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 'Fungal Genetics and Biology' source. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:32:08 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5656185&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22293303%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, two genomes of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor strains S238N-H82 (from North America) and 81306 (from Europe) were surveyed to construct a comprehensive genome-wide inventory of hydrophobins and to explore their characteristics and roles during host colonization. The S238N-H82 L. bicolor hydrophobin gene family is composed of 12 genes while the 81306 strain encodes nine hydrophobins, all corresponding to class I hydrophobins. The three extra hydrophobin genes encoded by the S238N-H82 genome likely arose via gene duplication and are bordered by transposon rich regions. Expression profiles of the hydrophobin genes of L. bicolor varied greatly depending on life stage (e.g. free living mycelium vs. root colonization) and on the host root environment. We conclu... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5656185 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5656185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5656186&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22285471%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bokor AA, Kohn LM, Poulter RT, van Kan JA Abstract The mobile elements termed inteins have a sporadic distribution in microorganisms. It is unclear how these elements are maintained. Inteins are intervening protein sequences that autocatalytically excise themselves from a precursor. Excision is a post-translational process referred to as 'protein splicing' in which the sequences flanking the intein are ligated, reforming the mature host protein. Some inteins contain a homing endonuclease domain (HEG) that is proposed to facilitate propagation of the intein element within a gene pool. We have previously demonstrated that the HEG of the PRP8 intein is highly active during meiosis in Botrytis cinerea. Here we analysed the Prp8 gene status in 21 additional Botrytis species to ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5656186 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5656186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5595441&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22240319%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lamb TM, Finch KE, Bell-Pedersen D Abstract The OS-pathway mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade of Neurospora crassa is responsible for adaptation to osmotic stress. Activation of the MAPK, OS-2, leads to the transcriptional induction of many genes involved in the osmotic stress response. We previously demonstrated that there is a circadian rhythm in the phosphorylation of OS-2 under constant non-stress inducing conditions. Additionally, several osmotic stress-induced genes are known to be regulated by the circadian clock. Therefore, we investigated if rhythms in activation of OS-2 lead to circadian rhythms in other known stress responsive targets. Here we identify three more osmotic stress induced genes as rhythmic: cat-1, gcy-1, and gcy-3. These genes encode a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5595441 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5595441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5595443&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22230096%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Groot PW, Brandt BW Abstract Surface proteins, such as those located in the cell wall of fungi, play an important role in the interaction with the surrounding environment. For instance, they mediate primary host-pathogen interactions and are crucial to the establishment of biofilms and fungal infections. Surface localization of proteins is determined by specific sequence features and can be predicted by combining different freely available web servers. However, user-friendly tools that allow rapid analysis of large datasets (whole proteomes or larger) in subsequent analyses were not yet available. Here, we present the web tool ProFASTA, which integrates multiple tools for rapid scanning of protein sequence properties in large datasets and returns sequences in FASTA form... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5595443 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5595443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5595442&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22233882%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Freire MC, Silva MR, Zhang X, Almeida AM, Stacey G, Oliveira LO Abstract The assessment of nucleotide polymorphisms in environmental samples of obligate pathogens requires DNA amplification through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial cloning of PCR products prior to sequencing. The drawback of this strategy is that it can give rise to false polymorphisms owing to DNA polymerase misincorporation during PCR or bacterial cloning. We investigated patterns of nucleotide polymorphism in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for Phakopsora pachyrhizi, an obligate biotrophic fungus that causes the Asian soybean rust. Field-collected samples of P. pachyrhizi were obtained from all major soybean production areas worldwide, including Brazil and the United States.... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5595442 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5595442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5595444&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22227160%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chettri P, Calvo AM, Cary JW, Dhingra S, Guo Y, McDougal RL, Bradshaw RE Abstract Fungi possess genetic systems to regulate the expression of genes involved in complex processes such as development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The product of the velvet gene veA, first identified and characterized in Aspergillus nidulans, is a key player in the regulation of both of these processes. Since its discovery and characterization in many Aspergillus species, VeA has been found to have similar functions in other fungi, including the Dothideomycete Mycosphaerella graminicola. Another Dothideomycete, Dothistroma septosporum, is a pine needle pathogen that produces dothistromin, a polyketide toxin very closely related to aflatoxin (AF) and sterigmatocystin (ST) synthesized b... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5595444 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5595444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5576694&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22222772%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schachtschabel D, Arentshorst M, Lagendijk EL, Ram AF Abstract The identification of suitable targets is crucial for the discovery and development of new antifungals. Since the fungal cell wall is an essential organelle, the identification of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis is expected to help discover new antifungal targets. From our previously obtained collection of cell wall mutants with a constitutively active cell wall stress response pathway, we selected a thermosensitive, osmotic-remediable mutant with decreased resistance to SDS for complementation analysis. The phenotypes of this mutant were complemented by a gene encoding a protein with high sequence similarity to subunit d of the eukaryotic Vacuolar-H(+)-ATPase (VmaD). Genetic analysis of this thermosen... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5576694 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5576694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557926&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22209968%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bello MH, Barrera-Perez V, Morin D, Epstein L Abstract Ergothioneine (EGT) is a histidine derivative with sulfur on the imidazole ring and a trimethylated amine; it is postulated to have an antioxidant function. Although EGT apparently is only produced by fungi and some prokaryotes, it is acquired by animals and plants from the environment, and is concentrated in animal tissues in cells with an EGT transporter. Monobromobimane derivatives of EGT allowed conclusive identification of EGT by LC/MS and the quantification of EGT in Colletotrichum graminicola and Neurospora crassa conidia and mycelia. EGT concentrations were significantly (α=0.05) higher in conidia than in mycelia, with approximately 17X and 5X more in C. graminicola and N. crassa, respectively. The first EGT b... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5557926 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557927&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22202811%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luo H, Hallen-Adams HE, Scott-Craig JS, Walton JD Abstract Amatoxins, including α-amanitin, are bicyclic octapeptides found in mushrooms (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales) of certain species in the genera Amanita, Galerina, Lepiota, and Conocybe. Amatoxins and the chemically similar phallotoxins are synthesized on ribosomes in Amanita bisporigera, Amanita phalloides, and Amanita ocreata. In order to determine if amatoxins are synthesized by a similar mechanism in another, distantly related mushroom, we obtained genome survey sequence data from a monokaryotic isolate of Galerinamarginata, which produces α-amanitin. The genome of G. marginata contains two copies of the α-amanitin gene (GmAMA1-1 and GmAMA1-2). The α-amanitin proprotein sequences of G. marginata (35 amino acids)... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5557927 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557929&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22202809%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Long LK, Yang J, An Y, Liu G Abstract Glutathione is a ubiquitous thiol in eukaryotic cells, and its high intracellular ratio of reduced form (GSH) to oxidized form (GSSG) is largely maintained by glutathione reductase (GR) using NADPH as electron donor. glrA, a glutathione reductase encoding gene, was found and cloned from Acremonium chrysogenum by searching its genomic sequence based on similarity. Its deduced protein exhibits high similarity to GRs of other eukaryotic organisms. Disruption of glrA resulted in lack of GR activity and accumulation of a high level of GSSG in A. chrysogenum. Overexpression of glrA dramatically enhanced GR activity and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in this fungus. The spore germination and hyphal growth of glrA disruption mutant was strongly reduced... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5557929 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5557928&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22202810%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kong W, Huang C, Chen Q, Zou Y, Zhang J Abstract High temperature is one of the major impediments limiting the growth and development of most edible fungi. While many efforts have been made in agricultural practice, the mechanism for resistance to high temperature remains elusive. Nitric oxide (NO) is considered as a signaling molecule involved in regulation of diverse physiological processes and stress responses in animals and plants. However, the role of NO in regulating fungal, particularly edible fungi, response to abiotic stresses, is unknown. The present study demonstrated that NO could effectively alleviate oxidative damage induced by heat stress in mycelia of Pleurotus eryngii var. tuoliensis. Heat stress induced increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TB... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5557928 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5557928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5544808&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22198055%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Giacometti R, Kronberg F, Biondi RM, Hernández AI, Passeron S Abstract In the pathogen Candida albicans protein kinase A (PKA) catalytic subunit is encoded by two genes TPK1 and TPK2 and the regulatory subunit by one gene, BCY1. PKA mediates several cellular processes such as cell cycle regulation and the yeast to hyphae transition, a key factor for C. albicans virulence. The catalytic isoforms Tpk1p and Tpk2p share redundant functions in vegetative growth and hyphal development, though they differentially regulate glycogen metabolism, the stress response pathway and pseudohyphal formation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae it was earlier reported that BCY1 overexpression not only increased the amount of TPK3 mRNA but also its catalytic activity. In C. albicans a significant de... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5544808 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5544808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526514&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22178638%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Priegnitz BE, Wargenau A, Brandt U, Rohde M, Dietrich S, Kwade A, Krull R, Fleißner A Abstract Fungi grow on a great variety of organic and inorganic materials. Colony establishment and growth on solid surfaces require adhesion of spores and hyphae to the substrate, while cell-to-cell interactions among spores and/or hyphae are a prerequisite for the development of three-dimensional mycelial structures such as pellets or biofilms. Surface adherence has been described as a two-step process, comprised of the initial attachment of ungerminated conidia followed by further adhesion of the forming germ tubes and growing hyphae. In the present study, we analyzed the contribution of adhesion of ungerminated spores to pellet and biofilm formation in Aspergillus niger. Mutants defi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526514 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526513&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22178648%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Al-Reedy RM, Malireddy R, Dillman CB, Kennell JC Abstract The mitochondrial (mt) genomes of Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium solani and Fusarium graminearum were annotated and found to be 53.7, 63.0 and 95.7kb in length, respectively. The genomes encode all genes typically associated with mtDNAs of filamentous fungi yet are considerably larger than the mt genome of F. oxysporum. Size differences are largely due to the number of group I introns. Surprisingly, the genomes contain a highly variable region of 7-9kb that encodes an exceptionally large, unidentified open reading frame (uORF). The region has the hallmarks of a horizontally transmitted DNA and was likely acquired prior to the divergence of Fusarium species. Two additional uORFs were detected that are also under ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526513 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526515&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22155165%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mojzita D, Koivistoinen OM, Maaheimo H, Penttilä M, Ruohonen L, Richard P Abstract For the catabolism of d-galactose three different metabolic pathways have been described in filamentous fungi. Apart from the Leloir pathway and the oxidative pathway, there is an alternative oxido-reductive pathway. This oxido-reductive pathway has similarities to the metabolic pathway of l-arabinose, and in Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) and Aspergillus nidulans the same enzyme is employed for the oxidation of l-arabitol and galactitol. Here we show evidence that in Aspergillus nigerl-arabitol dehydrogenase (LadA) is not involved in the d-galactose metabolism; instead another dehydrogenase encoding gene, ladB, is induced in response to d-galactose and galactitol and functions as a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526515 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526518&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142781%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Colabardini AC, Humanes AC, Gouvea PF, Savoldi M, Goldman MH, Kress MR, Bayram O, Oliveira JV, Gomes MD, Braus GH, Goldman GH Abstract The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has been used as a fungal model system to study the regulation of xylanase production. These genes are activated at transcriptional level by the master regulator the transcriptional factor XlnR and repressed by carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mediated by the wide-domain repressor CreA. Here, we screened a collection of 42 A. nidulans F-box deletion mutants grown either in xylose or xylan as the single carbon source in the presence of the glucose analog 2-deoxy-d-glucose, aiming to identify mutants that have deregulated xylanase induction. We were able to recognize a null mutant in a gene (fbxA)... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526518 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526516&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22146805%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pham CD, Yu Z, Ben Lovely C, Agarwal C, Myers DA, Paul JA, Cooper M, Barati M, Perlin MH Abstract The main determinant of pathogenicity in Ustilago maydis is the b-mating locus, where establishment of heterozygosity is sufficient to cause galls/tumors on maize plants. However, matings between haploids where one partner contains a mutation, in e.g., the smu1 gene, encoding a Ste20-like PAK kinase, often show reduced mating and pathogenicity compared to wild type. Here we show that similarly, diploids lacking one copy of smu1, are reduced in production of aerial hyphae, but do not show significantly-reduced virulence. Haplo-insufficiency was also observed for additional genes. UmPde1 is a cyclic phosphodiesterase involved in cAMP turnover as part of the cAMP-dependent PKA pa... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526516 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526517&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22142782%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gallo-Ebert C, McCourt PC, Donigan M, Villasmil ML, Chen W, Pandya D, Franco J, Romano D, Chadwick SG, Gygax SE, Nickels JT Abstract The lipid transporter Arv1 regulates sterol trafficking, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol and sphingolipid biosyntheses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ScArv1 contains an Arv1 homology domain (AHD) that is conserved at the amino acid level in the pathogenic fungal species, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Here we show S. cerevisiae cells lacking Arv1 are highly susceptible to antifungal drugs. In the presence of drug, Scarv1 cells are unable to induce ERG gene expression, have an altered pleiotrophic drug response, and are defective in multi-drug resistance efflux pump expression. All phenotypes are remediated by ectopic expression of CaAR... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526517 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5526517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5472391&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22119766%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Takai H, Iwama R, Kobayashi S, Horiuchi H, Fukuda R, Ohta A Abstract The initial hydroxylation of n-alkane is catalyzed by cytochrome P450ALK of the CYP52 family in the n-alkane-assimilating yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. A mutant with a deletion of all 12 genes, ALK1 to ALK12, which are deduced to encode cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 family in Y. lipolytica, was successfully constructed. This deletion mutant, Δalk1-12, completely lost the ability to grow on n-alkanes of 10-16 carbons. In contrast, Δalk1-12 grew on the metabolite of n-dodecane, i.e., n-dodecanol, n-dodecanal, or n-dodecanoic acid, as well as the wild-type strain. In addition, production of n-dodecanoic acid was not observed when Δalk1-12 was incubated in the presence of n-dodecane. These results indicate th... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5472391 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5472391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5453319&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22100541%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reyes-Dominguez Y, Boedi S, Sulyok M, Wiesenberger G, Stoppacher N, Krska R, Strauss J Abstract Chromatin modifications and heterochromatic marks have been shown to be involved in the regulation of secondary metabolism gene clusters in the fungal model system Aspergillus nidulans. We examine here the role of HEP1, the heterochromatin protein homolog of Fusarium graminearum, for the production of secondary metabolites. Deletion of Hep1 in a PH-1 background strongly influences expression of genes required for the production of aurofusarin and the main tricothecene metabolite DON. In the Hep1 deletion strains AUR genes are highly up-regulated and aurofusarin production is greatly enhanced suggesting a repressive role for heterochromatin on gene expression of this cluster. Une... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5453319 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5453319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5453320&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22094057%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we unravel several genetic interactions that govern the HI functions of this gene complex. We use novel un-24(PA)het-6(OR) strains and het-6 deletion strains to demonstrate that nonallelic interactions occur between un-24 and het-6 and reveal an allelic incompatibility interaction between the OR and PA forms of un-24 that is asymmetrically enhanced by the presence of het-6(OR) or het-6(PA). We also show how two allelic forms of vib-1, a suppressor of het-c- and mat-associated incompatibility, differentially act as recessive suppressors of HI associated with nonallelic interactions between un-24(PA) and het-6(OR). In contrast, vib-1 is a dominant suppressor of HI associated with allelic differences at un-24 and a dominant partial suppressor of the un-24(OR) and het-6(PA) nonal... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5453320 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5453320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5412846&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079545%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tsavkelova E, Oeser B, Oren-Young L, Israeli M, Sasson Y, Tudzynski B, Sharon A Abstract The plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) can be synthesized from tryptophan via the intermediate indole-3-acetamide (IAM). The two genes, IaaM (encoding tryptophan monooxygenase) and IaaH (encoding indole-3-acetamide hydrolase) that constitute the IAM pathway have been described in plant-associated bacteria. We have identified putative homologs of the bacterial IaaM and IaaH genes in four Fusarium species -Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium fujikuroi, and Fusarium oxysporum. In all four species the two genes are organized next to each other in a head to head orientation and are separated by a short non-coding regiony. However, the pathway is fully functional ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5412846 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5412846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5412845&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22079546%26dopt%3DAbstract This study analyzed 199 independent Chinese C. albicans isolates using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and microsatellite typing, with the focus on the isolates associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) of Chinese women. MLST data of 221 vaginal isolates from other countries available from the consensus MLST database of C. albicans were retrieved for comparison. A total of 124 diploid sequence types (DSTs) were recognized from the Chinese C. albicans isolates, among which, 98 (79.0%) have not been reported in the MLST database of the species. The majority of the VVC (71.6%) and balanitis (92.3%) isolates from China were located in clade 1 of C. albicans; while only 40.6% of the vaginal isolates and 7.8% of the oral isolates from healthy volunteers were found in the same clade. Furth... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5412845 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5412845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5412849&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22056520%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramakrishnan M, Naga Sowjanya T, Raj KB, Kasbekar DP Abstract Meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA is a presumed RNAi-mediated elimination of the transcripts of any gene that is not properly paired with a homolog in meiosis. Eighty wild-isolated strains of Neurospora crassa were classified into three types based on the apparent strength of meiotic silencing of the bml (β-tubulin) and mei-3 genes in crosses with the ::Bml(r) and ::mei-3 tester strains. "OR" and "Sad" type wild-isolates, respectively, did or did not silence both the genes, whereas the "Esm" type (68 strains) silenced bml but not mei-3(+), suggesting an intermediate strength of silencing. Many wild strains, especially of the Esm type, gave fertile crosses with strains bearing the 148kbp chromosome segment dupli... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5412849 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5412849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5412848&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22056521%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jung JH, Kim J Abstract Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that grows as budding yeast, pseudohyphal, and hyphal forms. In response to external signals, C. albicans switches rapidly among these forms. mRNA-containing cytoplasmic granules, termed processing bodies (P-bodies), have been reported to accumulate under various environmental stress conditions in diverse species from yeast to mammals. Here, we provide the first microscopic and genetic characterization of P-bodies in C. albicans. The core components of P-bodies, including the decapping machinery (Dcp2 and Dhh1), 5'-3' exoribonuclease (Kem1/Xrn1), and the P-body scaffolding protein (Edc3), were identified and their localizations with respect to P-bodies were demonstrated. Various growth conditions,... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5412848 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5412848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5412847&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22056522%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liers C, Ullrich R, Hofrichter M, Minibayeva F, Beckett RP Abstract Lichens belonging to the order Peltigerales display strong activity of multi-copper oxidases (e.g. tyrosinase) as well as heme-containing peroxidases. The lichen peroxidase was purified to homogeneity from the thallus of Leptogium saturninum (LsaPOX) by fast protein liquid chromatography and then partially characterized. The oligomeric protein occurs as both 79kDa dimeric and 42kDa monomeric forms, and displayed broad substrate specificity. In addition to an ability to oxidize classic peroxidase substrates (e.g. 2,6-dimethoxyphenol), the enzyme could convert recalcitrant compounds such as synthetic dyes (e.g. Azure B and Reactive Blue 5), 4-nitrophenol and non-phenolic methoxylated aromatics (e.g. veratryl... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5412847 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5412847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5342257&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22008745%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel predicted bHLH protein-encoding gene, AO090023000902, designated ecdR (early conidiophore development regulator), in Aspergillus oryzae. The ecdR gene disruptant produced very few conidia. Conversely, the overexpression of ecdR resulted in the formation of a large number of conidia at an early stage, suggesting that the EcdR protein is required for early asexual development. Additionally, when serially diluted conidia were spread-cultivated onto malt agar medium, we found that conidial number of the control strain depended on the cultivated conidium density, while the ecdR-overexpressing strain showed no significant change in conidiation. These phenotypes of ecdR-disruptant and ecdR-overexpressing strains are partially similar to those o... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5342257 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5342257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5342258&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22004876%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was conducted to assess evolutionary relationships, species diversity and trichothecene toxin potential of five Fusarium graminearum complex (FGSC) isolates identified as genetically novel during prior Fusarium head blight (FHB) surveys in Nepal and Louisiana. Results of a multilocus genotyping (MLGT) assay for B-trichothecene species determination indicated these isolates might represent novel species within the FGSC. GCPSR-based phylogenetic analyses of a 12-gene dataset, comprising portions of seven loci totaling 13.1kb of aligned DNA sequence data, provided strong support for the genealogical exclusivity of the Nepalese and Louisianan isolates. Accordingly, both species are formally recognized herein as novel FGSC species. Fusarium nepalense was resolved as the sister lineag... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5342258 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5342258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5342260&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001287%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, by screening a set of knock-out mutants corresponding to 103 transcription factor encoding genes in Neurospora crassa, a mutant was found to produce abundant conidia in race tubes in which conidiation in the wild-type strain was suppressed. The corresponding gene NCU00749 encodes a protein containing a helix-loop-helix DNA binding region. Unlike enhanced conidiation in ras-1 and sod-1 mutants, which was completely suppressed by antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, enhanced conidiation in the NCU00749 mutant was only slightly affected by N-acetyl cysteine. When grown on slants, the NCU00749 deletion mutant exhibited earlier conidial formation than the wild-type strain, and this was more evident at a higher (5%) CO(2) concentration. Therefore, we named NCU00749 as conidiation at hig... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5342260 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5342260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5342259&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22001288%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fernandes AS, Pedro Gonçalves A, Castro A, Lopes TA, Gardner R, Louise Glass N, Videira A Abstract An analysis of the time-dependent genetic response to the death-inducer staurosporine was performed in Neurospora crassa by transcriptional profiling. Staurosporine induced two major genes encoding an ABC transporter and a protein with similarity to regulatory subunits of potassium channels. The transcriptional response is dependent on the activity of a novel transcription factor. Deletion mutants in differentially expressed genes displayed altered sensitivity to staurosporine, underscoring significant proteins involved in the response to the drug. A null-mutant of the ABC transporter (abc3) is extremely sensitive to staurosporine, accumulates more staurosporine than the wil... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5342259 Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5342259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5273112&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21945996%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: García Blanco S, Muñoz J, Torres I, Díez Posada S, Gómez BL, McEwen JG, Restrepo S, García AM Abstract p27 is an antigenic protein produced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the etiologic agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Despite its unknown function, it has been suggested as a putative virulence factor, proposed as a suitable target for the design of diagnostic tools and vaccines, and considered as an enhancer in antifungal treatment of PCM. We evaluated sequence polymorphisms of PbP27 gene sequence among isolates, finding some polymorphisms associated with the isolates' phylogenetic origin. In order to determine if there was a differential expression pattern between morphological states and among isolates, we also evaluated PbP27 expression, at transcriptional ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5273112 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5273112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5215736&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21907298%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Navarro-Velasco GY, Prados-Rosales RC, Ortíz-Urquiza A, Quesada-Moraga E, Di Pietro A Abstract Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of vascular wilt disease, affects a wide range of plant species and can produce disseminated infections in humans. F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici isolate FGSC 9935 causes disease both on tomato plants and immunodepressed mice, making it an ideal model for the comparative analysis of fungal virulence on plant and animal hosts. Here we tested the ability of FGSC 9935 to cause disease in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, an invertebrate model host that is widely used for the study of microbial human pathogens. Injection of living but not of heat-killed microconidia into the hemocoel of G. mellonella larvae resulted in dose-dependent kil... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5215736 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5215736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5215735&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21907817%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pérez-Tienda J, Testillano PS, Balestrini R, Fiorilli V, Azcón-Aguilar C, Ferrol N Abstract In the symbiotic association of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the fungus delivers mineral nutrients, such as phosphate and nitrogen, to the plant while receiving carbon. Previously, we identified an NH(4)(+) transporter in the AM fungus Glomus intraradices (GintAMT1) involved in NH(4)(+) uptake from the soil when preset at low concentrations. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new G. intraradicesNH(4)(+) transporter gene (GintAMT2). Yeast mutant complementation assays showed that GintAMT2 encodes a functional NH(4)(+) transporter. The use of an anti-GintAMT2 polyclonal antibody revealed a plasma membrane location of GintAMT2. GintAMT1 and GintA... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5215735 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5215735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5215734&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21907818%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we show that molecular dynamics simulations combined with site-directed mutagenesis of amino acid substitutions in the cyp51A gene, correlate to the structure-function relationship of the L98H substitution conferring to MAR in A. fumigatus. Because of a L98H directed change in the flexibility of the loops, that comprise a gate-like structure in the protein, the capacity of the two ligand entry channels is modified by narrowing the diameter and thereby binding of azoles is obstructed. Moreover, the L98H induced relocation of tyrosine 121 and tyrosine 107 seems to be related to the MAR phenotype, without affecting the biological activity of the CYP51A protein. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that both the 34bp TR and the L98H mutation are required to obtain the MAR phenotype.... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5215734 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5215734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5215737&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21889597%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) followed by pyrosequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR were used to identify genes that are selectively expressed when vegetatively incompatible individuals of Amylostereum areolatum interact. The SSH library contained genes associated with various cellular processes, including cell-cell adhesion, stress and defence responses, as well as cell death. Some of the transcripts encoded proteins that were previously implicated in the stress and defence responses associated with vegetative incompatibility. Other transcripts encoded proteins known to be associated with programmed cell death, but have not previously been linked with vegetative incompatibility. Results of this study have considerably increased our knowledge of... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5215737 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5215737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147437&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21840411%26dopt%3DAbstract This study also revealed that loss of copper-independent siderophore-mediated iron uptake increases sensitivity of A. fumigatus to copper starvation due to copper-dependence of RIA. PMID: 21840411 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147437 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138988&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21840412%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tiwari A, Korripally P, Adhikarla H, Patnala K, Parmarthi MM, Bhanoori M Our previous in silico studies identified a high-affinity nickel transporter, TNC, from the metal transportome of Neurospora crassa. A knockout mutant of the tnc gene in N. crassa failed to transport nickel, showed phenotypic growth defects and diminished urease activity under physiological levels of nickel. Transport assays conducted in wild type and knockout mutant strains showed that TNC transports nickel with high affinity but exhibits selectivity for other transition metal ions like cobalt. Heterologous complementation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe nickel uptake mutant by TNC further substantiates its nickel transport function. Transcriptional analysis of the nickel transporter encoding gene, tnc in N... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138988 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5138988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5138984&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21840413%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bhatti MF, Jamal A, Petrou MA, Cairns TC, Bignell EM, Coutts RH Some isolates of the opportunistic human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are known to be infected with mycoviruses. The dsRNA genomes of two of these mycoviruses, which include a chrysovirus and a partitivirus, have been completely sequenced and an RT-PCR assay for the viruses has been developed. Through curing virus-infected A. fumigatus isolates by cycloheximide treatment and transfecting virus-free isolates with purified virus, as checked by RT-PCR, isogenic virus-free and virus-infected lines of the fungus were generated whose phenotypes and growth have been directly compared. Mycovirus infection of A. fumigatus with either the chrysovirus or the partitivirus resulted in significant aberrant phenotypic... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5138984 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5138984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147439&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21839848%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kokkelink L, Minz A, Al-Masri M, Giesbert S, Barakat R, Sharon A, Tudzynski P The small GTPase Cdc42 plays a central role in various processes in eukaryotic cells including growth, differentiation and cytoskeleton organization. Whereas it is essential in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, its role in filamentous fungi differs, due to the complementing, partly overlapping function of Rac. We analyzed the role of the Cdc42 homologue in the necrotrophic, broad host range pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Deletion mutants of bccdc42 showed various growth abnormalities; the mutants had reduced growth rate and hyphal branching, they produced fewer conidia, which were enlarged and misshapen and had germination defects. Additionally, the mutants were impaired in sclerotia development. Cytol... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147439 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147438&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21839849%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scazzocchio C PMID: 21839849 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147438 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5147440&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21820070%26dopt%3DAbstract We report that a sun41Δ/Δ mutant is defective in biofilm formation in vivo, and that the SUN41-DAmP allele complements that defect. This finding argues that Sun41 may not be an ideal therapeutic target for biofilm inhibition, since a 90% decrease in activity has little effect on biofilm formation in vivo. We anticipate that DAmP alleles of C. albicans genes will be informative for analysis of other prospective drug targets, including essential genes. PMID: 21820070 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5147440 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5147440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5090143&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21801845%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos A, Marquina D PMKT (Pichia membranifaciens killer toxin) reportedly has antimicrobial activity against yeasts and filamentous fungi. In previous research we posited that high PMKT concentrations pose a serious challenge for cell survival by disrupting plasma membrane electrochemical gradients, inducing a transcriptional response similar to that of certain stimuli such as hyperosmotic shock. This response was related to the HOG-pathway with Hog1p phosphorylation and a transitional increase in intracellular glycerol accumulation. Such a response was consistent with the notion that the effect induced by high PMKT concentrations lies in an alteration to the ionic homeostasis of the sensitive cell. By contrast, the evidence presented here shows that low PMKT doses lead to a ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5090143 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5090143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5090142&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21807107%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Szewczyk E, Oakley BR Mitosis in Aspergillus nidulans is very rapid, requiring less than 5min at 37°C in germlings (Bergen and Morris, 1983). In this time the cytoplasmic microtubules (MTs) must disassemble, the mitotic spindle assemble, function and disassemble, and cytoplasmic MTs reassemble. It follows that cytoplasmic MTs must be extremely dynamic in this period and we were interested, in particular, in examining the processes of MT disassembly in prophase and reassembly in anaphase and telophase. We observed a diploid strain that expressed GFP-α-tubulin. We used a spinning disk confocal microscope that allowed rapid image capture, which proved necessary because microtubule dynamics were extremely rapid. We found, for the first time, that microtubule severing occurs in p... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5090142 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5090142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5090141&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21807108%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Courdavault V, Millerioux Y, Clastre M, Simkin AJ, Marais E, Crèche J, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, Papon N Candida guilliermondii is an emerging fungal agent of candidiasis often associated with oncology patients. This yeast also remains a promising biotechnological model for the industrial production of value-added metabolites. In the present study, we developed a recipient strain as well as a set of plasmids for construction of fluorescent protein (FP) fusions in this species. We demonstrated that C. guilliermondii phosphoglycerate kinase transcription-regulating sequences allow a constitutive expression of codon-optimized green, cyan, yellow and mCherry FP genes in C. guilliermondii cells and the fluorescence signal could be directly observed at the colony and blastospore level ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5090141 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5090141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5090144&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21784165%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tzeng YW, Huang JN, Schuyler SC, Wu CH, Juang YL In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cell cycle progression and cytokinesis at mitotic exit are proposed to be linked by CDC14 phosphatase antagonizing the function of mitotic B-type cyclin (CLBs). We have isolated a temperature-sensitive mutant, cdc14(A280V), with a mutation in the conserved phosphatase domain. Prolonged arrest in the cdc14(A280V) mutant partially uncoupled cell cycle progression from the completion of cytokinesis as measured by bud re-emergence, in the form of elongated apical projections, and DNA re-replication. In contrast to previous mitotic exit mutants, cdc14(A280V) mutants displayed a strong bias for the first apical projection to form in the mother cell body. Using cdc14(A280V) mutant phenotyp... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5090144 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5090144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039421&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21763446%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Qin L, Gong X, Xie J, Jiang D, Cheng J, Li G, Huang J, Fu Y Coniothyrium minitans is an important sclerotial parasite of the fungal phytopathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Previously, we constructed a T-DNA insertional library, and screened for many conidiation-deficient mutants from this library. Here, we report a T-DNA insertional mutant ZS-1T21882 that completely lost conidiation. In mutant ZS-1T21882, the T-DNA was integrated into a gene (CmPrat-1) which encodes phosphoribosylamidotransferase (PRAT, EC 2.4.2.14), an enzyme catalyzing the first committed step in de novo purine nucleotide synthesis. Gene replacement and complementation experiments confirmed that phosphoribosylamidotransferase is essential for conidiation of C. minitans. Mutant ZS-1T21882 did not grow on mod... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039421 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039423&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21704720%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corrales Escobosa AR, Rangel Porras RA, Meza Carmen V, Gonzalez Hernandez GA, Torres Guzman JC, Wrobel K, Wrobel K, Roncero MI, Gutierrez Corona JF An alcohol dehydrogenase gene, adh1, has been identified in the vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that adh1 is highly expressed in mycelia grown in potato dextrose liquid medium (PDB) under hypoxic conditions, as compared to mycelia grown under aerobic conditions. One spontaneous allyl alcohol-resistant (Ally(R)) mutant exhibited insertion of an incomplete F.oxysporum transposable element, while another mutant contained a short (13 nucleotide) deletion, in both cases interrupting the coding region of the adh1 gene. These mutations c... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039423 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039422&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21708278%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paes HC, Mello-de-Sousa TM, Fernandes L, Teixeira MD, Melo RD, Derengowski LD, Torres FA, Felipe MS Thermodimorphic fungi include most causative agents of systemic mycoses, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie their defining trait, i.e. the ability to shift between mould and yeast on temperature change alone, remain poorly understood. We hypothesised that the heat shock factor (Hsf), a protein that evolved to sense thermal stimuli quickly, might play a role in this process in addition to the known regulator Drk1 and the Ryp proteins. To test this hypothesis, we characterised the Hsf from the thermodimorph Paracoccidioides lutzii (formerly Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolate 01). We show in the present work that PlHsf possesses regulatory domains that are exclusive of t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039422 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039426&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21693196%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Afroz S, El-Ganiny AM, Sanders DA, Kaminskyj SG Galactofuranose (Galf) is the 5-member-ring form of galactose found in the walls of fungi including Aspergillus, but not in mammals. UDP-galactofuranose mutase (UgmA, ANID_3112.1) generates UDP-Galf from UDP-galactopyranose (6-member ring form). UgmA-GFP is cytoplasmic, so the UDP-Galf residues it produces must be transported into an endomembrane compartment prior to incorporation into cell wall components. ANID_3113.1 (which we call UgtA) was identified as being likely to encode the A. nidulans UDP-Galf transporter, based on its high amino acid sequence identity with A. fumigatus GlfB. The ugtAΔ phenotype resembled that of ugmAΔ, which had compact colonies, wide, highly branched hyphae, and reduced sporulation. Like ugmAΔ, th... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039426 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039425&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21703356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodriguez Estrada AE, Hegeman A, Corby Kistler H, May G The goal of this research was to determine mechanisms of interaction between endophytic strains of Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg and the pathogen, Ustilago maydis (DC) (Corda). Endophytic strains of the fungus F. verticillioides are commonly found in association with maize (Zea mays) and when co-inoculated with U. maydis, often lead to decreased disease severity caused by the pathogen. Here, we developed methods (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) to evaluate changes in relative concentration of metabolites produced during in vitro interactions between the endophyte and pathogen. Fungi were grown on two different media, in single and in confronted cultures. We used real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to measure... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039425 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039424&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21704178%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakazawa T, Ando Y, Kitaaki K, Nakahori K, Kamada T Coprinopsis cinerea is a model for studies of sexual development in agaricomycetes (homobasidiomycetes). Efficient gene targeting should facilitate such studies, especially because increasing genome and transcriptome information is now available in C. cinerea. To estimate the frequency of gene disruption by homologous integration in this fungus, we tried to disrupt Cc.wc-2, which encodes a WC-2 homolog, a partner of the fungal blue-light photoreceptor, WC-1. Disruption of Cc.wc-2 did not occur when recipients (protoplasts) of the disrupting construct were prepared from asexual spores, oidia, from the wild type, 326, while it occurred when protoplasts were prepared from mycelial cells from the same strain, albeit at a low freq... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039424 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039428&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683149%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe the functional, biochemical and genetic characterization of the entire d-galacturonate-specific catabolic pathway in the plant pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. The B. cinerea genome contains two non-homologous galacturonate reductase genes (Bcgar1 and Bcgar2), a galactonate dehydratase gene (Bclgd1), and a 2-keto-3-deoxy-l-galactonate aldolase gene (Bclga1). Their expression levels were highly induced in cultures containing GalA, pectate, or pectin as the sole carbon source. The four proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and their enzymatic activity was characterized. Targeted gene replacement of all four genes in B. cinerea, either separately or in combinations, yielded mutants that were affected in growth on d-galacturonic acid, pectate, or pectin as the sole carbon ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039428 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5039427&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21683150%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dippe M, Ulbrich-Hofmann R Armillaria ostoyae is a phytopathogen infecting coniferous trees. Fruiting bodies of this basidiomycete contain high phospholipase A(1) (PLA(1)) activity. In this paper, the role of phospholipid-deacylating activity, which was also detected in fruiting bodies of other basidiomycetes, in the fungal lipid metabolism is elucidated. For A. ostoyae the occurrence of PLA(1) activity is shown to be restricted to the late reproductive phase, correlating with the release of mature spores. Specific expression in the spore-producing tissue provides evidence for the involvement of PLA(1) in spore formation. Based on lipid analysis, the degradation of membrane phospholipids in this tissue can be ascribed mainly to PLA(1) activity because other enzymes such as pho... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5039427 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5039427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4947340&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21664475%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hammond TM, Xiao H, Rehard DG, Boone EC, Perdue TD, Pukkila PJ, Shiu PK The double-joint polymerase chain reaction (DJ-PCR) is a technique that can be used to construct vectors for targeted genome integration without laborious subcloning steps. Here we report the availability of plasmids that facilitate DJ-PCR-based construction of Neurospora crassa tagging vectors. These plasmids allow the creation of green or red fluorescent protein (GFP or RFP) tagging vectors for protein localization studies, as well as split-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) tagging vectors for bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analyses. We have demonstrated the utility of each plasmid with the tagging of known meiotic silencing proteins. Microscopic analysis of the tagged strains indicates t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4947340 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4947340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4897904&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21619940%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Baidyaroy D, Hausner G, Fulbright DW, Bertrand H In the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, cytoplasmically transmissible hypovirulence phenotypes are elicited by debilitating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. In virus-free hypovirulent strains of C. parasitica from nature, the presence of a mitochondrial DNA element, named InC9, has been reported to cause similar disease syndromes. We have detected an additional mitochondrial element, termed plME-C9 (plasmid-like mitochondrial element C9) in some of the strains rendered hypovirulent by InC9. This element is a 1.4-kb DNA that exists in the mitochondria as monomeric and multimeric circular forms. Only a short 127-bp sequence of the plME-C9 DNA is derived from a region of the C. parasitica mtDNA that contains a r... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4897904 Tue, 17 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4897904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4897906&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21601644%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boutigny AL, Ward TJ, Van Coller GJ, Flett B, Lamprecht SC, O'Donnell K, Viljoen A Species identity and trichothecene toxin potential of 560 members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) collected from diseased wheat, barley and maize in South Africa was determined using a microsphere-based multilocus genotyping assay. Although three trichothecene types (3-ADON, 15-ADON and NIV) were represented among these isolates, strains with the 15-ADON type predominated on all three hosts. A significant difference, however, was identified in the composition of FGSC pathogens associated with Gibberella ear rot (GER) of maize as compared to Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat or barley (P<0.001). F. graminearum accounted for more than 85% of the FGSC isolates associated wit... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4897906 Fri, 13 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4897906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4897908&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21600998%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Goh J, Kim KS, Park J, Jeon J, Park SY, Lee YH Rice blast, caused by the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a serious hindrance to rice production and has emerged as an important model for the characterization of molecular mechanisms relevant to pathogenic development in plants. Similar to other pathogenic fungi, conidiation plays a central role in initiation of M.oryzae infection and spread over a large area. However, relatively little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that underlie conidiation in M. oryzae. To better characterize these mechanisms, we identified a conidiation-defective mutant, ATMT0225B6 (MoCDC15(T-DNA)), in which a T-DNA insertion disrupted a gene that encodes a homolog of fission yeast cdc15, and generated a second strain containing a disruption in t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4897908 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4897908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4897907&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21601643%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we describe an altered form of mtDNA that is associated with hypovirulence and senescence in a virus-free strain of C. parasitica, KFC9, which was obtained from nature and has an elevated level of cyanide-resistant respiration. In this strain, a 971-bp DNA element, named InC9, has been inserted into the first exon of the mitochondrial small-subunit ribosomal RNA (rns) gene. Sequence analysis indicates that InC9 is a type A1 group II intron that lacks a maturase-encoding ORF. RT-PCR analyses showed that the InC9 sequence is spliced inefficiently from the rRNA precursor. The KFC9 strain had very low amounts of mitochondrial ribosomes relative to virulent strains, thus most likely is deficient in mitochondrial protein synthesis and lacks at least some of the components of the c... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4897907 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4897907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4897905&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21601645%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ragni E, Calderon J, Fascio U, Sipiczki M, Fonzi WA, Popolo L Cell wall biogenesis is a dynamic process relying on the coordinated activity of several extracellular enzymes. PHR1 is a pH-regulated gene of Candida albicans encoding a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored β(1,3)-glucanosyltransferase of family GH72 which acts as a cell wall remodelling enzyme and is crucial for morphogenesis and virulence. In order to explore the function of Phr1p, we obtained a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion to determine its localization. During induction of vegetative growth, Phr1p-GFP was concentrated in the plasma membrane of the growing bud, in the mother-bud neck, and in the septum. Phr1p-GFP was recovered in the detergent-resistant membranes indicating its association with the li... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4897905 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4897905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4851413&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21596151%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, this study identifies a new family of organic anion-permeable channels in filamentous fungi. We also reveal that uracil/uridine-requiring Aspergillus strains exhibit altered organic anion metabolism which could have implications for the interpretation of physiological studies using auxotrophic Aspergillus strains. PMID: 21596151 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4851413 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4851413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4851414&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21558012%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liu GL, Wang DS, Wang LF, Zhao SF, Chi ZM The MIG1 gene of Saccharomycopsis fibuligera A11 was cloned from its genomic DNA using the degenerated primers and inverse PCR. The MIG1 gene (1152bp, accession number: HM450676) encoded a 384-amino acid protein very similar to Mig1s from other fungi. Besides their highly conserved zinc fingers, the Mig1 proteins displayed short conserved motifs of possible significance in glucose repression. The MIG1 gene in S. fibuligera A11 was disrupted by integrating the HPT (hygromycin B phosphotransferase) gene into ORF (Open Reading Frame) of the MIG1 gene. The disruptant A11-c obtained could grow in the media containing hygromycin and 2-deoxy-d-glucose, respectively. α-Amylase, glucoamylse, acid protease and β-glucosidase production by the d... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4851414 Mon, 02 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4851414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4851415&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21549851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gombert AK, Veiga T, Martínez MP, Lamboo F, Nijland JG, Driessen AJ, Pronk JT, Daran JM Penicillium chrysogenum is widely used as an industrial antibiotic producer, in particular in the synthesis of ß-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins and cephalosporins. In industrial processes, oxalic acid formation leads to reduced product yields. Moreover, precipitation of calcium oxalate complicates product recovery. We observed oxalate production in glucose-limited chemostat cultures of P. chrysogenum grown with or without addition of adipic acid, side-chain of the cephalosporin precursor adipoyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid (ad-6-APA). Oxalate accounted for up to 5% of the consumed carbon source. In filamentous fungi, oxaloacetate hydrolase (OAH; EC3.7.1.1)) is generally responsible f... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4851415 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4851415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636086&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21406243%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report an inventory of the K(+) uptake systems in 62 fungal species for which the complete genome sequences are available. This inventory reveals that three types of K(+) uptake systems, TRK and HAK transporters and ACU ATPases, are widely present in several combinations across fungal species. PAT ATPases are less frequently present and are exceptional in Ascomycota. The genome of Magnaporthe oryzae contains four TRK, one HAK, and two ACU genes. The study of the expression of these genes at high K(+), K(+) starvation, and in infected rice leaves revealed that the expression of four genes, ACU1, ACU2, HAK1, and TRK1 is much lower than that of TRK2, TRK3, and TRK4, except under K(+) starvation. The two ACU ATPases were cloned and functionally identified as high-affinity K(+... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636086 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636087&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21402165%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ianiri G, Wright SA, Castoria R, Idnurm A The Pucciniomycotina is an important subphylum of basidiomycete fungi but with limited tools to analyze gene functions. Transformation protocols were established for a Sporobolomyces species (strain IAM 13481), the first Pucciniomycotina species with a completed draft genome sequence, to enable assessment of gene function through phenotypic characterization of mutant strains. Transformation markers were the URA3 and URA5 genes that enable selection and counter-selection based on uracil auxotrophy and resistance to 5-fluoroorotic acid. The wild type copies of these genes were cloned into plasmids that were used for transformation of Sporobolomyces sp. by both biolistic and Agrobacterium-mediated approaches. These resources have been dep... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636087 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636089&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21397711%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Keeping AJ, Collins RA The Varkud satellite (VS) plasmid, which requires the Varkud (V) plasmid for replication, is found in the mitochondria of several natural isolates of Neurospora. The VS transcript is sufficiently abundant that it might be expected to alter the function of mitochondria; however, previous limited characterization revealed no effect. In this work we have used genetic, biochemical and proteomic approaches to search for effects of the V and VS plasmids. We observed differences in the relative abundance of several mitochondrial proteins between plasmid-containing and plasmid-lacking natural isolates, but subsequently found these not to be due to the plasmids. We constructed a pair of iso-nuclear and iso-mitochondrial strains that differed only by the presence ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636089 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636088&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21397712%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Breakspear A, Pasquali M, Broz K, Dong Y, Corby Kistler H The ortholog of the human gene NPC1 was identified in the plant pathogenic, filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum by shared amino acid sequence, protein domain structure and cellular localization of the mature fungal protein. The FusariumNpc1 gene shares 34% amino acid sequence identity and 51% similarity to the human gene, has similar domain structure and is constitutively expressed, although up-regulated in ungerminated macroconidia and ascospores. GFP-tagged Npc1p localizes to the fungal vacuolar membrane. Cultures derived from a Δnpc1 mutant strain contain significantly more ergosterol than cultures of the wildtype. Staining with the fluorescent, sterol binding dye filipin, shows that ergosterol accumulates in va... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636088 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636090&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21396477%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vieira AL, Camilo CM Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used for plant DNA transformation and more recently, has also been used to transform yeast, filamentous fungi and even human cells. Using this technique, we developed the first transformation protocol for the saprobic aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii, a Blastocladiomycete localized at the base of fungal phylogenetic tree, which has been shown as a promising and interesting model of study of cellular function and differentiation. We constructed binary T-DNA vectors containing hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (egfp) genes, under the control of Aspergillus nidulans trpC promoter and terminator sequences. 24h of co-cultivation in induction medium (IM) agar plates, followed by ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636090 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636085&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21419234%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gournas C, Oestreicher N, Amillis S, Diallinas G, Scazzocchio C We have previously identified by classical genetics and biochemistry, all the genes of Aspergillus nidulans predicted to be involved in purine utilisation, together with cognate regulatory genes and one gene encoding a novel xanthine hydroxylation activity. In this article we complete the description of the purine utilisation pathway with the identification of the two genes (uaX and uaW) encoding the enzymes catalysing the conversion of the product of urate oxidation by urate oxidase, 5-hydroxyisourate, to optically active allantoin. The identification of these additional genes confirms the complete absence of clustering of the genes involved in purine utilisation in A. nidulans. PMID: 21419234 [PubMed - as su... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636085 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4636085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4572255&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21362492%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Whittle CA, Nygren K, Johannesson H An organism's reproductive mode is believed to be a major factor driving its genome evolution. In theory, sexual inbreeding and asexuality are associated with lower effective recombination levels and smaller effective population sizes than sexual outbreeding, giving rise to reduced selection efficiency and genetic hitchhiking. This, in turn, is predicted to result in the accumulation of deleterious mutations and other genomic changes, for example the accumulation of repetitive elements. Empirical data from plants and animals supporting/refuting these theories are sparse and have yielded few conclusive results. A growing body of data from the fungal kingdom, wherein reproductive behavior vary extensively within and among taxonomic groups, has... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4572255 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4572255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4572254&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21362493%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paz Z, García-Pedrajas MD, Andrews DL, Klosterman SJ, Baeza-Montañez L, Gold SE Increasing availability of genomic data and sophistication of analytical methodology in fungi has elevated the need for functional genomics tools in these organisms. Previously we reported a method called DelsGate for rapid preparation of deletion constructs for protoplast-mediated fungal transformation systems, which is based on Gateway® technology. However, over the past several years Agrobacteriumtumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) has become the preferred genetic transformation method for an increasing number of fungi. Therefore, we developed a method for One Step Construction of Agrobacterium-Recombination-ready-plasmids (OSCAR), to rapidly create deletion constructs for ATMT systems... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4572254 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4572254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4572256&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21362491%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sudbery P Fungal hyphae show extreme polarized growth at the tip. Electron microscope studies have revealed a apical body called the Spitzenkörper that is thought to drive polarized growth. Studies of polarized growth in S. cerevisiae have identified the protein components of the polarized growth machinery, that are conserved in other fungi. Fusion of these proteins to GFP and its variants has for the first time allowed the localization of these proteins in real time to the hyphal tip without the need for drastic fixation procedures. Such studies showed that vesicle-associated proteins localize to the Spitzenkörper and identified a second compartment located at the tip surface composed of exocyst and other proteins that mediate the fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasm... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4572256 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4572256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4572257&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21354318%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kües U, Martin F PMID: 21354318 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4572257 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4572257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517931&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21320625%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang L, Lin X Sex serves a pivotal role in genetic exchange and it contributes to the fitness and genetic diversity for eukaryotic populations. Although the importance of the canonical bisexual mating has been widely accepted, the significance of the evolution and maintenance of unisexual mating observed in some eukaryotes is unclear. The recent discovery of same-sex mating in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and the revelation of its impact on the Cryptococcus global population structure provide a platform to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and significance of unisexual mating. Here, we review the evidence of unisexual mating in Cryptococcus and provide some perspective on the biological significance of this life style on the survival of this important fun... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517931 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4517931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517930&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21324422%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, a cloned based transcriptomics approach was used to identify genes crucial in the biosynthesis pathway for one of these acids, itaconic acid. From a number of different Aspergillus terreus controlled batch fermentations, those cultures with the largest difference in itaconic acid titer and productivity were selected for mRNA isolation. cDNAs derived from these mRNA samples were used for subsequent hybridization of glass slide arrays based on a collection of 5000 cDNA clones. A selection of 13 cDNA clones resulting in the strongest (>10-fold) differential hybridization signals were identified and subsequently the inserts of these clones were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of in total five different gene inserts among the sequenced clones. From one of th... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517930 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4517930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460442&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21295150%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kasbekar DP, Singh PK, Ramakrishnan M, Raj KB Ordinarily, RIP-induced erg-3 mutant Neurospora crassa ascospores and their erg(+) siblings do not differ in stability during long-term storage. Consequently, the frequency of RIP-induced erg-3 mutants remains about constant regardless of the time that has elapsed between ascospore harvest and germination. We found, however, that RIP-induced erg-3 mutants were apparently selectively lost with time from among the ascospores stored from a cross with the wild-isolated Carrefour Mme. Gras strain from Haiti. The Haitian strain was also found to exert a dominant suppression of meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA. Similar loss of RIP-induced erg-3 mutant ascospores was seen among the stored ascospores from a subset of crosses heterozygous f... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460442 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460445&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21281727%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fettich M, Lenassi M, Veranič P, Gunde-Cimerman N, Plemenitaš A In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Sho1 protein is one of two potential osmosensors that can activate the kinase cascade of the HOG pathway in response to increased extracellular osmolarity. Two novel SHO1-like genes, HwSHO1A and HwSHO1B, have been cloned from the saltern-inhabiting, extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii. The HwSho1 protein isoforms are 93.8% identical in their amino-acid sequences, and have a conserved SH3 domain. When the HwSHO1 genes were transferred into S. cerevisae cells lacking the SHO1 gene, both of the HwSho1 isoforms fully complemented the function of the native S. cerevisiae Sho1 protein. Through microscopic and biochemical validation, we demonstrate that in S. cerevisiae... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460445 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460444&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21281728%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated the molecular mechanism of the fruiting body development and sporulation in the cap of the Shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes. Although there has been much research into L. edodes, there remain significant gaps in our knowledge of how the species reproduces. In order to provide molecular resources and to understand the molecular mechanism of the fruiting body development in basidiomycete comprehensively, we searched for the genes which are important for fruiting body development and sporulation in the cap of mature fruiting body of L. edodes by using the whole-genome approach. Massive cDNA pyrosequencing was used to generate >7000 sequence contigs from mature fruiting bodies. We used Gene Ontology to categorize the contigs to form the catalog of genes expressed ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460444 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460443&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21281729%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakazawa T, Kondo H, Nakahori K, Kamada T The formation and proliferation of the dikaryon in the agaricomycete Coprinopsis cinerea is controlled by the mating type genes, B and A. The B genes, which encode pheromones and pheromone receptors, control nuclear migration for dikaryosis as well as the fusion of the clamp cell with the subterminal cell while the A genes, which encode two classes of homeodomain proteins, control conjugate nuclear division associated with clamp connection development. We characterized the mutant, B28, which was newly isolated as a strain that fails to form a primary hyphal knot, the first visible sign toward fruiting, from a homokaryotic fruiting strain after REMI mutagenesis. Detailed phenotypic analysis revealed that strain B28 exhibits, in addition... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460443 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460448&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21277379%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hunter AJ, Jin B, Kelly JM Aspergillus oryzae is a filamentous fungus that has arisen through the ancient domestication of Aspergillus flavus for making traditional oriental foods and beverages. In the many centuries A. oryzae has been used for fermenting the starch in rice to simple sugars, it has undergone selection for increased secretion of starch-degrading enzymes. In particular, all A. oryzae strains investigated thus far have two or more copies of a gene encoding α-amylase, whereas A. flavus has only one. Here we investigate the duplications leading to these copies in three A. oryzae strains. We find evidence of at least three separate duplications of α-amylase, an example of parallel evolution in a micro-organism under artificial selection. At least two of these dupl... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460448 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460447&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21277985%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Finkelshtein A, Shlezinger N, Bunis O, Sharon A Apoptotic-like programmed cell death (PCD) occurs naturally in fungi during development and might also be induced by external conditions. Candidate apoptotic genes have been characterized in several model fungal species but not in plant pathogenic fungi. Here we report on the isolation and characterization of BcNMA, an orthologue of the human pro-apoptotic gene HtrA2 from the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. The predicted BcNma protein shows high homology to the previously characterized Nma111p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and despite some structural differences it complemented the function of Nma111p in Δnma111 mutant strains. BcNMA-over-expression and mutant strains had enhanced or reduced appearance of apoptotic markers, res... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460447 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460446&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21277986%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jørgensen TR, Park J, Arentshorst M, van Welzen AM, Lamers G, Vankuyk PA, Damveld RA, van den Hondel CA, Nielsen KF, Frisvad JC, Ram AF A characteristic hallmark of Aspergillus niger is the formation of black conidiospores. We have identified four loci involved in spore pigmentation of A. niger by using a combined genomic and classical complementation approach. First, we characterized a newly isolated color mutant, colA, which lacked pigmentation resulting in white or colorless conidia. Pigmentation of the colA mutant was restored by a gene (An12g03950) which encodes a putative 4'phosphopantetheinyl transferase protein (PptA). 4'Phosphopantetheinyl transferase activity is required for the activation of Polyketide Synthases (PKSs) and/or Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthases (NRPSs)... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460446 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460449&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21272658%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vercauteren A, Boutet X, D'hondt L, Bockstaele EV, Maes M, Leus L, Chandelier A, Heungens K The functionality of the sexual cycle in the heterothallic pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, causal agent of Sudden Oak Death, has recently been demonstrated. Sexual reproduction could create genotypic variation and increase the pathogen's ability to adapt to other host plants or changing environments. Genetic characterization using co-dominant microsatellite markers and flow cytometry of single-oospore progeny of crosses between a European A1 isolate and North American or European A2 isolates revealed a considerable number of non-Mendelian inheritance events. This includes inheritance of more than two alleles at a locus and non-inheritance of alleles from one parent at another locus. The ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460449 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4460449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393979&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21241815%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kim S, Singh P, Park J, Park S, Friedman A, Zheng T, Lee YH, Lee K Three key factors involved in successful plant disease development include the presence of a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and a disease-conducive environment. Our understanding of how environmental factors influence disease-conducive or disease-suppressive conditions, and how a pathogen advantageously capitalizes on them, is quite limited. Utilizing the model pathosystem Magnaporthe oryzae - Oryzasativa, we found a significant light-dependent disease suppression. Our genetic data suggest that the blue-light receptor MGWC-1 in M. oryzae is involved in light-dependent disease suppression during the dark-phase (disease-conducive light condition) immediately after pathogen-host contact. Sensing "darkness"... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393979 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393981&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21237279%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Choi J, Kim KS, Rho HS, Lee YH Calcium plays a critical role in a variety of cellular processes in cells. However, relatively little is known about the biological effects of Ca(2+) signaling on morphogenesis and pathogenesis in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae compared to other signaling pathways. We have previously demonstrated that MoPLC1-mediated calcium regulation is important for infection-related development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae. In the present study, four genes encoding phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes (MoPLC2 to MoPLC5), which differ from MoPLC1 in their domain organization, were additionally identified. The C2 domain involved in Ca(2+)-dependent membrane binding is found only in MoPLC2 and MoPLC3. Detailed functional analysis using deletion mutants for... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393981 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393980&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21237280%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is the first report demonstrating a link between sexual development and ACL-mediated histone acetylation in fungi. PMID: 21237280 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393980 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393983&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21220037%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tisch D, Kubicek CP, Schmoll M Sensing of environmental signals is often mediated by G-protein coupled receptors and their cognate heterotrimeric G-proteins. In Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) the signals transmitted via the G-protein alpha subunits GNA1 and GNA3 cause considerable modulation of cellulase transcript levels and the extent of this adjustment is dependent on the light status. We therefore intended to elucidate the underlying mechanism connecting light response and heterotrimeric G-protein signaling. Analysis of double mutant strains showed that constitutive activation of GNA1 or GNA3 in the absence of the PAS/LOV domain protein ENVOY (ENV1) leads to the phenotype of constitutive G-alpha activation in darkness. In light, however the deletion-phenotype of Δ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393983 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393982&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21220038%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chung DW, Greenwald C, Upadhyay S, Ding S, Wilkinson HH, Ebbole DJ, Shaw BD Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa are ascomycetes that produce asexual spores through morphologically distinct processes. MedA, a protein with unknown function, is required for normal asexual and sexual development in A. nidulans. We determined that the N. crassa ortholog of medA is acon-3, a gene required for early conidiophore development and female fertility. To test hypotheses about the evolutionary origins of asexual development in distinct fungal lineages it is important to understand the degree of conservation of developmental regulators. The amino acid sequences of A. nidulans MedA and N. crassa ACON-3 shared 37% identity and 51% similarity. acon-3 is induced at late time points of con... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393982 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4393984&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21216300%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alexander NJ, McCormick SP, Waalwijk C, van der Lee T, Proctor RH Certain Fusarium species cause head blight of wheat and other small grains worldwide and produce trichothecene mycotoxins. These mycotoxins can induce toxicoses in animals and humans and can contribute to the ability of some fusaria to cause plant disease. Production of the trichothecene 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON) versus 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) is an important phenotypic difference within and among some Fusarium species. However, until now, the genetic basis for this difference in chemotype has not been identified. Here, we identified consistent DNA sequence differences in the coding region of the trichothecene biosynthetic gene TRI8 in 3-ADON and 15-ADON strains. Functional analyses of the TRI8 e... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4393984 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4393984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314262&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21195204%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Allen G, Bromley M, Kaye SJ, Keszenman-Pereyra D, Zucchi TD, Price J, Birch M, Oliver JD, Turner G The mitochondrial phosphopantetheinyl transferase gene pptB of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been identified and characterised. Unlike pptA, which is required for lysine biosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and iron assimilation, pptB is essential for viability. PptB is located in the mitochondria. In vitro expression of pptA and pptB has shown that PptB is specific for the mitochondrial acyl carrier protein AcpA. PMID: 21195204 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314262 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314263&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21193057%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Thorne TW, Ho HL, Huvet M, Haynes K, Stumpf MP The osmotic stress response signalling pathway of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae is crucial for the survival of cells under osmotic stress, and is preserved to varying degrees in other related fungal species. We apply a method for inference of ancestral states of characteristics over a phylogeny to 17 fungal species to infer the maximum likelihood estimate of presence or absence in ancestral genomes of genes involved in osmotic stress response. The same method allows us furthermore to perform a statistical test for correlated evolution between genes. Where such correlations exist within the osmotic stress response pathway of S. cerevisae, we have used this in order to predict and subsequently test for the presence of phys... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314263 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314264&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21184840%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alcazar-Fuoli L, Clavaud C, Lamarre C, Aimanianda V, Seidl-Seiboth V, Mellado E, Latgé JP A quintuple mutant was constructed to delete the entire family of the fungal/plant (class III) chitinases of Aspergillus fumigatus. Only a limited reduction in the total chitinolytic activity was seen for the different chitinase mutants including the quintuple mutant. In spite of this reduction in chitinolytic activity, no growth or germination defects were observed in these chitinase mutants. This result demonstrated that the fungal/plant chitinases do not have an essential role in the morphogenesis of A. fumigatus. A slight diminution of the growth during autolysis was seen for the quintuple mutant suggesting that class III chitinases may play only a nutritional role during this phase ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314264 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314266&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21176789%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liu W, Soulie MC, Perrino C, Fillinger S Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways are ubiquitous among eukaryotic organisms with evolutionary conserved modules. Although generally classified as osmotic and cell wall integrity pathways, functional divergences have been observed for HOG1- and SLT2-related MAPK pathways. Here we show that the osmotic signal transduction cascade is involved in cell wall integrity in the phytopathogenic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea. The deletion mutants of the upstream histidine kinase Bos1 and of the MAPK Sak1 showed modified tolerance to cell wall degrading enzymes and cell wall interfering agents, as well as increased staining of β1-3 glucan and chitin compared to the wild-type. The Sak1 MAPK was phosphorylated upon c... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314266 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314265&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21176790%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chiang YM, Meyer KM, Praseuth M, Baker SE, Bruno KS, Wang CC The genome sequencing of the fungus Aspergillus niger uncovered a large cache of genes encoding enzymes thought to be involved in the production of secondary metabolites yet to be identified. Identification and structural characterization of many of these predicted secondary metabolites are hampered by their low concentration relative to the known A. niger metabolites such as the naphtho-γ-pyrone family of polyketides. We deleted a non-reducing PKS gene in A. niger strain ATCC 11414, a daughter strain of A. niger ATCC strain 1015 whose genome was sequenced by the DOE Joint Genome Institute. This PKS encoding gene we name albA is a predicted ortholog of alb1 from Aspergillus fumigatus which is responsible for product... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314265 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314267&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21176788%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Amicucci A, Balestrini R, Kohler A, Barbieri E, Saltarelli R, Faccio A, Roberson RW, Bonfante P, Stocchi V Filamentous polarized growth involves a series of events including polarization of the cytoskeleton to selected growth sites, and the transport of secretory vesicles containing the components required for growth. The availability of fungal genome sequences has recently led to the identification of a large number of proteins involved in these processes. We have explored the Tuber melanosporum genome sequence by searching for homologs of genes known to play crucial roles in the morphogenesis and cell polarity of yeasts and filamentous fungi. One hundred and forty-nine genes have been identified and functionally grouped according to the deduced amino acid sequences (44 genes... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314267 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4314267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4271887&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21156213%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Grell MN, Jensen AB, Olsen PB, Eilenberg J, Lange L The discovery of novel secretome proteins can add to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Here we report a rich diversity of secreted proteins from the interaction between grain aphids (host, insect order Hemiptera) and fungi of the order Entomophthorales (insect pathogens). The proteins were identified using a unique method unbiased by known sequences or functions to screen a cDNA library constructed directly from field-sampled material. We show for the first time that fungi from the genera Pandora and Entomophthora are armed with a battery of hydrolytic enzymes for penetrating the host cuticle. This enables both access to the hemolymph and exit for sporulation. Further, they secrete enzymes, most notably a numbe... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4271887 Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4271887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4271888&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21146624%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: García-Rico RO, Martín JF, Fierro F Heterotrimeric Gα protein Pga1 of Penicillium chrysogenum controls vegetative growth, conidiation and secondary metabolite production. In this work we studied the role of Pga1 in spore germination and resistance to different stress conditions. Strains G203R-T (expressing the dominant inactivating pga1(G203R) allele) and Δpga1 (deleted pga1) showed a delayed and asynchronic germination pattern, and a decrease in the percentage of germination, which occurred in only 70-80% of the total conidia. In contrast, in strains expressing the dominant activating pga1(G42R) allele, germination occurred at earlier times and in 100% of conidia. In addition, strains with the pga1(G42R) allele were able to bypass the carbon source (glucose or sucrose) re... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4271888 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4271888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4271891&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145408%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Keeping A, Deabreu D, Dibernardo M, Collins RA We have used gel electrophoretic techniques including isoelectric focusing, blue native, acid-urea, 16-benzyldimethyl-n-hexadecylammonium chloride or SDS first dimensions and SDS-Laemmli or -Tricine second dimensions to separate the proteins from highly-purified Neurospora mitochondria and sub-mitochondrial fractions (membrane, soluble, protein complexes and ribonucleoproteins). The products of 260 genes, many of them in multiple processed or modified forms, were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This work confirms the existence, expression, and mitochondrial localization of the products of 55 Neurospora genes previously annotated only as predicted or hypothetical, and of 101 genes not identified in previous mass spectrom... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4271891 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4271891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4271890&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145409%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tijerino A, Cardoza RE, Moraga J, Malmierca MG, Vicente F, Aleu J, Collado IG, Gutiérrez S, Monte E, Hermosa R Trichoderma brevicompactum produces trichodermin, a simple trichothecene-type toxin that shares the first steps of the sesquiterpene biosynthetic pathway with other phytotoxic trichothecenes from Fusarium spp. Trichodiene synthase catalyzes the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to trichodiene and it is encoded by the tri5 gene that was cloned and analyzed functionally by homologous overexpression in T. brevicompactum. tri5 expression was up-regulated in media with glucose, H(2)O(2) or glycerol. tri5 repression was observed in cultures supplemented with the antioxidants ferulic acid and tyrosol. Acetone extracts of tri5-overexpressing transformants displayed higher... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4271890 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4271890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4271889&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21145410%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is the first to generally characterize these five sequenced strains of dermatophytes for their microbiological aspects. We measured the growth rate on solid medium and found differences between species, with Microsporum gypseum CBS118893 having the fastest growth and Trichophyton rubrum CBS118892 the slowest. We also compared different media for conidia production and found that the highest numbers of conidia were produced when dermatophytes were grown on MAT agar. We determined the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of nine antifungal agents and confirmed susceptibility to antifungals commonly used as selectable markers. Finally, we tested virulence in the Galleria mellonella (wax moth) larvae model but found the results variable. These results increase our understanding of... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4271889 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4271889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4247271&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21134480%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides a detailed analysis of perithecium morphogenesis in the wild type and eight developmental mutants of S. macrospora, using a range of correlative microscopical techniques. Fundamentally, perithecia and other complex multicellular structures produced by fungi arise by hyphal aggregation and adhesion, and these processes are followed by specialization and septation of hyphal compartments within the aggregates. Perithecial morphogenesis can be divided into the ascogonial, protoperithecial, and perithecial stages of development. At least 13 specialized, morphologically distinct cell-types are involved in perithecium morphogenesis, and these fall into three basic classes: hyphae, conglutinate cells and spores. Conglutinate cells arise from hyphal adhesion and certain perithec... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4247271 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4247271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4247270&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21134481%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Blaudez D, Chalot M Metal tolerance of filamentous fungi is a poorly understood mechanism. In order to unravel the molecular basis of zinc (Zn) tolerance in the ectomycorrhizal fungal model Hebeloma cylindrosporum, we carried out a functional screening of an H. cylindrosporum cDNA library in the zrc1Δ mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to search for genes conferring Zn tolerance to yeast cells. This strategy allowed the isolation of HcZnT1, a gene belonging to the cation diffusion facilitator family, which induced tolerance to Zn, but not to other metals. HcZnT1 was constitutively expressed in Hebeloma cells, whatever the Zn status of the medium and the fungal cell type (mycelia, sporocarps, mycorrhizas). A HcZnT1:GFP fusion protein was expressed in yeast and the corre... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4247270 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4247270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4247272&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21126599%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Merhej J, Richard-Forget F, Barreau C Fungi manage the adaptation to extra-cellular pH through the PacC transcription factor, a key component of the pH regulatory system. PacC regulates the production of various secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi. In the important cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum, the production of trichothecene is induced only under acidic pH conditions. Here, we examined the role of the PacC homologue from F. graminearum, FgPac1, on the regulation of trichothecene production. An FgΔPac1 deletion mutant was constructed in F. graminearum which showed a reduced development under neutral and alkaline pH, increased sensitivity to H(2)O(2) and an earlier Tri gene induction and toxin accumulation at acidic pH. A strain expressing the FgPac1(c) constitu... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4247272 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4247272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214949&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21111055%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, one suppressor mutant, DJ22, is characterized and T-DNA is found to disrupt the C. neoformans CRK1 gene, a homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeIME2 and Ustilago maydis crk1. Ime2 is a meiosis-specific gene with the conserved Ser/Thr kinase domain and TXY dual phosphorylation site. Consistent with the findings of other suppressors in our screen, C. neoformans Crk1 plays a negative role in the mating process. Dikaryotic filaments, basidia, and basidiospores are produced earlier in the crk1 mutant crosses and mating efficiency is also increased. Artificial elevation of the CRK1 mRNA level inhibits mating. Interestingly, monokaryotic fruiting is defective both in the MATαcrk1 mutant and CRK1 overexpression strains. Our studies demonstrate that C. neoformansCRK1 gene functions ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214949 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4214949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214950&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21109013%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhao W, Dong S, Ye W, Hua C, Meijer HJ, Dou X, Govers F, Wang Y Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are central components of the machinery mediating membrane fusion and key factors for vesicular trafficking in all eukaryotic cells. Taking advantage of the available whole genome sequence of the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora sojae, 35 genes encoding putative SNARE proteins were identified in the genome of this organism. PsYKT6, one of the most conserved SNARE proteins, was functionally characterized by homology-dependent gene silencing. The phenotype analysis showed that PsYKT6 is important for proper asexual development, sexual reproduction, and pathogenesis on host soybean cultivars. PMID: 21109013 [PubMed - as supplied b... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214950 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4214950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214952&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21094264%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bolchi A, Ruotolo R, Marchini G, Vurro E, di Toppi LS, Kohler A, Tisserant E, Martin F, Ottonello S Ectomycorrhizal fungi are thought to enhance mineral nutrition of their host plants and to confer increased tolerance toward toxic metals. However, a global view of metal homeostasis-related genes and pathways in these organisms is still lacking. Building upon the genome sequence of Tuber melanosporum and on transcriptome analyses, we set out to systematically identify metal homeostasis-related genes in this plant-symbiotic ascomycete. Candidate gene products (101) were subdivided into three major functional classes: (i) metal transport (58); (ii) oxidative stress defence (32); (iii) metal detoxification (11). The latter class includes a small-size metallothionein (TmelMT) that ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214952 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4214952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214951&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21094265%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nguyen LN, Bormann J, Le GT, Stärkel C, Olsson S, Nosanchuk JD, Giese H, Schäfer W Autophagy is a non-selective degradation pathway in eukaryotic cells that is conserved from yeasts to humans. Autophagy is involved in the virulence of several pathogenic fungi such as Magnaporthe grisea or Colletotrichum orbiculare. In the current study, we identified and disrupted an autophagy-like lipase FgATG15 in Fusarium graminearum. We showed that FgATG15 exhibits lipase activity when heterologously expressed in P. pastoris. We used a gene deletion approach to characterize the function of the enzyme. We demonstrate that FgATG15 is involved in fungal growth and aerial hyphae production. FgATG15 is also involved in conidia production and germination, and disruption of FgATG15 led to aberr... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214951 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4214951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4182660&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21073976%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Priebe S, Linde J, Albrecht D, Guthke R, Brakhage AA FungiFun assigns functional annotations to fungal genes or proteins and performs gene set enrichment analysis. Based on three different classification methods (FunCat, GO and KEGG), FungiFun categorizes genes and proteins for several fungal species on different levels of annotation detail. It is web-based and accessible to users without any programming skills. FungiFun is the first tool offering gene set enrichment analysis including the FunCat categorization. Two biological datasets for Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans were analyzed using FungiFun, providing an overview of the usage and functions of the tool. FungiFun is freely accessible at https://www.omnifung.hki-jena.de/FungiFun/. PMID: 21073976 [PubMed - ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4182660 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4182660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4182659&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21073977%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brefort T, Scherzinger D, Limón MC, Estrada AF, Trautmann D, Mengel C, Avalos J, Al-Babili S Ustilago maydis, the causative agent of corn smut disease, contains two genes encoding members of the carotenoid cleavage oxygenase family, a group of enzymes that cleave double bonds in different substrates. One of them, Cco1, was formerly identified as a β-carotene cleaving enzyme. Here we elucidate the function of the protein encoded by the second gene, termed here as Ustilago maydis Resveratrol cleavage oxygenase 1 (Um Rco1). In vitro incubations of heterologously expressed and purified UM Rco1 with different carotenoid and stilbene substrates demonstrate that it cleaves the interphenyl Cα-Cβ double bond of the phytoalexin resveratrol and its derivative piceatannol. Um Rco1 exh... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4182659 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4182659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164362&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21070858%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Khatun R, Lakin-Thomas P The Neurosporacrassa protein kinase C (NPKC) is reported to be a regulator of light responsive genes. It phosphorylates the light receptor WC-1 and regulates the levels of the circadian clock protein FRQ and transcription of the light-induced albino-2 gene. In mammals, the conventional and novel isoforms of PKC are activated by diacylglycerol (DAG), which induces PKC translocation from the cytoplasm to membranes. To investigate the interaction of NPKC and DAG in Neurospora, we constructed a strain that expresses a PKC-GFP fusion protein. We found that NPKC localizes to growing tips and sub-apical plasma membrane in actively growing hyphae, and actively participates in septum development. NPKC is activated by exogenous DAG and phorbol esters, and transl... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164362 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4164362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164363&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21067947%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the RNAi pathway plays an important role in controlling transposon activity and genome integrity of C. neoformans. PMID: 21067947 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164363 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4164363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4146906&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21050891%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morris EJ, Jackson SL, Garrill A In an attempt to better understand branching and chemotropism, we describe the effects of Ca(2+) channel inhibitors on these processes in Achlya bisexualis, using a branch induction technique and whole plate assays. Branching appears to be a two step process with the initial formation of a bump from which a branch emerges. Verapamil increased numbers of branches in whole plate assays and decreased the distance from the first branch to the tip. In induction assays verapamil increased the number of bumps formed, although in some hyphae it inhibited the transition from an initial bump to a branch. When a branch formed it did not affect the time taken to branch. It had no effect on chemotropism. Lanthanum (La(3+)) and gadolinium (Gd(3+)) also incre... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4146906 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4146906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4107096&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20971202%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the Ste50 adaptor protein controls sexual differentiation of C. neoformans via the pheromone-responsive MAPK pathway but is not required for virulence. PMID: 20971202 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4107096 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4107096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4107097&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20965267%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, SSRs developed in this study were highly polymorphic and our results showed that T. melanosporum is a species with an important genetic diversity. which is in agreement with its recently uncovered heterothallic mating system. PMID: 20965267 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4107097 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4107097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087770&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20955810%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brzywczy J, Kacprzak MM, Paszewski A Expression of the sulfur assimilation pathway in Aspergillus nidulans is under control of sulfur metabolite repression, which is composed of scon genes encoding subunits of ubiquitin ligase and the metR gene coding for a transcriptional activator. In this paper we report three dominant suppressors of methionine requirement isolated from a metB3 diploid strain. All three mutations lead to the substitution of phenylalanine 48 by serine or leucine in the conserved N-terminal region of the MetR protein. Strains carrying the dominant suppressor mutations exhibit increased activities of homocysteine synthase and sulfur assimilation enzymes as well as elevated levels of the corresponding transcripts. These changes are observed even under condition... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087770 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087769&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20955811%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Linsell KJ, Keiper FJ, Forgan A, Oldach KH Through the use of a Rhynchosporium secalis isolate transformed with the green fluorescent protein gene and LASER scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), fungal development during the R. secalis/barley interaction was analysed. Each infection stage was investigated from 0.5 hours to 14 days post inoculation (p.i.) with extensive sampling within the first 48 hours p.i. Early germination events were observed that had not been previously described. A specific time of germination was noted, with germ tube formation appearing as early as 1 hour p.i. Conidia were observed within anticlinal grooves of epidermal cells and the formation of bubbles within these pectin-rich regions was observed within 24 hours p.i. The study reports R. secalis pect... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087769 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087768&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20955812%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liu X, Yu F, Schnabel G, Wu J, Wang Z, Ma Z Analysis of the genome sequence of Fusarium graminearum revealed three paralogous cyp51 genes (designated cyp51A, -B, and -C) encoding 14-α demethylases in this fungus. Targeted gene disruption showed that the cyp51A, -B or -C disruption mutants were morphologically indistinguishable from the parent isolate on potato dextrose agar medium, which indicates that none of these genes is essential for mycelial growth. The sensitivity of cyp51A deletion mutants to 7 sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides increased significantly compared to the parent strain, while sensitivity of cyp51C deletion mutants increased to some but not all DMIs. No change in DMI sensitivity was observed for cyp51B deletion mutants. The parental phenotypes... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087768 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4087767&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20955813%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oberhaensli S, Parlange F, Buchmann JP, Jenny FH, Abbott JC, Burgis TA, Spanu PD, Keller B, Wicker T The two fungal pathogens Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici (B.g. tritici) and hordei (B.g. hordei) cause powdery mildew specifically in wheat or barley. They have the same life cycle, but their growth is restricted to the respective host. Here, we compared the sequences of two loci in both cereal mildews to determine their divergence time and their relationship with the evolution of their hosts. We sequenced a total of 273.3 kb derived from B.g. tritici BAC sequences and compared them with the orthologous regions in the B.g. hordei genome. Protein coding genes were colinear and well conserved. In contrast, the intergenic regions showed very low conservation mostly due to differen... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4087767 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4087767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040844&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20888926%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kubisiak TL, Anderson CL, Amerson HV, Smith JA, Davis JM, Nelson CD A novel approach is presented to map avirulence gene Avr1 in the basidiomycete Cronartium quercuum f.sp. fusiforme, the causal agent of fusiform rust disease in pines. DNA markers tightly linked to resistance gene Fr1 in loblolly pine tree 10-5 were used to classify 10-5 seedling progeny as either resistant or susceptible. A single dikaryotic isolate (P2) heterozygous at the corresponding Avr1 gene was developed by crossing Fr1 avirulent isolate SC20-21 with Fr1 virulent isolate NC2-40. Bulk basidiospore inoculum derived from isolate P2 was used to challenge the pine progeny. The ability to unambiguously marker classify 10-5 progeny as resistant (selecting for virulence) or susceptible (non-selecting) permitte... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040844 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040845&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20888422%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: O'Donnell K, Rooney AP, Mills GL, Kuo M, Weber NS, Rehner SA True morels (Morchella, Ascomycota) are arguably the most highly-prized of the estimated 1.5 million fungi that inhabit our planet. Field guides treat these epicurean macrofungi as belonging to a few species with cosmopolitan distributions, but this hypothesis has not been tested. Prompted by the results of a growing number of molecular studies, which have shown many microbes exhibit strong biogeographic structure and cryptic speciation, we constructed a 4-gene dataset for 177 members of the Morchellaceae to elucidate their origin, evolutionary diversification and historical biogeography. Diversification time estimates place the origin of the Morchellaceae in the middle Triassic 243.63 (95% highest posterior density ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040845 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040847&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20887796%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yan X, Ma WB, Li Y, Wang H, Que YW, Ma ZH, Talbot NJ, Wang ZY The Magnaporthe oryzae genome contains two homologous CYP51 genes, MoCYP51A and MoCYP51B, that putatively encode sterol 14α-demethylase enzymes. Targeted gene deletion mutants of MoCYP51A were morphologically indistinguishable from the isogenic wild type M. oryzae strain Guy11 in vegetative culture, but were impaired in both conidiation and virulence. Deletion of MoCYP51B did not result in any obvious phenotypic changes compared with Guy11. The Δmocyp51A mutants were also highly sensitive to sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, while Δmocyp51B mutants were unchanged in their sensitivity to these fungicides. Expression of both MoCYP51A and MoCYP51B was significantly induced by exposure to DMI fungicide... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040847 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040846&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20887797%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang Y, Choi YE, Zou X, Xu JR Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most important fungal pathogens to cause destructive diseases of maize worldwide. Fumonisins produced by the fungus are harmful to human and animal health. To date, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with pathogenicity and fumonisin biosynthesis in F. verticillioides is limited. Because MAP kinase pathways have been implicated in regulating diverse processes important for plant infection in phytopathogenic fungi, in this study we identified and functionally characterized the FvMK1 gene in F. verticillioides. FvMK1 is orthologous to FMK1 in F. oxysporum and GPMK1 in F. graminearum. The Fvmk1 deletion mutant was reduced in vegetative growth and production of microconidia. However, it was ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040846 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040848&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20884368%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zampieri E, Balestrini R, Kohler A, Abbà S, Martin F, Bonfante P The Tuber melanosporum genome has been analysed with the aim of identifying and characterizing the genes involved in the environmental stress response. A whole genome array (7496 genes/probe) was used to verify the fungal transcriptional profiling upon a cold temperature period (7days at 4°C). A total of 423 genes resulted to be differentially expressed in a significant manner (>2.5-fold; p-value<0.05) in the mycelia exposed to cold, compared to the control ones: 187 of these genes were up-regulated, while 236 were down-regulated. Sixty-six and fifty-one percent, respectively, of the up- or down-regulated transcripts had no KOG classification and were clustered as unclassified proteins, which was the most... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040848 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040849&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20884367%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kimura S, Maruyama JI, Watanabe T, Ito Y, Arioka M, Kitamoto K Properly folded proteins destined for secretion exit through a specific subdomain of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) known as transitional ER (tER) sites or ER exit sites (ERES). While such proteins in filamentous fungi localize at the hyphal tips overlapping the Spitzenkörper, the distribution of misfolded proteins remains unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution of mutant protein as well as ER and tER sites visualized by expression of AoClxA and AoSec13 fused with fluorescent protein, respectively, in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae. Discrete tER subdomains were visualized as the punctate dots of AoSec13 overlapping or associated with AoClxA distribution. Both ER and tER sites were co... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040849 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025550&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20854921%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Clutterbuck AJ The genomes of 49 filamentous ascomycetes (subphylum Pezizomycotina) were examined by two independent methods for evidence of multiple C→T transitions typical of RIP. At least one transposable element or other repeat family was identified in each genome, and members were assessed for transition and transversion mutations relative to a model of their intact progenitor. Occurrence of RIP was indicated where family members differed by excess of directional transitions over transversions. Transition mutations were quantified by an algorithm taking double mutations in CpG and CpC dinucleotides into account. A second method assessed dinucleotide frequency distribution anomalies in whole genomes, a procedure that allowed quantification of fractions of the non-codi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025550 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4025550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025552&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20849972%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Terabayashi Y, Sano M, Yamane N, Marui J, Tamano K, Sagara J, Dohmoto M, Oda K, Ohsihma E, Tachibana K, Higa Y, Ohashi S, Koike H, Machida M Kojic acid is produced in large amounts by Aspergillus oryzae as a secondary metabolite and is widely used in the cosmetic industry. Glucose can be converted to kojic acid, perhaps by only a few steps, but no genes for the conversion have thus far been revealed. Using a DNA microarray, gene expression profiles under three pairs of conditions significantly affecting kojic acid production were compared. All genes were ranked using an index parameter reflecting both high amounts of transcription and a high induction ratio under producing conditions. After disruption of nine candidate genes selected from the top of the list, two genes of unkn... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025552 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4025552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025551&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20849973%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Keller NP, Bennett J, Turners G PMID: 20849973 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025551 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4025551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3970893&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20837155%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Broggini GA, Bus VG, Parravicini G, Kumar S, Groenwold R, Gessler C Durable resistance to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cke) Wint; anamorph Spilocaea pomi Fries) is one of the major goals of apple (Malus) breeding programs. Since current scab resistance breeding is heavily reliant on genes with gene-for-gene relationships, a good understanding of the genetic basis of host-pathogen interaction needs to be developed for this strategy to be successful. While the genomic organization of apple scab resistance genes has been studied extensively, little is known about the avirulence genes in the pathogen. The progeny of a cross of European V. inaequalis race (1) isolate EU-B04 and race (1,2,8,9) isolate 1639 was used to generate a genetic map based on microsatellite and AFLP marke... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3970893 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3970893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961630&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20817000%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jimenez C, Sacristan C, Roncero MI, Roncero C Family II Chitin synthases (CS), including class IV and V enzymes, share conserved catalytic domains flanked by transmembrane regions. Here we addressed the characterization of Family II fungal CSs by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Full-length CSs from classes V or IV were not functional when expressed in S. cerevisiae and accumulated in different intracellular compartments. However, the exchange between different Class IV, but not of Class V, CHS domains resulted in functional proteins both in vivo and in vitro. The different domains afford the chimeric proteins distinct intracellular behaviours, ranging from endoplasmic reticulum retention to reduced endocytic turnover at the plasma membrane. These results a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961630 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961629&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20817113%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, two distinct types of FHbs (predictive cytosolic FHb1 and predictive mitochondrial FHb2) from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae were investigated to elucidate the physiological roles of these FHbs. The fhb1 gene responded to external nitric oxide (NO) stress at the transcriptional level, whereas the fhb2 gene did not. Disrupting fhb1 increased cell hypersensitivity to NO stress, whereas deficiency of the fhb2 gene had no effect on phenotype compared to the wild-type strain. By fusing GFP protein to FHbs, we determined that FHb1 and FHb2 are located in the cytosol and mitochondria, respectively. In the wild-type strain, the transcriptional level of the fhb2 gene was too low to be detected, but its expression was detectable in the NirK (mitochondrial copper-containing dissimilator... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961629 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961628&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20817114%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we demonstrate that the HSE regulon is active in C. albicans cells infecting the kidney. We also show the CE2 region of Hsf1 is required for activation and that the phosphorylation of specific residues in this domain contributes to Hsf1 activation. C. albicans HSF1 mutants that lack this CE2 region are viable. However, they are unable to activate HSE-containing genes in response to heat shock, and they are thermosensitive. Using this HSF1 CE2 deletion mutant we demonstrate that Hsf1 activation, and hence thermal adaptation, contributes significantly to the virulence of C. albicans. PMID: 20817114 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961628 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961627&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20817115%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we characterize one of such activators called flbE in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillusnidulans. The predicted FlbE protein is composed of 222 and 201 aa in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, respectively. While flbE is transiently expressed during early phase of growth in A. nidulans, it is somewhat constitutively expressed during the lifecycle of A. fumigatus. The deletion of flbE causes reduced conidiation and delayed expression of brlA and vosA in both species. Moreover, FlbE is necessary for salt-induced development in liquid submerged culture in A. fumigatus. The A. nidulansflbE null mutation is fully complemented by A. fumigatusflbE, indicating a functional conservancy of FlbE in Aspergillus. Both the deletion and overexpression of flbE in A. nidulans result in develop... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961627 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961632&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20807586%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rohlfs M, Churchill AC Fungi share a diverse co-evolutionary history with animals, especially arthropods. In this review, we focus on the role of secondary metabolism in driving antagonistic fungus-animal interactions, i.e., where fungi serve as a food source to fungal grazers, compete with saprophagous insects, and attack insects as hosts for growth and reproduction. Although a wealth of studies on animal-fungus interactions point to a crucial role of secondary metabolites in deterring animal feeding and resisting immune defense strategies, causal evidence often remains to be provided. Moreover, it still remains an unresolved puzzle as to what extent the tight regulatory control of secondary metabolite formation in some model fungi represents an evolved chemical defense syste... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961632 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961631&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20816830%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we show that in Aspergillus nidulans the effect of light on the production of the sterigmatocystin (ST) toxin depends on the glucose concentration. In cultures grown with 1% glucose and exposed to light, ST production was lower than when grown in the dark. This lower ST production coincided with an elevated rate of cellular damage with partial loss of nuclear integrity and vacuolated cytoplasm. However, in cultures grown with 2% glucose these effects were reversed and light enhanced ST production. Glucose abundance also affected the light-dependent subcellular localization of the VeA (velvet) protein, a key regulator necessary for normal light-dependent morphogenesis and secondary metabolism in Aspergilli and other fungal genera. The role of other VeA-associated proteins, par... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961631 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961633&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20797444%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pusztahelyi T, Klement E, Szajli E, Klem J, Miskei M, Karányi Z, Emri T, Kovács S, Orosz G, Kovács KL, Medzihradszky KF, Prade RA, Pócsi I Under long-term oxidative stress caused by menadione sodium bisulfite, genome-wide transcriptional and proteome-wide translational changes were compared in Aspergillus nidulans vegetative cells. The comparison of proteomic and DNA microarray expression data demonstrated that global gene expression changes recorded with either flip-flop or dendrimer cDNA labeling techniques supported proteome changes moderately with 40% and 34% coincidence coefficients, respectively. Enzyme levels in the glycolytic pathway were alternating, which was a direct consequence of fluctuating gene expression patterns. Surprisingly, enzymes in the vitami... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961633 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3961633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911519&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20728557%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: SÅ¥ovíček V, Váchová L, Kuthan M, Palková Z The lifestyle of wild and laboratory yeast strains significantly differs. In contrast to the smooth colonies of laboratory strains, wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains form biofilm-like, strikingly structured colonies possessing distinctive traits enabling them to better survive in hostile environments in the wild. Here, comparing three sets of strains forming differently structured colonies (fluffy, semi-fluffy and smooth), each derived from ancestors with distinct genetic backgrounds isolated from natural settings (BR-88, BR-99 and BR-103), we specified the factors essential for the formation of structured colonies, i.e. for the lifestyle most likely to be preferred in the wild. The ability to form an abundant ex... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911519 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3911519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890674&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20719250%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe here the functions of a Snf1/AMPK homolog in the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcusneoformans, strain JEC21. We found that JEC21 SNF1 is a key regulator for the biosynthesis of the major virulence factors, stress resistance and alternative carbon source utilization. Disruption of JEC21 SNF1 results in defects of laccase activity and capsule production, sensitivity to cation stress. Especially, we found that JEC21 SNF1 is essential for growth at elevated temperature and for thermotolerance. To our knowledge, a role for Snf1 proteins in thermotolerance has not been reported. Furthermore, we observed a functional divergence between JEC21 SNF1 and its equivalent from serotype A strain H99. A high temperature is needed for H99 SNF1 to function in stress response and carbon source p... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890674 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3890674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890673&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20719251%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dai Y, Jia Y, Correll J, Wang X, Wang Y Rice blast disease is the single most destructive plant disease that threatens stable rice production worldwide. Race-specific resistance to the rice blast pathogen has not been durable and the mechanism by which the resistance is overcome remains largely unknown. Here we report the molecular mechanisms of diversification and the instability of the avirulence gene AVR-Pita1 in field strains of Magnaporthe oryzae interacting with the host resistance gene Pi-ta and triggering race specific resistance. Two-base-pair insertions resulting in frame-shift mutations and partial and complete deletions of AVR-Pita1 were identified in virulent isolates. Moreover, a total of 38 AVR-Pita1 haplotypes encoding 27 AVR-Pita1 variants were identified amon... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890673 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3890673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3881989&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20713166%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Magliano P, Flipphi M, Sanglard D, Poirier Y The genes involved in the biosynthesis of biotin were identified in the hyphal fungus Aspergillus nidulans through homology searches and complementation of Escherichia coli biotin auxotrophic mutants. Whereas the 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid synthase and dethiobiotin synthetase are encoded by distinct genes in bacteria and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, both activities are performed in A. nidulans by a single enzyme, encoded by the bifunctional gene bioDA. Such a bifunctional bioDA gene is a genetic feature common to numerous members of the ascomycete filamentous fungi and basidiomycetes, as well as in plants and oömycota. However, unlike in other eukaryota, the three bio genes contributing to the four enzymatic steps from pim... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3881989 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3881989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3881990&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20709620%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olmedo M, Navarro-Sampedro L, Ruger-Herreros C, Kim SR, Jeong BK, Lee BU, Corrochano LM The activation of gene transcription by light is transient since light-dependent mRNA accumulation ceases after long exposures to light. This phenomenon, photoadaptation, has been observed in plants and fungi, and allows the perception of changes in light intensities. In the fungus Neurosporacrassa photoadaptation involves the transient binding of the photoresponsive White Collar Complex (WCC) to the promoters of light-regulated genes. We show that RCO-1 and RCM-1, the Neurospora homologs of the components of the yeast Tup1-Ssn6 repressor complex, participate in photoadaptation. Mutation in either rco-1 or rcm-1 result in high and sustained accumulation of mRNAs for con-10 and other light-r... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3881990 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3881990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3823496&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20682355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Theodoro RC, Volkmann G, Liu XQ, Bagagli E Inteins are intervening sequences that are transcribed and translated with flanking host protein sequences and then self-excised by protein splicing. Bi-functional inteins also contain a homing endonuclease responsible for their genetic mobility. The PRP8 intein, the most widespread among fungi, occurs in important pathogens such as Histoplasma capsulatum and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, from the Ajellomycetaceae family. Herein, we describe the bi-functional PRP8 intein in two other Ajellomycetacean pathogens, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Emmonsia parva. Sequence analysis and experimental evidence suggest that the homing endonuclease from PbrPRP8 is inactive. The splicing activity of the PRP8 intein from the B. dermatitidis, E. parv... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3823496 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3823496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3823497&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20673806%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kmetzsch L, Staats CC, Simon E, Fonseca FL, Oliveira DL, Joffe LS, Rodrigues J, Lourenço RF, Gomes SL, Nimrichter L, Rodrigues ML, Schrank A, Vainstein MH Nitrogen uptake and metabolism are essential to microbial growth. Gat1 belongs to a conserved family of zinc finger containing transcriptional regulators known as GATA-factors. These factors activate the transcription of Nitrogen Catabolite Repression (NCR) sensitive genes when preferred nitrogen sources are absent or limiting. Cryptococcus neoformansGAT1 is an ortholog to the Aspergillus nidulansAreA and Candida albicans GAT1 genes. In an attempt to define the function of this transcriptional regulator in C. neoformans, we generated null mutants (gat1Delta) of this gene. The gat1 mutant exhibited impaired growth on all a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3823497 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3823497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3809168&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20659575%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Strauss J, Reyes-Dominguez Y Chromatin, composed of DNA wrapped around an octamer of histones, is the relevant substrate for all genetic processes in eukaryotic nuclei. Changes in chromatin structure are associated with the activation and silencing of gene transcription and reversible post-translational modifications of histones are now known to direct chromatin structure transitions. Recent studies in several fungal species have identified a chromatin-based regulation of secondary metabolism (SM) gene clusters representing an upper-hierarchical level for the coordinated control of large chromosomal elements. Regulation by chromatin transition processes provides a mechanistic model to explain how different SM clusters located at dispersed genomic regions can be simultaneously ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3809168 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3809168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3809167&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20659576%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we have compared the effect of inactivating the NHEJ genes ku70 or lig4 on GT in the industrial penicillin producer Penicillium chrysogenum. Deletion of both genes resulted in strongly increased GT efficiencies at 3 different loci but not higher than 70%, implying that other, yet uncharacterized, recombination pathways are still active causing a part of the DNA to be integrated via non-homologous recombination. To further increase the GT efficiency we applied the bi-partite approach, in which the DNA fragment for integration was split in two non-functional overlapping parts that via homologous recombination invivo can form a functional selection marker. The combined NHEJ mutant and bi-partite approach further increased GT frequencies up to approximately 90%, which will enable... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3809167 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3809167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3791544&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20654725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dinamarco TM, de Castro Pimentel B, Savoldi M, Malavazi I, Soriani FM, Uyemura SA, Ludovico P, Goldman MH, Goldman GH Farnesol (FOH) is a nonsterol isoprenoid produced by dephosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate, a catabolite of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. These isoprenoids inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis. Here, we show that Aspergillus nidulans AifA encoding the Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF)-like mitochondrial oxidoreductase plays a role in the function of the mitochondrial Complex I. Additionally, we demonstrated that ndeA-B and ndiA encode external and internal alternative NADH dehydrogenases, respectively, that have a function in FOH resistance. When exposed to FOH, the aifA and ndeA strains have increased ROS production while ndeB, ndeA ndeB, and... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3791544 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3791544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776782&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20637818%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ness F, Prouzet-Mauleon V, Vieillemard A, Lefebvre F, Noël T, Crouzet M, Doignon F, Thoraval D Rho proteins are essential regulators of polarized growth in eukaryotic cells. These proteins are down-regulated in vivo by specific Rho GTPase Activating Proteins (RhoGAP). We investigated the role of Rgd1 RhoGAP, encoded by the Candida albicans RGD1 gene. We demonstrated that CaCdc42, CaRho3 and CaRho4 proteins had an intrinsic GTPase activity and that CaRgd1 stimulates in vitro GTP hydrolysis of these GTPases. Deletion of RGD1 in C. albicans results in sensitivity to low pH as already described for rgd1Delta in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The role of Rgd1 in survival at low pH is conserved in the two yeast species as the CaRGD1 gene complements the Scrgd1Delta sensitivity. By tag... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776782 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776781&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20637887%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen CH, Dunlap JC, Loros JJ PMID: 20637887 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776781 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776780&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20637888%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ali S, Leconte M, Walker AS, Enjalbert J, de Vallavieille-Pope C Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (PST), has so far been considered to reproduce asexually with until very recently no known alternate host, has a clonal population structure in the USA, Australia and Europe. However, recently, high genotypic diversity in Eastern Asia and recombinant populations in China has been reported. Variations in the ability for sexual reproduction could provide an explanation for such a geographical gradient in genotypic diversity. In order to address this hypothesis, we tested for the existence of a relationship between the ability to produce telia, sex-specific structures that are obligatory for sexual cycle, and the genetic diversity of populations measured using neutral markers, in a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776780 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776783&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20633690%26dopt%3DAbstract We report here the characterization of UreA, a high-affinity urea/H(+) symporter of Aspergillus nidulans. The deletion of the encoding gene abolishes urea transport at low substrate concentrations, suggesting that in these conditions UreA is the sole transport system specific for urea in A. nidulans. The ureA gene is not inducible by urea or its precursors, but responds to nitrogen metabolite repression, necessitating for its expression the AreA GATA factor. In contrast to what was observed for other transporters in A. nidulans, repression by ammonium is also operative during the isotropic growth phase. The activity of UreA is down-regulated post-translationally by ammonium-promoted endocytosis. A number of homologues of UreA have been identified in A. nidulans and other Aspergilli, which ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776783 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776784&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20627132%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yeadon PJ, Bowring FJ, Catcheside DE We analysed 148 octads from a Neurospora cross maximised for sequence heterology in the his-3 region and detected non-Mendelian segregation at his-3, cot-1 and lys-4 loci. This was in all cases 6:2 or 2:6, with no evidence of post-meiotic segregation (PMS) in these genes. High density snp analysis was used to place crossovers between his-3 and the centromere-distal marker ad-3, and sequencing to refine the location of crossovers between his-3 and the recombination hotspot cog. Crossovers appeared to have a non-random distribution, falling close to his-3 or more than 40kb distal, and all those in which the location was determined were flanked by sequences showing gene conversion and/or PMS amongst the polymorphisms. This octad study confirms... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776784 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776787&cid=s_35580_62_f&fid=35580&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20619349%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bell-Pedersen D PMID: 20619349 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776787 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3776787