high concentrations, this pathway also functions as a means of removal of its excess. We found that the transcription of the mecA and mecB genes encoding CBS and CGL was upregulated by excess of homocysteine as well as by shortage of cysteine. Homocysteine induced transcription of both genes when added to the growth medium or overproduced in a regulatory mutant. The derepressing effect of cysteine shortage was observed in some muta... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2711930 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2711930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2684284&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19662416%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we provide a concise review on C. parapsilosis biology and highlight its interesting biological features. In addition, we summarize approaches for genetic manipulation, which have enhanced research on this species by overcoming limitations of conventional genetic analysis caused primarily by an apparent absence of a sexual cycle and the diploid state of its genome. PMID: 19662416 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Genetics) Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2684284 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2684284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2668051&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19649636%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boldo JT, Junges A, do Amaral KB, Staats CC, Vainstein MH, Schrank A Chitinases have been implicated in fungal cell wall remodeling and play a role in exogenous chitin degradation for nutrition and competition. Due to the diversity of these enzymes, assigning particular functions to each chitinase is still ongoing. The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae produces several chitinases, and here, we evaluate whether endochitinase CHI2 is involved in the pathogenicity of this fungus. We constructed strains either overexpressing or lacking the CHI2 chitinase. These constructs were validated by Southern, Northern and Western blot analysis, and chitinase production. To access the effects of CHI2 chitinase in virulence, the cotton stainer bug Dysdercus peruvianus was used as... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2668051 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2668051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2658413&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19641921%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Basnayake S, Maclean DJ, Whisson SC, Drenth A Sequence analysis of the genomic region of Phytophthora sojae close to the Avr4/6 locus specifying virulence on soybean identified a Ty1/Copia-like retrotransposon that we have named Phytophthora sojae Copia-like retrotransposon (PSCR). Twelve near-complete homologs of PSCR were found in the published P. sojae genome sequence, none of which encoded a full-length polyprotein characteristic of Copia-like retrotransposons, or appears to exhibit transcriptional activity or show evidence of recent movement, suggesting they are non-functional and unlikely to have caused pathogenic variability. However, reconstructed consensus PSCR sequence encoding a full-length polyprotein resembles a functional, ancestral retroelement within P. sojae. ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2658413 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2658413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2650289&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19636558%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kilaru S, Collins CM, Hartley AJ, Burns C, Foster GD, Bailey AM Dominant selectable markers are beneficial for transformation of many fungi, particularly those model species where repeated transformations may be required. A carboxin resistance allele of the Coprinopsis cinerea sdi1 gene, encoding the iron-sulphur protein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase, was developed by introducing a suitable point mutation in the histidine block responsible for binding of the associated iron ion. This modified gene was used successfully to confer carboxin resistance upon transformation of C. cinerea protoplasts. Plasmids previously used to establish hygromycin transformation systems of several basidiomycete species, such as pAN7-1 and phph004, failed to give rise to hygromycin-resistant tr... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2650289 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2650289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2650288&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19636559%26dopt%3DAbstract This study shows that it is allelic with the proline-tRNA(CGG) gene SPATRNAPRO.02. Its nucleotide sequence contains a C-->T substitution in the region corresponding to the B-box of the putative intragenic promoter and the TpsiC loop of the mature tRNA. The substitution drastically reduces the transcription efficiency of the gene and pleiotropically affects numerous cellular processes. spl1-1 cells are temperature sensitive, osmosensitive, bend at higher temperatures, have extended G2 phase and are defective in cell separation (septum cleavage). The proline-tRNA(TGG) gene SPATRNAPRO.01 can partially suppress the spl1-1 mutation when introduced into the cells on a multicopy plasmid. The effect of a mutation in a tRNA gene on cell separation brings a new element into the complexity of the ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2650288 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2650288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2650290&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19633981%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rehman MA, Yankulov K Autonomously replicating sequences (ARSs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been extensively characterized as both origins of DNA replication and as chromatin repressors/silencers. It has been conclusively shown that the origin and the silencer activities of ARS are substantially, but not entirely interchangeable and that they are modulated by position effects and chromatin environment. It remains unclear how these two quite divergent functions of ARS co-exist. This perspective focuses on recent advances, which have shown that slight differences in ARSs can modulate their affinity for origin recognition complex and their activity as silencers or origins. PMID: 19633981 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Genetics) Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2650290 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2650290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639506&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19629489%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we identified MgATG5 as an autophagy-related gene in Magnaporthe oryzae that is homologous to ATG5. Using targeted gene replacement, an Mgatg5 mutant was generated and fungal autophagy was blocked. Cytological analysis revealed that the mutant had poor fungal morphogenic development, including a shortened aerial hyphae lifespan, decreased conidiation and perithecia formation, delayed conidial germination and appressorial formation, postponement of conidial cytoplasm transfer during appressorium formation, and reduction in formation of the penetration peg. Turnover of endogenous matter in the Mgatg5 mutant was also affected, as demonstrated by defects in the formation of conidial lipid droplets, and in the degradation of conidial glycogen deposits during appressorium formatio... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639506 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2639506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639507&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19629488%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dobrowolska A, Staczek P Dermatophytes are the fungi that can cause infections of skin, hair, and nails due to their ability to utilize keratin. The genetic transformation systems of dermatophytes were successfully applied to Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. Here we describe the procedure for genetic transformation of Trichophyton rubrum by electroporation of their germinated conidia. A linearized transformation vector (pCHSH75-Pch/GFP/TtrpC) containing bacterial hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) and green fluorescent protein gene (egfp) was introduced into the germinated conidia of T. rubrum by electroporation. PCR reaction analysis showed that egfp gene was integrated randomly and Southern blotting analysis demonstrated a single integration of hph ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639507 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2639507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626755&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19621226%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhou J, Lin CZ, Zheng XZ, Lin XJ, Sang WJ, Wang SH, Wang ZH, Ebbole D, Lu GD Identification of enzymes that are expressed during host colonization and characterization of their biochemical properties are prerequisite to understanding their role in the pathogen-host interaction. Nine alpha-1,2-mannosidase homologs were identified in the analysis of the Magnaporthe oryzae genome. Endoplasmic reticulum localized alpha-1,2-mannosidases play an important role in protein glycosylation. However, several members of the alpha-1,2-mannosidase gene family are predicted to be secreted. The biological role of such extracellular enzymes in host colonization has not been defined. Here, we characterized a secreted alpha-1,2-mannosidase of M. oryzae, MGG_00994.6, and found that the mature poly... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626755 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2626755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556518&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19562342%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was undertaken to define the role of Ygr150cp in mitochondria biogenesis. Repression of Ygr150cp expression in complemented mutants prevented their use of glycerol or lactate, but allowed limited growth on ethanol-containing medium. RNA hybridization studies showed that Deltaygr150c meiotic segregants produced COB and COX1 transcripts but failed to process them into the mature forms. Detailed RT-PCR assays revealed that Deltaygr150c specifically failed to remove the fourth intron of both COB and COX1 pre-mRNAs while all other group I introns were excised. Expression of Ygr150cp mutants without any of the PPR motifs did not complement the growth phenotype. Accordingly, we designate YGR150C as CCM1 (COB and COX1 mRNA maturation). This report provides the first evidence of PPR prot... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556518 Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2556518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542681&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19547974%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim JE, Lee HJ, Lee J, Kim KW, Yun SH, Shim WB, Lee YW Gibberella zeae causes Fusarium head blight of cereal crops, and sexual spores of the fungus play an important role as primary inocula. We isolated a restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) transformant, ZH431, of G. zeae with defects in perithecia formation and virulence. Integration of the REMI vector resulted in disruption of GzCHS7 gene, which encodes a putative class VII chitin synthase with high similarity to Fusarium oxysporum ChsVb. A second chitin synthase, GzCHS5, is adjacently located in a head-to-head configuration with GzCHS7, and its deduced protein sequence showed similarity with a class V chitin synthase in F. oxysporum. Neither DeltaGzChs5 nor DeltaGzChs7 mutants produced perithecia or caused diseas... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542681 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542680&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19547975%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we cloned and characterized a putative MAPKKK gene ChSte11, orthologous to yeast STE11, of Cochliobolus heterostrophus. DeltaChste11 strains showed defects in conidiation, sexual development, melanization and the formation of appressoria. These mutants were significantly less virulent on corn plants than the wild type. Similar phenotypes were observed in mutants of Chk1-MAPK, a putative downstream protein kinase of ChSte11. These results suggested that ChSte11 regulates various morphological changes and pathogenicity via Chk1 MAPK. Both DeltaChste11 and Deltachk1 strains showed severe sensitivity to oxidative stress, hydrogen peroxide, and heavy metals, cupric or ferric cations. DeltaBmhog1 strains, mutants of the HOG1-type MAPK, did not show sensitivity to these forms of st... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542680 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542682&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19506875%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang C, Xia Y Metarhizium anisopliae is an important insect pathogenic fungus widely used in biological pest control. The aim of this study was to identify genes differentially expressed in vivo by M. anisopliae CQMa102 in the hemolymph of infected Locusta migratoria. Suppression-subtractive hybridization was performed using cDNA generated from hyphal bodies purified from hemolymph and the fungus germinating and differentiating on locust wings. A total of 350/1,600 random clones screened by cDNA array dot blotting were sequenced, resulting in 120 uniquely expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that were up-regulated during colonization of hemolymph. Among these 120 ESTs, 42 (35.0%) had matches in the NR protein database, and 29 (24.2%) were significantly similar to known proteins inv... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542682 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542684&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19488756%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Geimer S, Belicová A, Legen J, Sláviková S, Herrmann RG, Krajčovič J The characterisation of transcript levels of chloroplast genes and their changes under different conditions is an initial step towards understanding chloroplast gene expression and the functional integration of the plastid chromosome into the entire integrated compartmentalised genome of the plant cell. Using RNA from cells of 12 different developmental stages and stress treatments, we have studied the transcript patterns of all 96 genes of the circular plastid chromosome of Euglena gracilis, Pringsheim strain Z, by a macroarray-based approach and Northern analysis of selected genes representing approximately half a dozen operons. The unicellular alga possesses complex, triple-envel... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542684 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542683&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19488757%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sakamoto Y, Nakade K, Sato T We compared the gene expression patterns of Lentinula edodes fresh fruiting bodies and fruiting bodies 3 days after harvest, by suppression subtractive hybridization, to characterize the physiologic changes that occur after harvest, such as gill browning and cell wall lysis of the fruiting body, which are responsible for the loss of food quality and value. We found increase of transcription levels of several enzyme encoding genes, such as, two phenol oxidases encoding genes (tyr tyrosinase, lcc4 laccase), and several cell wall degradation-related enzyme-encoding genes, such as mixed-linked glucanase (mlg1), chitinases (chi1, chi2), chitin deacetylase (chd1), and chitosanase (cho1), after harvesting. We isolated a putative transcription factor-encod... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542683 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542695&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19360408%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rehmeyer CJ, Li W, Kusaba M, Farman ML Telomere-linked RecQ helicase (TLH) genes have been identified in several fungi, where they occur as small gene families with each member copy residing within ~10 kb of a telomere. Here we describe the characterization of all 11 TLH gene copies in the reference strain of the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. A consensus gene prediction revealed that the previously reported TLH1 gene is actually a mutated copy, and the full-length gene is almost two times longer. Only four full-length TLH genes were present in the strain that was analyzed, with the remaining copies containing premature stops caused by point mutations, indels, transposon insertions, and a telomere truncation. Interestingly, all of the TLH gene copies possessed numerous mutations i... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542695 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542694&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19396443%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nare B, Garraway LA, Vickers TJ, Beverley SM Leishmania must survive oxidative stress, but lack many classical antioxidant enzymes and rely heavily on trypanothione-dependent pathways. We used forward genetic screens to recover loci mediating oxidant resistance via overexpression in Leishmania major, which identified pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1). Comparisons of isogenic lines showed ptr1 (-) null mutants were 18-fold more sensitive to H(2)O(2) than PTR1-overproducing lines, and significant three- to fivefold differences were seen with a broad panel of oxidant-inducing agents. The toxicities of simple nitric oxide generators and other drug classes (except antifolates) were unaffected by PTR1 levels. H(2)O(2) susceptibility could be modulated by exogenous biopterin but not folat... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542694 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542693&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19396602%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sato S, Feltus FA, Iyer P, Tien M As part of an effort to determine all the gene products involved in wood degradation, we have performed massively parallel pyrosequencing on an expression library from the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium grown in shallow stationary cultures with red oak as the carbon source. Approximately 48,000 high quality sequence tags (246 bp average length) were generated. 53% of the sequence tags aligned to 4,262 P. chrysosporium gene models, and an additional 18.5% of the tags reliably aligned to the P. chrysosporium genome providing evidence for 961 putative novel fragmented gene models. Due to their role in lignocellulose degradation, the secreted proteins were focused upon. Our results show that the four enzymes required for cellulose de... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542693 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542692&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19421754%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Piłsyk S, Paszewski A Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is the main mechanism allowing proper localization of secretory proteins in cell membranes. We have isolated an Aspergillus nidulans homolog of the human PIG-P gene, which encodes a subunit of acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GPI-GnT)-an enzyme involved in the synthesis of GPI anchors. A. nidulans pigP mutants have significantly decreased GPI synthesis. On solid media they show strong growth retardation (the "button" phenotype) while in liquid minimal media they show overall good growth but with hyperbranched and bulbous hyphae with impaired septation. Furthermore, the pigP strains, in contrast to the wild-type, abundantly secrete a 33-kDa alkaline serine protease (ALP) into the liquid medium. PMID: 194... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542692 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542691&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19437021%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Astromskas E, Cohn M Gene replacement (knock-out) is a major tool for the analysis of gene function. However, the efficiency of correct targeting varies between species, and is dependent on the structure of the DNA construct. We analyzed the targeted insertion mutagenesis method in the budding yeast Saccharomyces castellii, phylogenetically positioned after the whole genome duplication event in the Saccharomyces lineage. We compared the targeting efficiency for target DNA constructs in the respective ends-in and ends-out form. For some of the constructs S. castellii showed a similar high degree of homologous recombination as S. cerevisiae. In agreement with S. cerevisiae, a higher targeting efficiency was seen for the diploid strain than for the haploid. Surprisingly, a higher... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542691 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542690&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19449185%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Braukmann TW, Kuzmina M, Stefanović S The exact phylogenetic position of Gnetales, a small, highly modified group of gymnosperms with an accelerated rate of molecular evolution, is one of the most challenging issues for seed plant systematics. Recent results from entire plastid genome (ptDNA) sequencing revealed the absence of the entire suite of plastid ndh genes in several species of Gnetales and the pine family (Pinaceae) potentially highlighting a major structural feature linking these two groups-concerted loss of all plastid genes for the NADH dehydrogenase complex. However, the precise extent of ndh gene loss in gymnosperms has not been surveyed. Using a slot-blot hybridization method, we probed all 11 ndh genes in 162 species from 70 of 85 gymnosperm genera. We fi... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542690 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542689&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19449186%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we identified this gene by genomic sequencing of chloroplast DNA and genetic analysis. Chloroplast DNA sequencing of 16 wild-type and 16 Wogon-Sugi plants showed a 19-bp insertional sequence in the matK coding region in the Wogon-Sugi. This insertion disrupted the matK reading frame. Although an indel mutation in the ycf1 and ycf2 coding region was detected in Wogon-Sugi, sequence variations similar to that of Wogon-Sugi were also detected in several wild-type lines, and they maintained the reading frame. Genetic analysis of the 19 bp insertional mutation in the matK coding region showed that it was found only in the chlorophyll-deficient sector of 125 full-sibling seedlings. Therefore, the 19-bp insertion in the matK coding region is the most likely candidate at present for... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542689 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542687&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19466416%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ando A, Sakuradani E, Horinaka K, Ogawa J, Shimizu S The sdhB gene encoding an iron-sulfur (Ip) subunit of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.3.99.1) complex was cloned from Mortierella alpina 1S-4. The deduced amino acid sequence of SdhB from M. alpina 1S-4 showed high similarity to those of SdhB from other organisms. The mutated sdhB (CBXB) gene encodes a modified SdhB with an amino-acid substitution (a highly conserved histidine residue within the third cysteine-rich cluster of SdhB replaced by a leucine residue) and is known to confer carboxin resistance. We succeeded in transforming M. alpina 1S-4 by using the CBXB gene as a selectable marker gene and expressing the heterologous uidA gene encoding beta-glucuronidase of Escherichia coli. Moreover, transformation efficiency... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542687 Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542685&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19479257%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim HY, Han KH, Lee M, Oh M, Kim HS, Zhixiong X, Han DM, Jahng KY, Kim JH, Chae KS The veA gene is one of the key genes in regulating sexual development of Aspergillus nidulans. During the study on the veA gene, it was observed that the veA expression level is slightly higher in a veA1 mutant than in a wild type at 37 degrees C, suggesting that the wild type veA gene is necessary for the negative regulation of the veA expression. In the veA1 mutant, the veA expression was higher than in a wild type grown at 42 degrees C but equal at 30 degrees C. Furthermore, in a veA deletion mutant having its own promoter and the N-terminus of the VeA ORF, expression of the N-terminus by the veA promoter was highly up-regulated, supporting the possibility that the veA gene is important for t... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542685 Thu, 28 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542686&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19468735%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schorsch C, Köhler T, Boles E The yeast Pichia ciferrii produces large quantities of the sphingoid base tetraacetyl phytosphingosine (TAPS) and is an interesting platform organism for the biotechnological production of sphingolipids and ceramides. Ceramides have attracted great attention as a specialty ingredient for moisture retention and protection of the skin in the cosmetics industry. First attempts have been started to metabolically engineer P. ciferrii for improved production of TAPS and other sphingoid bases. However, rational metabolic engineering of P. ciferrii is difficult due to a low gene targeting efficiency. In eukaryotes, two major pathways coexist, which are responsible for genomic DNA integration, homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joini... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542686 Mon, 25 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2542688&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19466415%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Watanabe M, Watanabe D, Nogami S, Morishita S, Ohya Y To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the budding phase transition, 4,711 Saccharomyces cerevisiae haploid nonessential gene deletion mutants were screened with the image processing program CalMorph, and 35 mutants with a round bud and 173 mutants with an elongated bud were statistically identified. We classified round and elongated bud mutants based on factors thought to affect the duration of the apical bud growth phase. Two round bud mutants (arc18 and sac6) were found to be defective in apical actin patch localization. Several elongated bud mutants demonstrated a delay of cell cycle progression at the apical growth phase, suggesting that these mutants have a defect in the control of cell cycle progression. PMID... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2542688 Sat, 23 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2542688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320573&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19352680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Peng G, Xie L, Hu J, Xia Y The insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is widely used as an insect biocontrol agent. The M. anisopliae conidium plays an important role in pathogenesis and disease transmission. The aim of this study was to identify genes whose expression is up-regulated during conidiogenous cell development. This is a powerful strategy for obtaining insight into the molecular events that regulate conidiation. We isolated genes that are preferentially expressed in the developing conidiophores of the common fungal locust pathogen M. anisopliae CQMa102 using suppression subtractive hybridization. Based on the results of cDNA array dot blotting, we identified 109 unique expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that were up-regulated more than fivefold during conidiop... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320573 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2320573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2320574&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19337734%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tarkka MT, Sarniguet A, Frey-Klett P Interactions between bacteria and fungi are well known, but it is often underestimated how intimate and decisive such associations can be with respect to behaviour and survival of each participating organism. In this article we review recent advances in molecular bacterium-fungus interactions, combining the data of different model systems. Emphasis is given to the positive or negative consequences these interactions have on the microbe accommodating plants and animals. Intricate mechanisms of antagonism and tolerance have emerged, being as important for the biological control of plants against fungal diseases as for the human body against fungal infections. Bacterial growth promoters of fungal mycelium have been characterized, and these may... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2320574 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2320574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2293896&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19305999%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we compared the roles of polymerase zeta (Pol zeta) and non-homologous DNA-end joining (NHEJ) in starvation-associated spontaneous base substitutions and frameshifts, using yeast mutants carrying deletions of REV3 (encoding the catalytic subunit of Pol zeta), YKU80 (encoding a protein involved in the initiation of NHEJ), or both genes. We found that approximately 50% of starvation-associated spontaneous frameshifts and 40% of base substitutions required NHEJ to occur. The role of Pol zeta was only slightly less pronounced, with 30-40% of frameshifts and 35-45% of base substitutions being dependent on Rev3. In comparison with the single mutants, the rev3 yku80 double mutant showed an additive decrease in the level of both base substitutions and frameshifts, indicating that Po... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2293896 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2293896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281560&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19296112%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elleuche S, Pöggeler S The ubiquitous metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. This enzyme has been investigated in mammals, plants, algae, bacteria, archaea and fungi. Based on distinct structural characteristics, CAs can be assigned to five independently evolved classes (alpha, beta, gamma, delta and zeta). beta-CAs can be further subdivided into plant-type and cab-type sub-classes. The recent characterization of CAs in fungi led us to initiate a systematic search for these enzymes in filamentous ascomycetes. The genomes of basidiomycetes and hemiascomycetous yeasts contain only beta-CAs, while the filamentous ascomycetes also possess genes encoding alpha-class CAs. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281560 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2281560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281561&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19290527%26dopt%3DAbstract In this report, we describe and compare the gene sequences, motifs, genomic copy number, and chromosomal localization of the Trichomonas vaginalis, Trichomonas tenax, and Tritrichomonas foetus 5S rRNA genes. T. vaginalis and T. foetus have a single type of 5S rRNA-coding region, whereas two types were found in T. tenax. The sequence identities among the three organisms are between 94 and 97%. The intergenic regions are more divergent in sequence and size with characteristic species-specific motifs. The T. foetus 5S rRNA gene has larger and more complex intergenic regions, which contain either an ubiquitin gene or repeated sequences. The 5S rRNA genes were located in Trichomonads chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization. PMID: 19290527 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281561 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2281561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2255545&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19277664%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nowrousian M During fungal fruiting body development, hyphae aggregate to form multicellular structures that protect and disperse the sexual spores. Analysis of microarray data revealed a gene cluster strongly upregulated during fruiting body development in the ascomycete Sordaria macrospora. Real time PCR analysis showed that the genes from the orthologous cluster in Neurospora crassa are also upregulated during development. The cluster encodes putative polyketide biosynthesis enzymes, including a reducing polyketide synthase. Analysis of knockout strains of a predicted dehydrogenase gene from the cluster showed that mutants in N. crassa and S. macrospora are delayed in fruiting body formation. In addition to the upregulated cluster, the N. crassa genome comprises another clu... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2255545 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2255545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2255544&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19277665%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Strobel I, Breitenbach J, Scheckhuber CQ, Osiewacz HD, Sandmann G Carotenoids have been identified in the fungus Podospora anserina and a parallel pathway to neurosporene and beta-carotene was established. Three genes for the beta-carotene branch have been cloned and their function elucidated. They correspond to the al-1, al-2 and al-3 genes from Neurospora crassa. They were individually and in combinations over-expressed in P. anserina in order to modify the carotenoid composition qualitatively and quantitatively. In the resulting transformants, carotenoid synthesis was up to eightfold increased and several intermediates of the pathway together with special cyclic carotenoids, beta-zeacarotene and 7,8-dihydro-beta-carotene, accumulated. All transformants with an over-expresse... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2255544 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2255544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2243022&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19266201%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olzhausen J, Schübbe S, Schüller HJ Coenzyme A (CoA) is a ubiquitous cofactor required for numerous enzymatic carbon group transfer reactions. CoA biosynthesis requires contributions from various amino acids with pantothenate as an important intermediate which can be imported from the medium or synthesized de novo. Investigating function and expression of structural genes involved in CoA biosynthesis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that deletion of ECM31 and PAN6 results in mutants requiring pantothenate while loss of PAN5 (related to panE from E. coli) still allows prototrophic growth. A temperature-sensitive mutant defective for fatty acid synthase activity could be functionally complemented by a gene significantly similar to eukaryotic pantothenate ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2243022 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2243022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2224501&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19242694%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dzikowski R, Deitsch KW Malaria caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum is characterized by long-term, persistent infections that can last for many months. The ability of this parasite to avoid clearance by the human immune system is dependent on its capacity to continuously alter the surface exposed antigenic proteins that that are vulnerable to antibody recognition and attack, a process called antigenic variation. Significant work in recent years has contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying this process, including the genes encoding the antigenic proteins and the DNA sequence elements that control their expression. In addition, the epigenetic "marks" that are associated with activation and silencing of individual genes have been extensivel... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2224501 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2224501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2218586&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19238386%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mercker M, Kollath-Leiß K, Allgaier S, Weiland N, Kempken F The bud emergence (BEM)46 proteins are evolutionarily conserved members of the alpha/beta-hydrolase super family, but their exact role remains unknown. To better understand the cellular role of BEM46 and its homologs, we used the model organism Neurospora crassa in conjunction with bem46 RNAi, over-expression vectors, and repeat induced point mutation analyzes. We clearly demonstrated that BEM46 is required for cell type-specific hyphal growth, which indicates a role for BEM46 in maintaining polarity. Vegetative hyphae, perithecia, and ascospores developed normally, but hyphae germinating from ascospores exhibited a loss-of-polarity phenotype. We also found that the BEM46 protein is targeted to the perinuclear en... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2218586 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2218586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2188769&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19214514%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ngari C, Combier JP, Doré J, Marmeisse R, Gay G, Melayah D In an attempt to get a marker gene suitable for genetical transformation of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum, the gene Hc.Sdh (R) that confers carboxin-resistance was isolated from a UV mutant of this fungus. It encodes a mutant allele of the Fe-S subunit of the succinate dehydrogenase gene that carries a single amino acid substitution known to confer carboxin-resistance. This gene was successfully used as the selective marker to transform, via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, monokaryotic and dikaryotic strains of H. cylindrosporum. We also successfully transformed hygromycin-resistant insertional mutants. Transformation yielded mitotically stable carboxin-resistant mycelia. This procedure produced tr... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2188769 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2188769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2175194&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19198841%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we used chloroplast CAPS markers that differentiate between the two species to survey wild and weedy populations of B. rapa for the capture of B. napus chloroplasts. A total of 464 B. rapa plants belonging to 14 populations growing either in close proximity to B. napus (i.e. sympatric <5 m) or else were allopatric from the crop (>1 km) were assessed for chloroplast capture using PCR (trnL-F) and CAPS (trnT-L-Xba I) markers. The screen revealed that two sympatric B. rapa populations included 53 plants that possessed the chloroplast of B. napus. In order to discount these B. rapa plants as F(1) crop-wild hybrids, we used a C-genome-specific marker and found that 45 out of 53 plants lacked the C-genome and so were at least second generation introgressants. The most plausib... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2175194 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2175194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2153716&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19184026%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim H, Livingston DM The deletion of the gene encoding the high mobility group protein Hmo1 suppresses the growth retardation of the DNA pol delta mutation, pol3-14, at the restrictive temperature. pol3-14 mutant cells undergo cell cycle arrest, and hmo1Delta alleviates the arrest permitting continual division of the double mutant. Bypass of cell cycle control occurs with an increased rate of mutation. Both pol3-14 and hmo1Delta are mutators and their combination provokes a synergistic rate of CAN1 mutations. RAD18 controls branches of DNA repair pathways and its deletion also suppresses pol3 mutations. Comparing hmo1Delta and rad18Delta suppression of pol3-14 shows that while both require the presence of RAD52-mediated repair, their suppression is independent in that both can... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2153716 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2153716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2153715&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19184027%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we provide general information on the little studied eukaryotic ribosomal protein rpL15. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has two genes, YRPL15A and YRPL15B that could potentially code for yeast rpL15 (YrpL15). YRPL15A is essential while YRPL15B is dispensable. However, a plasmid-borne copy of the YRPL15B gene, controlled by the GAL1 promoter or by the promoter controlling expression of the YRPL15A gene, can functionally complement YrpL15A in yeast cells, while the same gene controlled by the authentic promoter is inactive. Analysis of the levels of YrpL15B-mRNA in yeast cells shows that the YRPL15B gene is inactive in transcription. The function of YrpL15A is highly resilient to single and multiple amino acid substitutions. In addition, minor deletions from both the N- and C-termina... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2153715 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2153715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098730&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19137300%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chevanne D, Bastiaans E, Debets A, Saupe SJ, Clavé C, Paoletti M In fungi, vegetative incompatibility is a conspecific non-self recognition mechanism that restricts formation of viable heterokaryons when incompatible alleles of specific het loci interact. In Podospora anserina, three non-allelic incompatibility systems have been genetically defined involving interactions between het-c and het-d, het-c and het-e, het-r and het-v. het-d and het-e are paralogues belonging to the HNWD gene family that encode proteins of the STAND class. HET-D and HET-E proteins comprise an N-terminal HET effector domain, a central GTP binding site and a C-terminal WD repeat domain constituted of tandem repeats of highly conserved WD40 repeat units that define the specificity of alleles during... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098730 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077095&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19116716%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scherm B, Schmoll M, Balmas V, Kubicek CP, Migheli Q A rapid subtraction hybridization approach was used to isolate genes differentially expressed during mycelial contact between Trichoderma harzianum (Hypocrea lixii) and Rhizoctonia solani, and could serve as marker genes for selection of superior biocontrol strains. Putatively positive clones were evaluated by transcription analysis during mycelial contact with R. solani versus growth on glucose, and for their differential transcription between two strains with either strong or poor biocontrol capability before, at, and after contact with R. solani. Besides four clones, which had similarity to putative but as yet uncharacterized proteins, they comprised ribosomal proteins, proteins involved in transcriptional switch and regu... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077095 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2077095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077096&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19115055%26dopt%3DAbstract This study focuses on the cloning and characterization of the major nitrogen regulator element from the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii, TbNre1. Sequence analysis of the predicted protein and complementation experiments in Neurospora crassa demonstrated that the cloned gene is orthologous to areA/nit-2 gene. Transcriptional expression investigations by real-time RT-PCR showed TbNre1 up-regulation in the presence of nitrate or in the absence of nitrogen during free-living mycelium growth. On the contrary, TbNre1 mRNA levels remained at basal values in the presence of preferred nitrogen sources like ammonium and glutamine. Furthermore, TbNre1 mRNA was found to be up-regulated during T. borchii and T. platyphyllos interaction. All these data suggest that the regulatory protein TBNRE1 cou... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077096 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2077096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077097&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19112563%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bégu D, Araya A We studied the genomic structure and RNA editing of mitochondrial cox1, cox2, cob and atp9 from the horsetail Equisetum arvense, a representative of an old fern lineage. Editing of cox1, cob and atp9 mRNAs occur only by C-to-U transitions. No changes were found in cox2 transcripts constituting one of the rare examples of unedited mitochondrial mRNA in land plants. From three intervening sequences in cox1, cox1i395 and cox1i624 are group IB introns homologous to the Marchantia polymorpha cox1 introns, and cox1i747 is a group IIA intron different to other introns found in plant mtDNA. The group II intron cox2i373 is very similar to other introns found in cox2 from vascular plants. While cob and atp9 have no introns and display the gene structure found in see... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077097 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2077097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2066273&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19107486%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kreimer G Most flagellate green algae exhibiting phototaxis posses a singular specialized light sensitive organelle, the eyespot apparatus (EA). Its design principles are similar in all green algae and produce, in conjunction with the movement pattern of the cell, a highly directional optical device. It enables an oriented movement response with respect to the direction and intensity of light. The functional EA involves local specializations of different compartments (plasma membrane, cytosol, and chloroplast) and utilizes specialized microbial-type rhodopsins, which act as directly light-gated ion channels. Due to their elaborate structures and the presence of retinal-based photoreceptors in some lineages, algal EAs are thought to play an important role in the evolution of ph... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2066273 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2066273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2042828&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19083240%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duchêne AM, Pujol C, Maréchal-Drouard L During evolution, most of the bacterial genes from the ancestral endosymbiotic alpha-proteobacteria at the origin of mitochondria have been either lost or transferred to the nuclear genome. A crucial evolutionary step was the establishment of macromolecule import systems to allow the come back of proteins and RNAs into the organelle. Paradoxically, the few mitochondria-encoded protein genes remain essential and must be translated by a mitochondrial translation machinery mainly constituted by nucleus-encoded components. Two crucial partners of the mitochondrial translation machinery are the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and the tRNAs. All mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and many tRNAs are imported from the cytosol into the... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2042828 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2042828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1993707&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19034452%26dopt%3DAbstract This study allowed enlarging the assortment of P. ostreatus laccases and increasing knowledge to improve laccase production. PMID: 19034452 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Genetics) Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1993707 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1993707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1956551&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19002465%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hagiwara D, Kondo A, Fujioka T, Abe K Calcium signaling systems are widely employed in eukaryotes and are implicated in the regulation of diverse biological processes. Calcineurin is an important signaling component, which mediates ion homeostasis and virulence in several fungi. Based on intensive studies conducted on budding yeast, transcription factor Crz1p is thought to be a target of calcineurin. To provide insight into calcium signaling, a Crz1p homolog (CrzA) in a filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans was identified and its function with special reference to calcium response was characterized. A crzA gene disruption mutant exhibited sensitivity to high concentrations of Mn(2+) and Ca(2+), and mediated the expression of P-type calcium-ATPase homologous genes. Comprehens... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1956551 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1956551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1941002&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18987859%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barnay-Verdier S, Beckerich JM, Boisramé A This paper reports the identification and the characterization of two new components of Yarrowia lipolytica Golgi multi-protein complexes. Blast analysis on the Y. lipolytica complete genome allowed us to find a new alpha-1,6-mannosyltransferase, YlAnl2p, which displays an overall identity of 59% and shares a Golgi cellular localization with the previously described YlAnl1p. Moreover, YlAnl2p was shown to directly interact with YlMnn9p using the two-hybrid system suggesting that the two proteins form a second Golgi sub-complex. In order to further elucidate the composition of the Y. lipolytica Golgi complexes containing alpha-1,6-mannosyltransferases, as M-Pol complexes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two-hybrid screens were perform... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1941002 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1941002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1941001&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18987860%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rubio MB, Cardoza RE, Hermosa R, Gutiérrez S, Monte E The cloning and characterization of the Thcut1 gene, which encodes a cutinase protein of the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma harzianum T34, is reported. Cutinases, which are secreted enzymes that hydrolyse cutin, belong to a class of serine esterases able to hydrolyze fatty acid esters and emulsified triglycerides. The Thcut1 gene was isolated by screening of a genomic DNA library from EST 2104, generated from a T. harzianum T34 cDNA library constructed under mycoparasitic and nutrient stress conditions, as a probe. Thcut1 shows similarity with fungal cutinase genes and is present as a single copy in the genome of T. harzianum. RNA blot analyses revealed that Thcut1 mRNA is strongly induced in vitro by olive oil and the ... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1941001 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1941001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1857365&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18836726%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brunner K, Omann M, Pucher ME, Delic M, Lehner SM, Domnanich P, Kratochwill K, Druzhinina I, Denk D, Zeilinger S Galpha subunits act to regulate vegetative growth, conidiation, and the mycoparasitic response in Trichoderma atroviride. To extend our knowledge on G protein signalling, we analysed G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). As the genome sequence of T. atroviride is not publicly available yet, we carried out an in silico exploration of the genome database of the close relative T. reesei. Twenty genes encoding putative GPCRs distributed over eight classes and additional 35 proteins similar to the Magnaporthe grisea PTH11 receptor were identified. Subsequently, four T. atroviride GPCR-encoding genes were isolated and affiliated to the cAMP receptor-like family by phylogen... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1857365 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1857365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1830853&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18813928%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smith CA, Robertson D, Yates B, Nielsen DM, Brown D, Dean RA, Payne GA Naturally occurring Antisense Transcripts (NATs) compose an emerging group of regulatory RNAs. These regulatory elements appear in all organisms examined, but little is known about global expression of NATs in fungi. Analysis of currently available EST sequences suggests that 352 cis NATs are present in Aspergillus flavus. An Affymetrix GeneChip((R)) microarray containing probes for these cis NATs, as well as all predicted genes in A. flavus, allowed a whole genome expression analysis of these elements in response to two ecologically important temperatures for the fungus. RNA expression analysis showed that 32 NATs and 2,709 genes were differentially expressed between 37 degrees C, the optimum temperature f... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1830853 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1830853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818301&cid=s_38081_50_f&fid=38081&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18807043%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bakhrat A, Baranes-Bachar K, Reshef D, Voloshin O, Krichevsky O, Raveh D Exportin-5, an evolutionarily conserved nuclear export factor of the beta-karyopherin family, exports phosphorylated proteins and small noncoding RNAs. Msn5, the yeast ortholog, exports primarily phosphorylated cargoes including Ho endonuclease and a number of transcription factors and regulatory proteins. The Msn5-mediated nuclear export of Ho is dependent on phosphorylation of Thr225 by kinases of the DNA damage response pathway. Although Msn5 has been the object of many studies, no NES sequence capable of binding the exportin and/or of leading to Msn5-dependent export of a heterologous protein has been identified. Here we report identification of a 13-residue Ho sequence that interacts with Msn5 in vit... Current Genetics journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818301 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818301