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. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:31:36 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3361741&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%3D20223291%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Turrion-Gomez JL, Eslava AP, Benito EP Flavohemoglobins constitute a group of proteins involved in the metabolism of nitric oxide (NO). Botrytis cinerea was shown to have a single flavohemoglobin coding gene, Bcfhg1. Its expression was developmentally regulated, with maximum expression levels during germination of conidia, and was enhanced very quickly upon exposure to NO of germinating conidia, but not of mycelium growing and branching actively. Expression in planta paralleled the expression pattern during saprophytic growth with maximal expression occurring during the very early stages of the infection process. Bcfhg1 complemented the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yhb1 mutation, indicating that the encoded enzyme has NO dioxygenase activity. Biochemical and functional characteriz... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3361741 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3361741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354623&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%3D20211750%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: El-Ganiny AM, Sheoran I, Sanders DA, Kaminskyj SG Aspergillus nidulans UDP-glucose-4-epimerase UgeA interconverts UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose and participates in galactose metabolism. The sugar moiety of UDP-galactose is predominantly found as galactopyranose (Galp, the six-membered ring form), which is the substrate for UDP-galactopyranose mutase (encoded by ugmA) to generate UDP-galactofuranose (Galf, the five-membered ring form) that is found in fungal walls. In A. fumigatus, Galf residues appear to be important for virulence. The A. nidulans ugeADelta strain is viable, and has defects including wide, slow growing, highly branched hyphae and reduced conidiation that resemble the ugmADelta strain. As for the ugmADelta strain, ugeADelta colonies had substantially reduced sp... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354623 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3354623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3347012&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%3D20206281%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: da Rocha Campos AN, Costa MD Pisolithus microcarpus (Cooke & Massee) G. Cunn. is a model organism for the studies on the ecology, physiology, and genetics of the ectomycorrhizal associations. However, little is known about the basidiosporogenesis in this species and, in particular, the nuclear behavior after karyogamy. In this work, the events involved in basidiosporogenesis and meiosis in P. microcarpus were analyzed using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The basidia are formed inside peridioles by the differentiation of the cells along the whole hyphae. Basidial cells measure 12 to 18 mum in length and 6 to 7 mum in diameter. P. microcarpus produces eight basidiospores per basidium imbibed in a gelatinous matrix in the basidiocarp. The basidiospores are glo... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3347012 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3347012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3347011&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%3D20206282%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: García-Prieto F, Gómez-Raja J, Andaluz E, Calderone R, Larriba G We have cloned and characterized the RAD51 and RAD59 orthologues of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. CaRad51 exhibited more than 50% identity with several other eukaryotes and the conserved the catalytic domain of a bacterial RecA. As compared to the parental strain, null strains of rad51 exhibited a filamentous morphology, had a decreased grow rate and exhibited a moderate sensitivity to UV light, oxidizing agents, and compounds that cause double-strand breaks (DSB), indicating a role in DNA repair. By comparison, the rad52 null had a higher percentage of filaments, a more severe growth defect and a greater sensitivity to DNA-damaging compounds. Null strains of rad59 showed a UV-sensitive phenot... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3347011 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3347011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302817&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%3D20176124%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carneiro JS, Bastide PY, Chabot M, Lerch L, Hintz WE The fungal pathogen, Ophiostomo novo-ulmi, has been responsible for the rapid decline of American elm (Ulmus americana) across North America and remains a serious threat to surviving elm populations. The production of pectinolytic polygalacturonase enzymes has been implicated as a virulence factor for many fungal pathogens, including O. novo-ulmi. Previous work has shown that the targeted disruption of the endopolygalacturonase gene locus epg1 of O. novo-ulmi reduced, but did not eliminate pectinase activity. In the present study, we evaluated the use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a method of suppressing expression of the epg1 locus in O. novo-ulmi and compared its efficiency to the gene disruption method. While there was a ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302817 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3302817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3284561&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%3D20153837%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cervantes-Chávez JA, Ortiz-Castellanos L, Tejeda-Sartorius M, Gold S, Ruiz-Herrera J The most important mechanism for fungal response to the environmental ph is the rim or pal pathway. details on its operation are known through the analysis of ascomycete fungi. in this study we analyzed whether this pathway is conserved in a basidiomycete, ustilago maydis. we could identify only five homologues of the seven known components of the pathway in the u. maydis as well as in other basidiomycete genomes. we determined that only genes encoding rim20/pala, rim13/palb and rim23/palc, that constitute the endosomal membrane complex, and rim9/pali of the complex located at the plasma membrane are conserved, but this latter lacked a detectable role in signal transduction. mutants in th... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3284561 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3284561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267957&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%3D20149887%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Atallah ZK, Maruthachalam K, Toit LD, Koike ST, Davis RM, Klosterman SJ, Hayes RJ, Subbarao KV The fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae has resulted in significant losses in numerous crops in coastal California, but lettuce remained unaffected until the mid-1990s. Since then outbreaks have decimated entire fields, but the causes of this sudden susceptibility of lettuce remain elusive. The population structure of V. dahliae isolated from coastal California (n = 123) was investigated with 22 microsatellite markers, and compared with strains from tomato in central California (n = 60), spinach seed imported from Washington State and Northern Europe (n = 43), and ornamentals from Wisconsin (n = 17). No significant differentiation was measured among hosts in coastal California or wi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267957 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3267957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262733&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%3D20144723%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tzima A, Paplomatas EJ, Rauyaree P, Kang S Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne fungus that causes vascular wilt disease in a broad range of hosts and survives for many years in the soil in the form of microsclerotia. Although the role of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) has been extensively studied in foliar pathogens, there is limited information about its role in soilborne fungal pathogens that infect through the root system. Genome database search revealed the presence of two PKA catalytic subunit genes in V. dahliae, named VdPKAC1 and VdPKAC2. A phylogenetic analysis showed that VdPKAC2 groups with fungal PKA catalytic subunits that appear to play a minor role in PKA activity. This gene was expressed considerably lower than that of VdPKAC1. Although disruption of VdPK... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262733 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262732&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%3D20144724%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boddy L, Wood J, Redman E, Hynes J, Fricker MD Mycelial networks operate on scales from microscopic to many m(2) and naturally persist for extended periods. As fungi exhibit highly adaptive development, it is important to test behavioural responses on natural substrata with realistic nutrient levels across a range of spatial scales and extended time periods. Here we quantified network responses over 7.5 months in large (57 x 57 cm) microcosms to test whether grazing shifts the network to a more resilient architecture. Resource limitation constrained any ability to respond at all, with both grazed and un-grazed networks gradually thinning out over time. Added resources sustained further exploratory growth, but only transiently increased cross-connectivity and network resilience... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262732 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262730&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%3D20144725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Feltrer R, Alvarez-Rodríguez ML, Barreiro C, Godio RP, Coque JJ De novo sequencing of 8 internal peptides of purified chlorophenol O-methyltransferase, or CMT1 (before named as CPOMT), from Trichoderma longibrachiatum was performed by MALDI-TOF/TOF and ESI-IT. A novel gene (cmt1) encoding CMT1 was cloned by using a PCR approach based on the amino acid sequence of two internal peptides. The gene (1637 bp) encoded a protein of 468 amino acids with a deduced molecular mass of 52.4 kDa, and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.93. This gene contains four introns, whose location was confirmed by comparison of cDNA and chromosomal sequences. The expression of cmt1 gene was induced at transcriptional level by exposure of fungal mycelia to 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP). Putat... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262730 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262727&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%3D20144726%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Castellanos F, Schmoll M, Martínez P, Tisch D, Kubicek CP, Herrera-Estrella A, Esquivel-Naranjo EU In Trichoderma reesei light stimulates transcription of cellulase genes and this regulation has been found to occur, at least in part, through the protein ENVOY. Here we analyzed the role of the BLR photoreceptor complex (BLR1/BLR2) in photoconidiation and the regulation of gene expression. Both responses were dependent on both BLR proteins. Analyses of Deltablr1, Deltablr2 and Deltaenv1 mutants showed that the BLR proteins regulate growth under illumination. Analysis of env1 mutant strains indicated that ENVOY allows the fungus to tolerate continuous exposure to light, damped the capacity of Trichoderma to perceive changes in light intensity, and suggested that it participa... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262727 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3218697&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%3D20102747%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hong SY, So J, Lee J, Min K, Son H, Park C, Yun SH, Lee YW We identified two syntaxin-like SNARE genes, named GzSYN1 and GzSYN2, from the plant pathogenic ascomycete Gibberella zeae, and characterized the functions and cellular localization of these genes. The GzSYN1 deletion mutant (Deltagzsyn1) had 71% reduced hyphal growth compared to the wild-type strain, but produced perithecia with normal ascospores. Deltagzsyn2 had the same hyphal growth rate as the wild type, but completely lost both self and female fertility. When Deltagzsyn2 was spermatized for Deltamat1-1 or Deltamat1-2 strains, it retained its male fertility, but the ascus shape was abnormal and ascospore delimitation was delayed. The Deltagzsyn1 and Deltagzsyn2 virulence on barley was reduced by 67% and 75%, respe... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3218697 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3218697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212725&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%3D20097301%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lopez-Llorca LV, Gómez-Vidal S, Monfort E, Larriba E, Casado-Vela J, Elortza F, Jansson HB, Salinas J, Martín-Nieto J Nematophagous fungi Pochonia chlamydosporia and P. rubescens colonize endophytically barley roots. During nematode infection, serine proteases are secreted. We have investigated whether such proteases are also produced during root colonization. Polyclonal antibodies against serine protease P32 of P. rubescens cross-reacted with a related protease (VCP1) of P. chlamydosporia, but not with barley proteases. These antibodies also detected an unknown ca. 65-kDa protein, labelled hyphae and appressoria of P. chlamydosporia and strongly reduced proteolytic activity of extracts from fungus-colonized roots. Mass spectrometry (MS) of 32-kDa protein bands detec... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212725 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3212725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200957&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%3D20093192%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bokor AA, van Kan JA, Poulter RT Strains of Botrytis cinerea are polymorphic for the presence of an intein in the PRP8 gene (intein +/-). The intein encodes a homing endonuclease (HEG). During meiosis in an intein +/- heterozygote, the homing endonuclease initiates intein 'homing' by inducing gene conversion. In such meioses, the homing endonuclease triggers gene conversion of the intein together with its flanking sequences into the empty allele. The efficiency of gene conversion of the intein was found to be 100%. The extent of flanking sequence affected by the gene conversion varied in different meioses. A survey of the inteins and flanking sequences of a group Botrytis cinerea isolates indicates that there are two distinct variants of the intein both of which have active HE... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200957 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3200957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3186210&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%3D20079868%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ji L, Jiang ZD, Liu Y, Koh CM, Zhang LH Ustilago maydis is an important model fungal organism for diverse studies. Little improvement has been made in the method for its transformation since the PEG-mediated transfection of spheroplasts that was reported more than 20 years ago. We have constructed binary T-DNA vectors carrying Hygromycin and Nourseothricin resistance gene cassettes and have developed a highly efficient method for transformation of this fungus based on Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). Through a series of optimization, at least 1x10(4) Hygromycin B resistant colony forming units (CFU) has been achieved on each 90 mm agar plate using 10(6) sporidia. Optimal pH value for ATMT is approximately 5.6. Approximately 96% Hygromycin B-resistant t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3186210 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3186210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164234&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%3D20060921%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Al-Rawi N, Laforce-Nesbitt SS, Bliss JM As a means to study surface proteins involved in the yeast to hypha transition, human monoclonal antibody fragments (single chain variable fragments, scFv) have been generated that bind to antigens expressed on the surface of Candida albicans yeast and/or hyphae. A cDNA expression library was constructed from hyphae, and screened for immunoreactivity with scFv5 as a means to identify its cognate antigen. A reactive clone contained the 3' end of the C. albicans gene, orf 19.7136, designated SPT6 based on homology to S. cerevisiae, where its product functions as a transcription elongation factor. A mutant containing a homozygous deletion of SPT6 was isolated, demonstrating that unlike S. cerevisiae, deletion of this gene in C. albicans is ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164234 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3164234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164235&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%3D20060485%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gladieux P, Caffier V, Devaux M, Le Cam B Patterns of multilocus DNA sequence variation within and between closely related taxa can provide insights into the history of divergence. Here, we report on DNA polymorphism and divergence at 6 nuclear loci in globally distributed samples of the ascomycete Venturia inaequalis, responsible for scab on apple, loquat, and pyracantha. Isolates from different hosts were differentiated but did not form diagnosable distinct phylogenetic species. Parameters of an Isolation-with-Migration model estimated from the data suggested that the large amount of variation shared among groups more likely resulted from recent splitting than from extensive genetic exchanges. Inferred levels of gene flow among groups were low and more concentrated toward re... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164235 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3164235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153913&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%3D20051268%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Castro-Longoria E, Ferry M, Bartnicki-García S, Hasty J, Brody S The frequency (frq) gene of Neurospora crassa has long been considered essential to the function of this organism's circadian rhythm. Increasingly, deciphering the coupling of core oscillator genes such as frq to the output pathways of the circadian rhythm has become a major focus of circadian research. To address this coupling it is critical to have a reporter of circadian activity that can deliver high resolution spatial and temporal information about the dynamics of core oscillatory proteins such as FRQ. However, due to the difficulty of studying the expression of circadian rhythm genes in aerobic N. crassa cultures, little is known about the dynamics of this gene under physiologically realistic condition... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153913 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3153913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146708&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%3D20045739%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kothe GO, Kitamura M, Masutani M, Selker EU, Inoue H Modification of proteins by the addition of poly(ADP-ribose) is carried out by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). PARPs have been implicated in a wide range of biological processes in eukaryotes, but no universal function has been established. A study of the Aspergillus nidulans PARP ortholog (PrpA) revealed that the protein is essential and involved in DNA repair, reminiscent of findings using mammalian systems. We found that a Neurospora PARP orthologue (NPO) is dispensable for cell survival, DNA repair and epigenetic silencing but that replicative aging of mycelia is accelerated in an npo mutant strain. We propose that PARPs may control aging as proposed for Sirtuins, which also consume NAD+ and function either as mono... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146708 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3146708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146709&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%3D20045482%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nakahama T, Nakanishi Y, Viscomi AR, Takaya K, Kitamoto K, Ottonello S, Arioka M Microbial secretory phospholipases A(2) (sPLA(2)s) are among the last discovered and least known members of this functionally diverse family of enzymes. We analyzed here two sPLA(2)s, named sPlaA and sPlaB, of the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus oryzae. sPlaA and sPlaB consist of 222 and 160 amino acids, respectively, and share the conserved Cys and catalytic His-Asp residues typical of microbial sPLA(2)s. Two sPLA(2)s differ in pH optimum, Ca(2+) requirement and expression profile. The splaA mRNA was strongly upregulated in response to carbon starvation, oxidative stress and during conidiation, while splaB was constitutively expressed at low levels and was weakly upregulated by heat shock. Exp... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146709 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3146709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3137066&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%3D20044015%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Staudt MW, Kruzel EK, Shimizu K, Hull CM During sexual development the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans undergoes a developmental transition from yeast-form growth to filamentous growth. This transition requires cellular restructuring to form a filamentous dikaryon. Dikaryotic growth also requires tightly controlled nuclear migration to ensure faithful replication and dissemination of genetic material to spore progeny. Although the gross morphological changes that take place during dikaryotic growth are largely known, the molecular underpinnings that control this process are uncharacterized. Here we identify and characterize a C. neoformans homolog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae BIM1 gene, and establish the importance of BIM1 for proper filamentous growth of C. n... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3137066 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3137066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3129939&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%3D20036749%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we show that, in the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated signaling pathway governs a number of biological functions, either separately or in a cooperative manner, with the AaAP1 gene encoding a transcription regulator. The reported MAPK is encoded by the AaFUS3 gene, which we show to be necessary for conidial development, resistance to copper fungicides, melanin biosynthesis, and particularly, for elaboration of the penetration process. In contrast, AaFUS3 negatively controls salt tolerance and production of several hydrolytic enzymes. AaFUS3 has no apparent role in the biosynthesis of host-selective toxin or in resistance to oxidative stress. Both AaAP1 and AaFUS3 are required for fungal resistance to 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3129939 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3129939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3122544&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%3D20034585%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Korripally P, Tiwari A, Haritha A, Kiranmayi P, Bhanoori M Transcriptional analysis using qRT-PCR of 62 metal ion transporters during conidial germination of Neurospora crassa showed a significant up regulation of a hypothetical copper transporter gene, tcu-1, that belongs to the Ctr family. Herein we characterized the Ctr family genes (tcu-1, tcu-2 and tcu-3) and deciphered their role in various developmental phases of the N. crassa life cycle. Cross complementation assays in copper uptake mutant of S. cerevisiae revealed that tcu-1, tcu-2 and tcu-3 are functional homologs of S. cerevisiae copper transporters. Expression studies of Ctr family members in various developmental phases of N. crassa showed differential expression pattern for high affinity copper transporter, TCU1.... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3122544 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3122544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3122543&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%3D20034586%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen S, Song Y, Cao J, Wang G, Wei H, Xu X, Lu L Calmodulin (CaM) is a small, eukaryotic protein that reversibly binds Ca(2+). Study of CaM localization in genetically tractable organisms has yielded many insights into CaM function. Here, we described the dynamic localization of A. nidulans CaM (AnCaM) in live-cells by using recombination strains with homologous, single cross-over insertions at the target gene which placed the GFP fused copy under the inducible alcA promoter and the RFP-CaM integration under the native cam promoter. We found that the localization of CaM fusion was quite dynamic throughout the hypha and was concentrated to the active growing sites during germination, hyphal growth, cytokinesis and conidiation. The depletion of CaM by alcA promoter repression in... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3122543 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3122543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119409&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%3D20026415%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foulongne-Oriol M, Spataro C, Cathalot V, Monllor S, Savoie JM A genetic linkage map for the edible basidiomycete Agaricus bisporus was constructed from 118 haploid homokaryons derived from an intervarietal A. bisporus var. bisporus x A. bisporus var. burnettii hybrid. Two hundred and thirty one AFLP, 21 SSR, 68 CAPS markers together with the MAT, BSN, PPC1 loci and one allozyme locus (ADH) were evenly spread over 13 linkage groups corresponding to the chromosomes of A. bisporus. The map covers 1156 cM, with an average marker spacing of 3.9 cM and encompasses nearly the whole genome. The average number of crossovers per chromosome per individual is 0.86. Normal recombination over the entire genome occurs in the heterothallic variety, burnettii, contrary to the homothallic vari... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119409 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3119409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119411&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%3D20026235%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Odds FC PMID: 20026235 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119411 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3119411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119410&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%3D20026236%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Roumelioti K, Vangelatos I, Sophianopoulou V In Aspergillus nidulans the fbaA1013 mutation results in reduced or total loss of growth on glycolytic and gluconeogenic carbon sources, respectively. It also negatively affects growth on several amino acids (including L-proline, L-glutamate or L-aspartate) that the fungus can use as nitrogen source on glycolytic carbon sources. Complementation of the fbaA1013 mutation using an A. nidulans genomic library resulted in cloning of the fbaA gene, which encodes a putative fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase (FBA), an enzyme involved in both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The fbaA1013 mutation is a chromosome rearrangement in the 5' regulatory region of the fbaA gene resulting in reduced or total loss of transcription in response to glycol... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119410 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3119410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3119412&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%3D20025988%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang Z, Townsend JP Filamentous fungal gene expression assays provide essential information for understanding systemic cellular regulation. To aid research on fungal gene expression, we constructed a novel, comprehensive, free database, the Filamentous Fungal Gene Expression Database (FFGED), available at http://bioinfo.townsend.yale.edu. FFGED features user-friendly management of gene expression data, which are assorted into experimental metadata, experimental design, raw data, normalized details, and analysis results. Data may be submitted in the process of an experiment, and any user can submit multiple experiments, thus classifying the FFGED as an "active experiment" database. Most importantly, FFGED functions as a collective and collaborative platform, by connecting each... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3119412 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3119412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048960&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%3D19944774%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Patel RD, Lodge JK, Baker LG Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals. Reverse genetics is commonly used to identify and characterize genes involved in a variety of cellular processes. In C. neoformans there is a limited set of positive selectable markers available to make gene deletions or other genetic manipulations. This has hampered the application of reverse genetics in this organism. We have adapted the Bacteriophage P1 Cre-loxP system for use in C. neoformans and successfully excised and reused the same drug marker, G418, to make two sequential gene deletions, lac1Delta and cap59 Delta, in the same strain. This tool will allow investigators to make multiple sequential gene deletions in the same stra... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048960 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3048960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036425&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%3D19941967%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, a class I chitin synthase gene (CHS1) from Fusarium asiaticum, the predominant species of FHB pathogens on wheat in China, was functionally disrupted via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Specific disruption of the CHS1 gene resulted in a 58% reduction of chitin synthase activity, accompanied by decreases of 35% in chitin content, 22% in conidiation, and 16% in macroconidium length. The Deltachs1 mutant strain had a growth rate comparable to that of the wild type on PDA medium but had a 35% increase in the number of nuclear cellulae and exhibited a remarkably increased sensitivity to osmosis stresses. Electron microscopy revealed substantial changes occurring in cell wall structures of the macroconidium, ascospore, and mycelium, with the most profound change... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036425 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3036425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036424&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%3D19941968%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: García-Sánchez MA, Martín-Rodrigues N, Ramos B, Vega-Bartol JJ, Perlin MH, Díaz-Mínguez JM We have identified a Fusarium oxysporum homologue of the Ste12 transcription factor that regulates mating and filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The corresponding gene, fost12, from a highly virulent strain of F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli, was confirmed to share a high level of similarity and possessed the STE and C2H2 domains characteristic of the fungal Ste12 transcription factor family of proteins. Disruption of fost12 resulted in no visible alterations of colony morphology or in vitro growth characteristics. However, the disruption mutants showed a substantial reduction in virulence when inoculated in common bean seedlings. In planta transcription of ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036424 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3036424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3031342&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%3D19932183%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this work was to determine the presence of the mating type locus in 71 P. brasiliensis isolates from various sources. A PCR assay using specific primers for the MAT 1 gene was developed and applied for the detection of such genes. Two heterothallic groups (MAT1-1 or MAT1-2) were recognized and, in some isolates, gene expression was confirmed indicating the existence of a basal gene expression. The distribution of two mating type loci in the studied population suggested that sexual reproduction might occur in P. brasiliensis. This finding points towards the possibility of applying a more precise definition of the concept of biological species to P. brasiliensis. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the sexual capacity of this fungus and its implications among phyl... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3031342 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3031342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3031341&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%3D19932184%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Olmedo M, Ruger-Herreros C, Luque EM, Corrochano LM Genes con-10 and con-6 in Neurospora crassa are activated during conidiation or after illumination of vegetative mycelia. Light activation requires the white-collar complex (WCC), a transcription factor complex composed of the photoreceptor WC-1 and its partner WC-2. We have characterized the photoactivation of con-10 and con-6, and we have identified 300 bp required for photoactivation in the con-10 promoter. A complex stimulus-response relationship for con-10 and con-6 photoactivation suggested the activity of a complex photoreceptor system. The WCC is the key element for con-10 activation by light, but we suggest that other photoreceptors, the cryptochrome CRY-1, the rhodopsin NOP-1, and the phytochrome PHY-2, modify the a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3031341 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3031341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008978&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%3D19919853%26dopt%3DAbstract This study represents the first proteomic analysis of early phase of conidia germination and will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular events involved in conidia germination process. PMID: 19919853 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008978 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3008978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3000553&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%3D19909822%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we characterized the CID1 gene in F. graminearum that is an ortholog of the F. verticilloidesFCC1 and yeast UME3 genes. The protein encoded by CID1 has typical structural features of C-type cyclins. Deletion of CID1 resulted in a reduction in conidiation and vegetative growth but an increase in pigmentation. The Deltacid1 mutant was female sterile but could outcross as a male. It was significantly reduced in DON production and virulence on wheat heads and corn stalks. Only about 50% of inoculated spikelets developed scab symptoms and scab disease rarely extended to nearby florets, suggesting that the Deltacid1 mutant was defective in colonizing and spreading in wheat heads. Deletion of CID1 resulted in reduced expression levels of TRI5 and TRI101 but increased PKS12 expressi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3000553 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3000553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2968033&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%3D19887112%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rudd JJ, Antoniw J, Marshall R, Motteram J, Fraaije B, Hammond-Kosack K Pathogenic micro-organisms have been suggested to vary the number of intragenic repeats present within secreted or cell membrane / cell wall-associated proteins in order to manipulate host immune responses. We have identified a number of genes predicted to encode secreted proteins possessing internal tandem repeats in the genome sequence of Mycosphaerella graminicola (isolate IPO323), a wheat leaf-specific fungal pathogen and causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch disease. Twenty three M. graminicolaTandem Repeat Proteins (MgTRPs) were subject to further analysis. Many MgTRPs varied in the number of intragenic repeats between isolates and almost all were expressed. Peak gene expression was frequently obse... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2968033 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2968033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2959834&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%3D19883779%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Monteiro MC, Lucas JR The identification of essential genes represents a critical step in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets in A. fumigatus. Structural analyses of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA triphosphatase pointed out this enzyme as an attractive therapeutic target for fungal infections. In addition, demonstration of the essentiality of the S. cerevisiae RNA triphosphatase encoding gene enhanced the value of this potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, consideration of a fungal RNA triphophatase as an ideal therapeutic target needs confirmation of the essentiality of the respective gene in a fungal pathogen. In this work, we analyzed the essentiality of the A. fumigatus triA gene, encoding RNA triphosphatase, by conditional gene expression and heterokaryon d... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2959834 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2959834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2959833&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%3D19883780%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Freitas FZ, Paula RM, Barbosa LC, Terenzi HF, Bertolini MC The cAMP-PKA signaling pathway plays an important role in many biological processes including glycogen metabolism. In this work we investigated its role in the Neurospora crassa glycogen metabolism control using mutant strains affected in components of the pathway, the cr-1 strain deficient in adenylyl cyclase activity therefore has the PKA pathway not active, and the mcb strain a temperature-sensitive mutant defective in the regulatory subunit of PKA therefore is a strain with constitutively active PKA. We analyzed the expression of the gene encoding glycogen synthase (gsn), the regulatory enzyme in glycogen synthesis as a potential target of the regulation. The cr-1 strain accumulated, during vegetative growth, glyco... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2959833 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2959833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2935248&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%3D19857594%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lamping E, Baret PV, Holmes AR, Monk BC, Goffeau A, Cannon RD The overexpression of pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) efflux pumps of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily frequently correlates with multidrug resistance. Phylogenetic analysis of 349 full-size ( approximately 160 kDa) PDR proteins (Pdrps) from 55 fungal species, including major fungal pathogens, identified 9 separate protein clusters (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H1a/H1b and H2). Fungal, plant and human ABCG-family Pdrps possess a nucleotide-binding domain [NBD] and a transmembrane domain [TMD] in a family-defining 'reverse' ABC transporter topology [NBD-TMD] that is duplicated [NBD-TMD](2) in full-size fungal and plant Pdrps [NBD-TMD](2). Although full-size Pdrps have similar halves indicating early g... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2935248 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2935248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2935249&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%3D19853057%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ten Have A, Espino JJ, Dekkers E, Sluyter SC, Brito N, Kay J, González C, van Kan JA The ascomycete plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea secretes aspartic proteinase (AP) activity. Functional analysis was carried out on five aspartic proteinase genes (Bcap1-5) reported previously.Single and double mutants lacking these five genes showed neither a reduced secreted proteolytic activity, nor a reduction in virulence and they showed no alteration in sensitivity to antifungal proteins purified from grape juice. Scrutiny of the B. cinerea genome revealed the presence of nine additional Bcap genes, denoted Bcap6-14. The product of the Bcap8 gene was found to constitute up to 23% of the total protein secreted by B. cinerea. Bcap8-deficient mutants secreted approximately 70% less AP ac... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2935249 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2935249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923962&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%3D19850144%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ogawa M, Tokuoka M, Jin FJ, Takahashi T, Koyama Y Conidia of koji mold Aspergillus oryzae are often used as starters in the fermented food industry. However, little is known about conidiation regulation in A. oryzae. To improve the productivity of conidia in A. oryzae, it is necessary to understand conidiation regulation in the strain. Therefore, we analyzed the conidiation regulatory system in A. oryzae using 10 kinds of conidiation regulatory gene disruptants. The phenotypes of AorfluG, AorflbA, AorflbB, AorflbC, AorflbD, AorflbE, AorbrlA, AorabaA, AorwetA, and AorfadA mutants are almost identical to those of the corresponding mutants in A. nidulans. The results indicated that the functions of conidiation regulatory genes are almost conserved between A. oryzae and A. nidulan... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923962 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2923962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923961&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%3D19850145%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we show that the dst2-1 mutant exhibits a blind phenotype during asexual spore production in addition to that in fruiting-body photomorphogenesis. We also reveal that dst2 is predicted to encode a protein with a putative flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding-4 domain. The two blind phenotypes, together with the existence of an FAD-binding domain in Dst2, suggest that Dst2 may play a role in perceiving blue light. PMID: 19850145 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923961 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2923961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923960&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%3D19850146%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hasegawa S, Takizawa M, Suyama H, Shintani T, Gomi K Starch and malto-oligosaccharides such as maltose and maltotriose induce the production of amylolytic enzymes including alpha-amylase in Aspergillus oryzae. A transcriptional activator gene amyR, required for maltose induction of amylolytic enzymes, has been cloned and characterized. The amyR gene deletion mutant showed significantly poor growth on starch medium but normal growth on maltose medium. This indicated the existence of another maltose-utilizing system, whose expression might not be controlled by amyR. We have identified a gene cluster homologous to the MAL cluster of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the A. oryzae genome. The cluster consists of a MAL61 homolog (designated malP), a MAL62 homolog (designated malT), and a... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923960 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2923960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902023&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%3D19833221%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Koetsier MJ, Gombert AK, Fekken S, Bovenberg RA, Berg MA, Kiel JA, Jekel PA, Janssen DB, Pronk JT, Klei IJ, Daran JM Activation of the cephalosporin side-chain precursor to the corresponding CoA-thioester is an essential step for its incorporation into the beta-lactam backbone. To identify an acyl-CoA ligase involved in activation of adipate, we searched in the genome database of Penicillium chrysogenum for putative structural genes encoding acyl-CoA ligases. Chemostat-based transcriptome analysis was used to identify the one presenting the highest expression level when cells were grown in the presence of adipate. Deletion of the gene renamed aclA, led to a 32% decreased specific rate of adipate consumption and a three-fold reduction of adipoyl-6-aminopenicillanic acid levels,... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902023 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2902023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895183&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%3D19825426%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Maricato JT, Batista WL, Kioshima ES, Feitosa LS, Brito RR, Goldman GH, Mariano M, Puccia R, Lopes JD Glycoprotein gp70 is an important intracellular antigen from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis that elicits both humoral and cellular immune responses. Herein is reported the PbGP70 gene cloning from isolate Pb18 using internal peptide sequence information. The deduced protein sequence bears two N-glycosylation sites, antigenic sites and two mouse T-cell epitopes. Anti-recombinant gp70 (rPbgp70) polyclonal antibodies reacted with a 70-kDa component in total cell extract of P. brasiliensis, while MAbC5F11 and paracoccidioidomycosis patients' sera recognized rPbgp70. Confocal microscopy with anti-rPbgp70 and MAbC5F11 showed intense staining and cytoplasmatic co-localization. The pro... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895183 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895184&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%3D19822220%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kotz A, Wagener J, Engel J, Routier F, Echtenacher B, Pich A, Rohde M, Hoffmann P, Heesemann J, Ebel F GDP-mannose:inositol-phosphorylceramide (MIPC)-derived glycosphingolipids are important pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) of Candida albicans and according to recently published data also of Aspergillus fumigatus. MIPC transferases are essential for the synthesis of MIPC, but have so far been studied only in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and C. albicans. Here, we have identified MitA as the only MIPC transferase in A. fumigatus. The DeltamitA mutant lacks MIPC and MIPC-derived glycosphingolipids and accumulates the precursor IPC. The mutant grows normally, shows no defects in cell wall or membrane organization and a normal resistance to different stressors. It is, howe... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895184 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2863139&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%3D19800017%26dopt%3DAbstract This study reports additional conditions that allow this rhythmicity to occur. Rhythmicity was restored to mutants lacking either the frq, or wc-1, or wc-2 genes in D/D (constant darkness) or L/L (constant light) by the addition of low levels of menadione, a known stimulator of ROS (reactive oxygen species). Additional studies are reported on the rhythm effects from caffeine, a known cAMP phospho-diesterase inhibitor as well as the effects from mutations in the csp-1 gene, the rco-1 gene, and other genes. A theme ties all of these "downstream effects" together, i.e. they affect either components thought to be part of the conidiation process itself, or the RAS-cAMP-Protein kinase pathway. Since mutations in these components unexpectedly had rhythm effects, this suggests that these component... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2863139 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2863139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2829074&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%3D19772928%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lew RR, Kapishon V Hyphal tip-growing organisms often rely upon an internal hydrostatic pressure (turgor) to drive localized expansion of the cell. Regulation of the turgor in response to osmotic shock is mediated primarily by an osmotic MAP kinase cascade which activates osmolyte synthesis and ion uptake to effect turgor recovery. We characterized a Neurospora crassa homolog (PTK2) of ser/thr kinase regulators of ion transport in yeast to determine its role in turgor regulation in a filamentous fungi. The ptk2 mutant is osmosensitive, and has lower turgor poise than wildtype. The cause appears to be lower activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Its role in osmoadaptation is unrelated to the activity of the osmotic MAP kinase cascade. Instead, it acts in an alternative pa... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2829074 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2829074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2821492&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%3D19770064%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Walker LA, Gow NA, Munro CA The echinocandins are the newest class of antifungal agents in the clinical armory. These secondary metabolites are non-competitive inhibitors of the synthesis of beta-(1,3) glucan, a major structural component of the fungal cell wall. Recent work has shown that spontaneous mutations can arise in two hot spot regions of Fks1 the target protein of echinocandins that reduce the enzyme's sensitivity to the drug. However, other strains have been isolated in which the sequence of FKS1 is unaltered yet the fungus has decreased sensitivity to echinocandins. In addition it has been shown that echinocandin treatment can induce cell wall salvage mechanisms that result in the compensatory upregulation of chitin synthesis in the cell wall. This salvage mechanis... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2821492 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2821492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2821491&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%3D19770065%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sakamoto K, Iwashita K, Yamada O, Kobayashi K, Mizuno A, Akita O, Mikami S, Shimoi H, Gomi K We compared atfA and atfB, the genes encoding the respective ATF/CREB-type transcription factors in Aspergillus oryzae. The germination ratio of DeltaatfA conidia was low without any stress, unlike that of DeltaatfB conidia. The DeltaatfA conidia were more sensitive to oxidative stress than the DeltaatfB conidia, which are also sensitive to oxidative stress. We compared the gene expressions of these strains by using a DNA microarray, GeneChip. Almost all the genes regulated by atfB were also regulated by atfA, but atfA also regulated many genes that were not regulated by atfB, including some genes putatively involved in oxidative stress resistance. The level of glutamate, the major ami... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2821491 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2821491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804765&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%3D19755168%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reedy JL, Filler SG, Heitman J The protein phosphatase calcineurin is a key mediator of virulence and antifungal susceptibility of multiple fungal pathogens including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, and has clinical potential as a therapeutic target to increase the efficacy of the current antifungal armamentarium. Despite the importance of this signaling pathway, few components of the calcineurin-signaling pathway are known in C. albicans. Here we identified and analyzed additional components of the C. albicans calcineurin cascade, including the RCN1 (Regulator of Calcineurin1), MID1, and CCH1 genes, which mediate calcineurin functions in other species. When heterologous expressed in S. cerevisiae, C. albicans Rcn1 inhibited calcineurin fu... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804765 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2804765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2797270&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%3D19747978%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oliveira DL, Nimrichter L, Miranda K, Frases S, Faull KF, Casadevall A, Rodrigues ML Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated pathogenic fungus. The cryptococcal capsule is composed of polysaccharides and is necessary for virulence. It has been previously reported that glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), the major capsular component, is synthesized in cytoplasmic compartments and transported to the extracellular space in vesicles, but knowledge on the organelles involved in polysaccharide synthesis and traffic is extremely limited. In this paper we report the GXM distribution in C. neoformans cells sectioned by cryoultramicrotomy and visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and polysaccharide immunogold staining. Cryosections of fungal cells showed high preservation of in... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2797270 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2797270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752252&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%3D19715767%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: O'Donnell K, Gueidan C, Sink S, Johnston PR, Crous PW, Glenn A, Riley R, Zitomer NC, Colyer P, Waalwijk C, Lee TV, Moretti A, Kang S, Kim HS, Geiser DM, Juba JH, Baayen RP, Cromey MG, Bithel S, Sutton DA, Skovgaard K, Ploetz R, Kistler HC, Elliott M, Davis M, Sarver BA We constructed a two-locus database, comprising partial translation elongation factor (EF-1alpha) gene sequences and nearly full-length sequences of the nuclear ribosomal intergenic spacer region (IGS rDNA) for 850 isolates spanning the phylogenetic breadth of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC). Of the 850 isolates typed, 101 EF-1alpha, 203 IGS rDNA, and 256 two-locus sequence types (STs) were differentiated. Analysis of the combined dataset suggests that two-thirds of the STs might be associated with... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752252 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2752252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752251&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%3D19715768%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Valiante V, Jain R, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important air-borne fungal pathogen, causing severe infections in immunocompromised patients. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of various cellular responses to environmental changes in eukaryotes. Genome Blast analysis revealed that the central core of the cell wall integrity signaling pathway in A. fumigatus is composed of three protein kinases designated Bck1, Mkk2 and MpkA. This pathway is of particular interest because it represents a possible target for new antifungal drugs. Deletion of these genes resulted in severe sensitivity of the mutants against cell wall disturbing compounds and drastic alterations of the fungal morphology. Western... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752251 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2752251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712827&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%3D19686860%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Almeida AJ, Cunha C, Carmona JA, Sampaio-Marques B, Carvalho A, Malavazi I, Steensma HY, Johnson DI, Leão C, Logarinho E, Goldman GH, Castro AG, Ludovico P, Rodrigues F Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is characterized by a multiple budding phenotype and a polymorphic cell growth, leading to the formation of cells with extreme variations in shape and size. Since Cdc42 is a pivotal molecule in establishing and maintaining polarized growth for diverse cell types, as well as during pathogenesis of certain fungi, we evaluated its role during cell growth and virulence of the yeast-form of P. brasiliensis. We used antisense technology to knock-down PbCDC42's expression in P. brasiliensis yeast cells, promoting a decrease in cell size and more homogenous cell growth, altering the t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712827 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2712827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2702994&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%3D19679194%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schönig B, Vogel S, Tudzynski B The deletion of glnA, encoding the glutamine synthetase (GS), had led to the down-regulation of genes involved in secondary metabolism and up-regulation of cpc1, the cross-pathway control transcription factor. In the present study, a Deltacpc1 mutant was created and used for transcriptional profiling by macroarray analysis. Most of the Cpc1 target genes were amino acid biosynthesis genes besides a homologue of the multi-protein bridging factor MBF1 that binds to the yeast Cpc1 homologue GCN4. We show that Deltambf1 mutants exhibit no Cpc1-related phenotype and that both proteins do not interact with each other in F. fujikuroi. Moreover, results presented here suggest that Cpc1 is not responsible for the GS-dependent down-regulation of secon... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2702994 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2702994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2696657&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%3D19665571%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morschhäuser J Infections by opportunistic pathogenic fungi, especially Candida species, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, are a serious medical problem in immunocompromised patients. Different classes of antimycotic drugs are available to treat fungal infections, but the pathogens can develop resistance to all these agents. A major mechanism of antifungal drug resistance is the overexpression of efflux pumps of the ABC transporter and major facilitator superfamilies, which confer resistance to many structurally and functionally unrelated toxic compounds. For some pathogenic fungi, like Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, the most important drug transporters, transcription factors controlling their expression, and mutations that cause the constitutive... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2696657 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2696657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2696656&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%3D19665572%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mullineux T, Hausner G The two internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal (r) DNA tandem repeat were examined in ophiostomatoid fungi belonging to the genera Grosmannia and Leptographium and closely related taxa. Although the DNA sequence of the ITS region evolves rapidly, core features of the RNA secondary structure of the ITS1 and ITS2 segments are conserved. The results demonstrate that structural conservation of GC-rich helical regions is facilitated primarily through compensatory base changes (CBCs), hemi-CBCs, and compensating insertions/deletions (indels), although slippage of the RNA strand is potentially an additional mechanism for maintaining basepairing interactions. The major conclusion of the structural analysis of both ITS segments is that two fa... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2696656 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2696656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2675019&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%3D19654050%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report the successful and highly efficient deletion by replacement-type recombination of up to 470-kb regions of chromosome 8 and 200 kb region in chromosome 3, which includes a homologue of aflatoxin gene cluster, by nonhomologous end-joining deficient strains of Aspergillus oryzae. Our study results indicate that the deficiency of nonhomologous end-joining increases the distance of non homologous regions in replacement-type recombination, i.e., the possible deletion range in generation of large chromosomal deletion by one cycle of replacement-type recombination is increased in nonhomologous end-joining deficient strains. PMID: 19654050 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2675019 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2675019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547203&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%3D19366635%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang DX, Stromberg AJ, Spiering MJ, Schardl CL Epichloë endophytes (holomorphic Epichloë spp. and anamorphic Neotyphodium spp.) are systemic, often heritable symbionts of cool-season grasses (subfamily Pooideae). Many epichloae provide protection to their hosts by producing anti-insect compounds. Among these are the loline alkaloids (LA), which are toxic and deterrent to a broad range of herbivorous insects but not to mammalian herbivores. LOL, a gene cluster containing nine genes, is associated with LA biosynthesis. We investigated coordinate regulation between LOL-gene expression and LA production in minimal medium (MM) cultures of Neotyphodium uncinatum. Expression of all LOL genes significantly fit temporal quadratic patterns during LA production. LOL-gene expre... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547203 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:43 +0100 2547203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547199&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%3D19389478%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Palma-Guerrero J, Huang IC, Jansson HB, Salinas J, Lopez-Llorca LV, Read ND Chitosan has been reported to inhibit spore germination and mycelial growth in plant pathogens, but its mode of antifungal action is poorly understood. Following chitosan treatment, we characterized plasma membrane permeabilization, and cell death and lysis in the experimental model, Neurospora crassa. Rhodamine-labeled chitosan was used to show that chitosan is internalized by fungal cells. Cell viability stains and the calcium reporter, aequorin, were used to monitor plasma membrane permeabilization and cell death. Chitosan permeabilization of the fungal plasma membrane and its uptake into fungal cells was found to be energy dependent but not to involve endocytosis. Different cell types (conidia, ger... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547199 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:35 +0100 2547199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547198&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%3D19393757%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vieira AL, Linares E, Augusto O, Gomes SL The sporulation stage of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii culminates with the formation and release to the medium of a number of zoospores, which are motile cells responsible for the dispersal of the fungus. The presence in the sporulation solution of 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a potent and selective inhibitor of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclases, completely prevented biogenesis of the zoospores. In addition, this compound was able to significantly reduce cGMP levels, which increase drastically during late sporulation, suggesting the existence of a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism for cGMP synthesis. Furthermore, increased levels of nitric oxide-derived products were detected during sporulatio... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547198 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:33 +0100 2547198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547197&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%3D19393758%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Furukawa T, Shida Y, Kitagami N, Mori K, Kato M, Kobayashi T, Okada H, Ogasawara W, Morikawa Y The transcriptional activator XYR1 is the central regulator that governs cellulolytic and xylanolytic gene expression in Trichoderma reesei. However, despite its biological importance, relatively little is known about its functional binding sequences. In the present study, we investigated the binding characteristics and specific target for XYR1 by using DNase I footprinting analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. We demonstrate that XYR1 can interact not only with the 5'-GGCTAA-3' motif but also with several 5'-GGC(A/T)(3)-3' motifs. In silico analysis revealed that the 5'-GGC(A/T)(3)-3' motifs are widespread as single site in 5'-upstream region of all the XYR1-regulated ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547197 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:31 +0100 2547197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547196&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%3D19406250%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gardiner DM, Kazan K, Manners JM Fusarium head blight is one of the most important diseases of wheat worldwide due to crop losses and the contamination of grains with trichothecene mycotoxins. The biosynthesis of trichothecenes by Fusarium spp. is highest during infection, but relatively low levels are produced from saprophytic growth in axenic culture. A strain of Fusarium graminearum was constructed where the promoter from the TRI5 trichothecene biosynthesis gene was fused to GFP. Using this strain in large-scale nutrient profiling, a variety of amines were identified that significantly induce TRI5 expression. Analysis of trichothecene levels in the culture filtrates revealed accumulation of the toxin to over 1000ppm in response to these inducers, levels either greater than ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547196 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:29 +0100 2547196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547191&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%3D19460453%26dopt%3DAbstract This article describes the construction of 93 heterologous modules for C- and N-terminal tagging and promoter replacements in A. gossypii. The performance of 12 different fluorescent tags was evaluated by monitoring their brightness, detectability, and photostability when fused to the myosin light-chain protein Mlc2. Furthermore, the thiamine-repressible S. cerevisiae THI13 promoter was established to regulate gene expression in A. gossypii. This collection will help accelerate analysis of gene function in A. gossypii and in other ascomycetes where S. cerevisiae promoter elements are functional. PMID: 19460453 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547191 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:09:19 +0100 2547191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547184&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%3D19555771%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Maddi A, Bowman SM, Free SJ Cell wall proteins from purified Candida albicans and Neurospora crassa cell walls were released using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) which cleaves the cell wall glucan/chitin matrix and deglycosylates the proteins. The cell wall proteins were then characterized by SDS PAGE and identified by proteomic analysis. The analyses for C. albicans identified 15 cell wall proteins and 6 secreted proteins. For N. crassa, the analyses identified 26 cell wall proteins and 9 secreted proteins. Most of the C. albicans cell wall proteins are found in the cell walls of both yeast and hyphae cells, but some cell type-specific cell wall proteins were observed. The analyses showed that the pattern of cell wall proteins present in N. crassa vegetative hyphae and ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547184 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547185&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%3D19539773%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe two mutants with altered expression of a gene, LmIFRD, from the ascomycete Leptosphaeria maculans. Truncation of the LmIFRD transcript in a T-DNA insertional mutant led to slower germination, less sporulation and loss of pathogenicity towards Brassica napus, whereas silencing of the LmIFRD transcript led to increased germination, sporulation and earlier infection. The increased tolerance to cell wall lysing enzymes and cell wall-disrupting compounds of the T-DNA mutant contrasts with decreased tolerance of the silenced mutant and suggests altered cell wall integrity and accessibility to 1,3 linked glucan and chitin. Lectin binding experiments and monosaccharide analysis revealed altered polysaccharide content and structure within the cell wall of the LmIFRD mutants, notably inc... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547185 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547186&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%3D19527793%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen CG, Yang YL, Tseng KY, Shih HI, Liou CH, Lin CC, Lo HJ Overexpression of MDR1 efflux pump is a major mechanism contributing to drug resistance inCandida albicans, the most common human fungal pathogen. To elucidate the regulatory pathway of drug resistance, we have identified a negative regulator of MDR1 and named it Regulator of Efflux Pump 1 (REP1). Overexpression of REP1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased susceptibility to fluconazole. Furthermore, null mutations on REP1 decreased the susceptibility to antifungal drugs in C. albicans resulting from increased expression of MDR1 mRNA. Hence, Rep1p is involved in drug resistance by negatively regulating MDR1 inC. albicans. PMID: 19527793 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547186 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547187&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%3D19523529%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we present the first genetic linkage map for A. areolatum, onto which the mat and het loci, as well as quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for mycelial growth rate are mapped. The recognition loci (mat-A and het-A) are positioned near QTLs associated with mycelial growth, suggesting that the genetic determinants influencing recognition and growth rate in A. areolatum are closely associated. This was confirmed when isolates associated with specific mat and het loci displayed significantly different mycelial growth rates. Although the link between growth and sexual recognition has previously been observed in other fungi, this is the first time that an association between growth and self-recognition has been shown. PMID: 19523529 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Funga... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547187 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547188&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%3D19520179%26dopt%3DAbstract This report describes the examination of the role of several components of the Pmk1p/Fus3p mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway in the development of this species. The genes encoding the MAPK kinase kinase MgSte11p and the MAPK kinase MgSte7p were found to be indispensible for pathogenicity while the deletion of the gene encoding the proposed scaffold protein MgSte50p led to a reduction in virulence. These phenotypes were attributed to a reduced ability to form filaments on the plant surface which prevented penetration. A delayed disease progression was observed on deletion of the gene MGSTE12. The MGSTE7, MGSTE50 and MGSTE12 genes were able to complement mutants of Magnaporthe grisea lacking the orthologous genes. Interactions between the My. graminicola signalling c... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547188 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547190&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%3D19501183%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang Q, Szaniszlo PJ To study the function of the PacC transcription factor in Wangiella dermatitidis, a black, polymorphic fungal pathogen of humans with yeast-phase predominance, the PACC gene was cloned, sequenced, disrupted and expressed. Three zinc finger DNA-binding motifs were found at the N-terminus, and a signaling protease cleavage site at the C-terminus. PACC was more expressed at neutral-alkaline pH than at acidic pH. Truncation at about 40 residues of the coding sequence upstream of the conserved protease processing cleavage site of PacC affected growth on a nutrient-rich medium, increased sensitivity to Na(+) stress, decreased yeast growth at neutral-alkaline pH, and repressed hyphal growth on a nutrient-poor medium at 25 degrees C. Truncation at the coding seque... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547190 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547189&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%3D19501664%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Andersen B, Sørensen JL, Nielsen KF, van den Ende BG, de Hoog S Different taxa in the species-group of Alternaria infectoria (teleomorph Lewia spp.) are often isolated from various cereals including barley, maize and wheat grain, ornamental plants and skin lesions from animals and humans. In the present study we made a polyphasic characterization of 39 strains morphologically identifiable as belonging to the A. infectoria species-group together with 12 strains belonging to closely related species: Alternaria malorum (syn. Cladosporium malorum), Chalastospora cetera (syn. Alternaria cetera) and Embellisia abundans. Morphological examination separated the 51 strains in three groups based on conidial appearance and arrangement: the A. infectoria species-group, E. abundans an... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547189 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547192&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%3D19460452%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yasmin S, Abt B, Schrettl M, Moussa TA, Werner ER, Haas H Zinc plays a critical role in a diverse array of biochemical processes. However, excess of zinc is deleterious to cells. Therefore, cells require finely tuned homeostatic mechanisms to balance uptake and storage of zinc. Here we show that iron starvation affects zinc metabolism by downregulating expression of the plasma membrane zinc importer encoding zrfB and upregulating the putative vacuolar zinc transporter-encoding zrcA in Aspergillus fumigatus. Nevertheless, the zinc content of iron-starved mycelia exceeded that of iron replete mycelia, possibly due to unspecific metal uptake induced by iron starvation. In agreement with increased zinc excess and zinc toxicity during iron starvation, deficiency in siderophore-medi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547192 Mon, 18 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547193&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%3D19450701%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yoneda A, Doering TL Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete that causes deadly infections in the immunocompromised. We previously generated a secretion mutant in this fungus by introducing a mutation in the SAV1 gene, which encodes a homolog of the Sec4/Rab8 subfamily GTPases. Under restrictive conditions there are two notable morphological changes in the sav1 mutant: accumulation of post-Golgi vesicles and the appearance of an unusual organelle, which we term the sav1 body (SB). The SB is an electron-transparent structure 0.2-1mum in diameter, with vesicles or other membranous structures associated with the perimeter. Surprisingly, the SB was heavily labeled with anti-glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) antibodies, suggesting that it contains a secreted capsule component, GXM. A st... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547193 Sun, 17 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547194&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%3D19439189%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hoyos-Carvajal L, Orduz S, Bissett J The genus Trichoderma has been studied for production of enzymes and other metabolites, as well as for exploitation as effective biological control agents. The biodiversity of Trichoderma has seen relatively limited study over much of the neotropical region. In the current study we assess the biodiversity of 183 isolates from Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Colombia, using morphological, metabolic and genetic approaches. A comparatively high diversity of species was found, comprising 29 taxa: Trichoderma asperellum (60 isolates), Trichoderma atroviride (3), Trichoderma brevicompactum (5), Trichoderma crassum (3), Trichoderma erinaceum (3), Trichoderma gamsii (2), Trichoderma hamatum (2), Trichoderma harzianum (49), Tric... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547194 Fri, 08 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547195&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%3D19427390%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we applied techniques used in previous studies on hyphae to explore the mechanics of the invasive growth process in Armillaria gallica. Growth rate measurements were made in media with different gel strengths. The osmolyte composition of rhizomorph sap was determined spectroscopically and the forces exerted by growing tips were measured using a force transducer. Cultured rhizomorphs extended at much faster rates than unbundled hyphae (3.5mmd(-1) versus 1.5mmd(-1)) and their growth accelerated in response to increased medium gel strength (to 7.4mmd(-1)). Measurements of rhizomorph osmolality provided a turgor pressure estimate of 760kPa (7.5atm.), and spectroscopic analysis showed that this pressure was generated by the accumulation of erythritol, mannitol, and KCl. Forces ex... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547195 Wed, 06 May 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547202&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%3D19373970%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Soriani FM, Kress MR, Fagundes de Gouvêa P, Malavazi I, Savoldi M, Gallmetzer A, Strauss J, Goldman MH, Goldman GH Proteins are subject to modification by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidation of specific amino acid residues can impair their biological function, leading to an alteration in cellular homeostasis. Sulfur-containing amino acids as methionine are the most vulnerable to oxidation by ROS, resulting in the formation of methionine sulfoxide [Met(O)] residues. This modification can be repaired by methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr). Two distinct classes of these enzymes, MsrA and MsrB, which selectively reduce the two methionine sulfoxide epimers, methionine-S-sulfoxide and methionine-R-sulfoxide, respectively, are found in virtually all organisms. Here, w... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547202 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547201&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%3D19373972%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nagendran S, Hallen-Adams HE, Paper JM, Aslam N, Walton JD Based on the analysis of its genome sequence, the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) basidiomycetous fungus Laccaria bicolor was shown to be lacking many of the major classes of secreted enzymes that depolymerize plant cell wall polysaccharides. To test whether this is also a feature of other ECM fungi, we searched a survey genome database of Amanita bisporigera with the proteins found in the secretome of Trichoderma reesei (syn. Hypocrea jecorina), a biochemically well-characterized industrial fungus. Additional proteins were also used as queries to compensate for major groups of cell-wall-degrading enzymes lacking in the secretome of T. reesei and to substantiate conclusions drawn from the T. reesei collection. By MS/MS-based "sh... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547201 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2547200&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%3D19373974%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Maiya S, Grundmann A, Li SM, Turner G Tryprostatin B, a prenylated diketopiperazine with anti-tubulin activity, has been overproduced in fungal culture by expression of genes of the fumitremorgin cluster from Aspergillus fumigatus in the naïve host Aspergillus nidulans using the alcA promoter. The products of the expressed genes catalyse the first two steps of fumitremorgin biosynthesis, namely the formation of brevianamide F and its conversion to tryprostatin B. Yields of tryprostatin B were up to 250 mg/l, a significant improvement in previously reported levels. This approach illustrates how the availability of fungal genome sequences and knowledge of gene function can be used to achieve the efficient production of biologically active secondary metabolites by genetic ma... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2547200 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2547200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324119&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%3D19351563%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nolting N, Bernhards Y, Pöggeler S In filamentous ascomycetes, autophagy is involved in several developmental processes. Nevertheless, until now little is known about its role in fruiting-body development. We therefore isolated a gene of the homothallic ascomycete Sordaria macrospora with high sequence similarity to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae autophagy-related geneATG7, encoding a core autophagy regulator. This is the first characterization of an ATG7 homologue in filamentous ascomycetes. A S. cerevisiae complementation assay demonstrated that the S. macrospora Smatg7 gene functionally replaces the yeast homologue. We were not able to generate a homokaryotic knockout mutant in S. macrospora, suggesting that Smatg7 is required for viability. However, a heterokaryotic Del... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324119 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2324119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324116&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%3D19351564%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zuccaro A, Basiewicz M, Zurawska M, Biedenkopf D, Kogel KH Piriformospora indica (Basidiomycota, Sebacinales) is a root colonizing fungus which is able to increase biomass and yield of crop plants and to induce local and systemic resistance to fungal diseases and tolerance to abiotic stress. A prerequisite for the elucidation of the mode of action of this novel kind of symbiosis is knowledge of the genome organization as well as the development of tools to study and modify gene functions. Here we provide data on the karyotype and genetic transformation strategies. The fungus was shown to possess at least 6 chromosomes and a genome size of about 15.4 to 24 Mb. Sequences of the genes encoding the elongation factor 1-alpha(TEF) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324116 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2324116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2295615&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%3D19324099%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pungartnik C, Melo SC, Basso TS, Macena W, Cascardo JC, Brendel M The hemibiotrophic basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa causes "witches' broom disease" in cacao (Theobroma cacao). During plant infection, M. perniciosa changes from mono to dikaryotic life form, an event which could be triggered by changes in plant nutritional offer and plant defense molecules, i.e., from high to low content of glycerol and hydrogen peroxide. We have recently shown that in vitro glycerol induces oxidative stress resistance in dikaryotic M. perniciosa. In order to understand under which conditions in parasite-plant interaction M. perniciosa changes from intercellular monokaryotic to intracellular dikaryotic growth phase we studied the role of glycerol on mutagen-induced oxidative stress resi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2295615 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2295615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2295618&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%3D19318129%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Araújo-Bazán L, Dhingra S, Chu J, Fernández-Martı Nez J, Calvo AM, Espeso EA In eukaryotes, the principal nuclear import pathway is driven by the importin alpha/beta1 heterodimer. KapA, the Aspergillus nidulans importin alpha, is an essential protein. We generated a conditional allele, kapA31, mimicking the srp1-31 allele in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. KapA31 carries a Ser111Phe amino acid substitution which, at the restrictive temperature of 42 degrees C, reduces nuclear import of cargos containing classical nuclear-localization-sequences, cNLS. Using kapA31, we have demonstrated the role of the importin alpha in the nuclear accumulation of the light-dependent developmental regulator VeA. KapA have additional tasks in the cell, as reported for other members... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2295618 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2295618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2283223&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%3D19298859%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fleck CB, Brock M Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Neurospora crassa mutants defective in the so-called acetyl-CoA hydrolases Ach1p and Acu-8, respectively, display a severe growth defect on acetate, which is most strongly pronounced under acidic conditions. Acetyl-CoA hydrolysis is an energy wasting process and therefore denoted as a biochemical conundrum. Acetyl-CoA hydrolases show high sequence identity to the CoA-transferase CoaT from Aspergillus nidulans. Therefore, we extensively re-characterised the yeast enzyme. Ach1p showed highest specific activity for the CoASH transfer from succinyl-CoA to acetate and only a minor acetyl-CoA hydrolase activity. Complementation of an ach1 mutant with the coaT gene reversed the growth defect on acetate confirming the in vivo function of ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2283223 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2283223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2283221&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%3D19298860%26dopt%3DAbstract In this report, we show that MgCdc42, a Cdc42 ortholog in Magnaporthe grisea, is required for its plant penetration. Consequently, the deletion mutants show dramatically decreased virulence to rice due to the arrest of penetration and infectious growth, which may be attributed to the defect of turgor and superoxide generation during the appressorial development in Mgcdc42 deletion mutants. In addition, the mutants also exhibit pleotropic defects including gherkin-shaped conidia, delayed germination as well as decreased sporulation. Furthermore, dominant negative mutation leads to a similar phenotype to that of the deletion mutants, lending further support to the conclusion that MgCdc42 is required for the penetration and virulence of M. grisea. PMID: 19298860 [PubMed - as supplied by p... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2283221 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2283221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2273074&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%3D19285564%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we analyzed structural and functional aspects of GXM produced by T. asahii and compared them to the properties of the cryptococcal polysaccharide. Trichosporal and cryptococcal GXM shared antigenic reactivity, but the former polysaccharide had smaller effective diameter and negative charge. GXM anchoring to the cell wall was perturbed by dimethylsulfoxide and required interactions of chitin-derived oligomers with the polysaccharide. GXM from T. asahii supernatants are incorporated by acapsular mutants of C. neoformans, which renders these cells more resistant to phagocytosis by mouse macrophages. In summary, our results establish that despite similarities in cell wall anchoring, antigenic and antiphagocytic properties, trichosporal and cryptococcal GXMs manifest major struct... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2273074 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2273074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2273080&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%3D19285148%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oger E, Ghignone S, Campagnac E, Fontaine J, Grandmougin-Ferjani A, Lanfranco L Sterols are crucial components of eukaryotic membranes that control membrane fluidity and permeability. They play an important role in cell signalling, polarity and sorting. Since many steps in the pathway are essential, sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI) are widely used as antifungal agents. This work reports the identification and the characterization of a C-4 sterol methyl oxidase (SMO), the first gene involved in the sterol biosynthetic pathway, so far described from an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. The sequence, called GintSMO, shows a primary structure, a hydrophobicity profile and a pattern of histidine-rich motifs which are typical of C-4 methyl sterol oxidases. The complementation assay... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2273080 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2273080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2273077&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%3D19285149%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xu Y, Orozco R, Kithsiri Wijeratne EM, Espinosa-Artiles P, Leslie Gunatilaka AA, Patricia Stock S, Molnár I Beauveria bassiana is a facultative entomopathogen with an extremely broad host range that is used as a commercial biopesticide for the control of insects of agricultural, veterinary and medical significance. B. bassiana produces bassianolide, a cyclooligomer depsipeptide secondary metabolite. We have cloned the bbBsls gene of B. bassiana encoding a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS). Targeted inactivation of the B. bassiana genomic copy of bbBsls abolished bassianolide production, but did not affect the biosynthesis of beauvericin, another cyclodepsipeptide produced by the strain. Comparative sequence analysis of the BbBSLS bassianolide synthetase revealed enzy... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2273077 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2273077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267992&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%3D19281855%26dopt%3DAbstract The polarisome component SPA-2 localizes at the apex of Neurospora crassa and partially colocalizes with the Spitzenkörper. Fungal Genet Biol. 2009 Mar 9; Authors: Araujo-Palomares CL, Riquelme M, Castro-Longoria E In fungal hyphae multiple protein complexes assemble at sites of apical growth to maintain cell polarity and promote nucleation of actin. Polarity allows the directional traffic of vesicles to the Spitzenkörper (Spk) prior to fusing with the plasma membrane to provide precursors and enzymes required for cell extension and nutrition. One of these complexes is the polarisome, which in Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains Spa2p, Pea2p, Bud6p/Aip3p and Bni1p. To investigate the localization and role of the polarisome during Spk establishment in Neurospora crassa w... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267992 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2267992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257959&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%3D19269344%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we characterized targeting efficiency and physiology of penicillinG producing Penicillium chrysogenum strains, in which the KU70 orKU80 homologues hdfA and hdfB had been deleted. Targeting efficiency was increased from ca. 1 % in the reference strain to 47 and 56 % in the hdfA and hdfB mutant strains, respectively, using an ends-out construct. Physiological and transcriptome analysis of glucose-limited chemostat cultures of the hdfA deletion strain and the reference strain showed minimal differences. Although, in a direct competition experiment to assess strain fitness, the reference strain had a clear advantage over the deletion strain, the results demonstrate the potential of DeltahdfA P. chrysogenum strains for the functional analysis of the recently completed P. chrysogen... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257959 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257958&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%3D19269345%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ogasawara H, Obata H, Hata Y, Takahashi S, Gomi K A novel active transposable element, designated Crawler, has been isolated from an industrial strain (OSI1013) of Aspergillus oryzae as an insertion sequence within the niaD gene encoding nitrate reductase. It is 1290 bp in length with imperfect terminal inverted repeats of 28 bp and is flanked by 2 bp (TA) target site duplications. It contains an open reading frame with no introns that encodes a putative transposase (AotA) of 357 amino acid residues, which is highly homologous to the transposase existing in impala, a member of Tc1/mariner superfamily class II DNA transposon from Fusarium oxysporum. Southern blot analysis revealed that the OSI1013 strain has multiple copies (at least 16) of the element in the genome. Transcript... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257958 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257957&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%3D18684401%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Andersen MR, Nielsen J In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the current status of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and metabolic modeling in Aspergillus species. Currently, 13 Aspergillus genomes divided across seven species have been sequenced with more to come, and many applications of this information on a systems level have been published. More than 30 studies on global transcription analysis have been published, and 21 different platforms are available for Aspergillus transcription studies. Additionally, the fields of proteomics and metabolomics have, while still in their infancy, produced intriguing results and novel applications. Finally, multiple levels of Aspergillus metabolism have been reconstructed and modelled. Systems-level r... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257957 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257955&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%3D18694841%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kiel JA, van der Klei IJ Fungal microbodies (peroxisomes) are inducible organelles that proliferate in response to nutritional cues. Proteins involved in peroxisome biogenesis/proliferation are designated peroxins and are encoded by PEX genes. An autophagy-related process, termed pexophagy, is responsible for the selective removal of peroxisomes from the cell. Several genes involved in pexophagy are also required for autophagy and are collectively known as ATG genes. We have re-analysed the Aspergillus nidulans genome for the presence of PEX and ATG genes and have identified a number of previously missed genes. Also, we manually determined the correct intron positions in each identified gene. The data show that in A. nidulans and related fungi the basic set of genes involved i... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257955 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257953&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%3D18703157%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miskei M, Karányi Z, Pócsi I Stress-response proteins of Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus terreus and Neosartorya fischeri (3908 in total) were annotated and grouped according to stress types (http://193.6.155.82/AspergillusStress/). All genomes harboured elements of the SskA-HogA/SakA stress signalling pathway. There are accumulating data pointing at the importance of SskA-HogA/SakA signalling in different types of stress-responses in the aspergilli and, in this regard, these filamentous fungi are closer to fission yeast than to budding yeast. The abundance of annotated stress sensing histidine kinases and transcriptional regulators in each Aspergillus species in... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257953 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2257950&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%3D19041727%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Visser J, Eurofung PMID: 19041727 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2257950 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2257950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2233580&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%3D19250972%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xiang Q, Kim KS, Roy S, Judelson HS Sporulation in Phytophthora infestans is associated with a major remodeling of the transcriptome. To better understand promoter structure and how sporulation-specific expression is determined in this organism, the Pks1 gene was analyzed. Pks1 encodes a protein kinase that is induced at an intermediate stage of sporulation, prior to sporangium maturation. Major and minor transcription start sites mapped throughout the promoter, which contains many T-rich stretches and Inr-like elements. Within the T-rich region are several motifs which bound nuclear proteins in EMSA. Tests of modified promoters in transformants implicated a CCGTTG located 110-nt upstream of the transcription start point as a major regulator of sporulation-specific transcripti... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2233580 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2233580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2233581&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%3D19249381%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cervantes-Chávez JA, Kronberg F, Passeron S, Ruiz-Herrera J Previous studies on the dimorphic transition of Yarrowia lipolytica suggested opposite roles for MAPK and PKA pathways in this phenomenon. To obtain conclusive evidences for these opposite roles we isolated and disrupted the unique gene encoding the Pka catalytic subunit (TPK1). TPK1 was regulated only at the post-transcriptional level, with Pka activity increasing during yeast-like growth. tpk1 null mutants were viable and without growth defects, but more sensitive to different stress conditions. Deltatpk1 mutants were mating-deficient, and grew constitutively in the mycelial form, whereas Deltaste11 (Mapkkk-less)/ Deltatpk1 double mutants grew in the yeast form, indicating that this is the default growth patter... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2233581 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2233581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2216919&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%3D19236935%26dopt%3DAbstract This study has shown a clear evolutionary separation between Aphanomyces species that are plant parasites and those that parasitize animals. Saprotrophic or opportunistic species formed a separate evolutionary lineage except A. stellatus whose evolutionary position has not yet been resolved. PMID: 19236935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2216919 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2216919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2216918&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%3D19236936%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arnett DR, Lorimer HE, Asch DK The quinic acid (qa) gene cluster of Neurospora crassa is subject to two levels of gene control: a primary system which responds to the presence of quinic acid via the qa-1S repressor protein, and a secondary system which represses transcription of qa genes in the presence of a preferred carbon source, e.g. glucose. RNA blot analysis revealed that transcription of the qa-y gene, which encodes a quinic acid permease, was strongly repressed in the presence of glucose even in the absence of the qa-1S repressor protein, while transcription of the remaining qa cluster genes is repressed to a much lesser degree. DNA sequencing of the region upstream of the qa-y gene revealed a high degree of sequence conservation between N. crassa and the homothallic s... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2216918 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2216918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211132&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%3D19233304%26dopt%3DAbstract This study confirms a link between trehalose biosynthesis and pathogen fitness in Stagonospora nodorum. PMID: 19233304 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211132 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2211132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2137922&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%3D19166955%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhong YH, Wang TH, Wang XL, Zhang GT, Yu HN To investigate genes with essential functions during hyphal growth or sporulation in the asexual filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei, we screened a collection of T-DNA insertion mutants and identified the genomic integration events. Two mutants with abnormal phenotypes, named as ccdO and ccdP, were found to have independent T-DNA insertions into a putative TrCCD1 gene locus, the product of which has significant homology to carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs). Compared to the parental strain, both mutants tended to produce slow-growing hyphae and had a more than 50% reduction in colony growth rate. Simultaneously, the hyphae of the growing mutants formed wilting tip while the parental strain elongated straightly. To the effect o... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2137922 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2137922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2112381&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%3D19146970%26dopt%3DAbstract We present a community-based reannotation of the Aspergillus nidulans genome with the primary goal of increasing the number and quality of protein functional assignments through the careful review of experts in the field of fungal biology. PMID: 19146970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2112381 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2112381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2094950&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%3D19130892%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Godio RP, Martín JF Hypholoma sublateritium is a basidiomycete that produces the antitumor compound clavaric acid. We cloned a gene encoding an oxidosqualene cyclase (occ) that is involved in the conversion of oxidosqualene to clavaric acid. Mutants disrupted in occ by gene replacement were unable to synthesize clavaric acid, but did not require sterols for growth. Amplification of the occ gene produced a 35-67% increase in clavaric acid yield. Northern analysis of occ gene expression confirmed that there is a clear correlation of occ expression and clavaric acid biosynthesis. Analysis of the occ-encoded oxidosqualene cyclase revealed that it has modified VSDCVGE motif instead of the consensus VSDCTAE sequence of the active center. In summary, there is an oxidosqualene cy... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2094950 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2094950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2087127&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%3D19124083%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fang W, Pava-Ripoll M, Wang S, St Leger R Metarhizium anisopliae is a model system for studying insect fungal pathogenesis. The role of cAMP signal transduction in virulence was studied by disrupting the class I PKA catalytic subunit gene (MaPKA1). The PKA mutant (DeltaMaPKA1) showed reduced growth and greatly reduced virulence. PKA was dispensable for differentiation of infection structures (appressoria), but differentiation was delayed and the appressoria were defective because of reduced turgor pressure. DeltaMaPKA1 germinated at similar rates as the wild type in glucose and glycerol, but germination was delayed on alanine. Conidial adhesion and appressorium formation by DeltaMaPKA1 against a plastic surface was fully inhibited with glucose as sole nutrient source. Adhesion... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2087127 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2087127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074750&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%3D19116175%26dopt%3DAbstract We reported for the first time the involvement of BcFKBP12 in the sulfur repression of the synthesis of a secreted serine protease. Rapamycin treatment did not relieve the sulfur repression of the reporter system in the wild-type strain. Thus BcFKBP12 may participate in sulfur regulation and its contribution seems to be independent of TOR. PMID: 19116175 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074750 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2074750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074751&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%3D19111943%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Choi J, Kim Y, Kim S, Park J, Lee YH Ca(2+)-dependent signaling plays important roles in cellular development and metabolism in fungi. Pharmacological and molecular evidence clearly indicates that Ca(2+)-dependent signaling is required for infection-related development and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. However, little information is available on downstream regulators in the Ca(2+)-dependent signaling pathway. To understand the role of a calcineurin-dependent transcription factor in the rice blast fungus, an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CRZ1 in M. oryzae, MoCRZ1, was identified and functionally characterized. The Deltamocrz1 mutant exhibited impaired growth in the presence of Ca(2+) ion or cell wall perturbing agents. The Deltamocrz1 mutant ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074751 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2074751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2061325&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%3D19100853%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pliego C, Kanematsu S, Ruano-Rosa D, de Vicente A, López-Herrera C, Cazorla FM, Ramos C In order to monitor Rosellinia necatrix infection of avocado roots, we generated a plasmid vector (pCPXHY1eGFP) constitutively expressing EGFP and developed a protoplast transformation protocol. Using this protocol, four R. necatrix isolates were efficiently transformed and were shown to stably express EGFP homogeneously while not having any observable effect on pathogenicity. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images of avocado roots infected with the highly virulent isolate CH53-GFP demonstrated that fungal penetration of avocado roots occurs simultaneously at several random sites, but it occurs preferentially in the crown region as well as throughout the lenticels and in the ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2061325 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2061325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056236&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%3D19095071%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Amnuaykanjanasin A, Daub ME The Cercospora nicotianae mutant deficient for the CRG1 transcription factor has marked reductions in both resistance and biosynthesis of the toxin cercosporin. We cloned and sequenced full-length copies of two genes, ATR1 and CnCFP, previously identified from a subtractive library between the wild type (WT) and a crg1 mutant. ATR1 is an ABC transporter gene and has an open reading frame (ORF) of 4368bp with one intron. CnCFP encodes a MFS transporter with homology to Cercospora kikuchii CFP, previously implicated in cercosporin export, and has an ORF of 1975bp with three introns. Disruption of ATR1 indicated atr1-null mutants had dramatic reductions in cercosporin production (25% and 20% of WT levels) in solid and liquid cultures, respectively. The... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056236 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2056236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056235&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%3D19095072%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we have identified Candida albicans homologs of Rheb (named as Rhb1) and Tsc2. Deletion of the RHB1 gene showed enhanced sensitivity to rapamycin (an inhibitor of TOR kinase), suggesting that Rhb1 is associated with the TOR signaling pathway in C. albicans. Further analysis indicated RHB1 and TSC2 are involved in nitrogen starvation-induced filamentation, likely by controlling the expression of MEP2 whose gene product is an ammonium permease and a sensor for the nitrogen signal. Moreover, we have demonstrated that Rhb1 is also involved in cell wall integrity pathway, by transferring signals through the TOR kinase and the Mkc1 MAP kinase pathway. Together, this study brings new insights into the complex interplay of signaling and regulatory pathways in C. albicans. PMID: ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056235 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2056235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047387&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%3D19084610%26dopt%3DAbstract We present here the molecular analysis of a collection of 183 C. glabrata strains isolated from patients hospitalized in France and around the world. We show that the mechanisms of microevolution within this asexual species include rare reciprocal chromosomal translocations and recombination within tandem arrays of repeated genes, and that these account for the frequent size heterogeneity between chromosomes across strains. Gene tandems often encode cell wall proteins suggesting a possible role in adaptation to the environment. PMID: 19084610 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047387 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2047387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027525&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%3D19059493%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Diogo D, Bouchier C, d'Enfert C, Bougnoux ME Candida albicans is a commensal and the most frequent fungal pathogen of humans. One mechanism of genetic variation in this diploid asexual yeast involves loss of heterozygosity (LOH). LOH events occur upon infection and contribute to the acquisition of antifungal resistance in patients. In contrast, little is known about the nature and extent of LOH events during commensalism. Using a combination of single nucleotide polymorphism typing, positional transcript profiling and karyotyping, we have characterized related C. albicans commensal isolates that differ by LOH events. Most of these LOH events encompassed the entirety of the chromosome or a large region extending to the telomere, suggesting chromosome loss or mitotic recombinati... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027525 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2027525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999230&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%3D19038353%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, individuals of A. parasiticus from a population showing an evolutionary history of recombination were examined for sexual reproduction. Crosses between strains with opposite mating-type genes MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 resulted in the development of ascospore-bearing ascocarps embedded within stromata. Sexually compatible strains belonged to different vegetative compatibility groups. Recombination through the independent assortment of chromosomes 3 and 6 was detected using loci for mating type, aflatoxin gene cluster, and a protein-encoding gene. Our discovery of the sexual stage in A. parasiticus has important implications for current biological control strategies using nontoxigenic strains to reduce aflatoxin contamination in crops. PMID: 19038353 [PubMed - as supplied by publi... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999230 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1999230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999228&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%3D19038355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cánovas D, Pérez-Martín J Sphingolipids participate in different biological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, virulence, etc. In recent years these lipids are becoming prime targets for antifungal research. In the dimorphic phytopathogen Ustilago maydis inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis with the antifungal drug aureobasidin A (AbA) did not alter cell cycle but caused loss of cell polarity and growth inhibition. The addition of AbA had effects on the assembly of sterol-rich domains (SRDs), which concentrate at the sites of active growth in U. maydis, the actin cytoskeleton, FM4-64 trafficking, and the localization of the motor protein Myo5 and the septin Sep1. However, AbA did not affect the localization of the scaffold proteins Bem1 and Spa2.... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999228 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1999228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1999229&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%3D19038354%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chang PK, Horn BW, Dorner JW Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an indole-tetramic acid mycotoxin, is produced by many species of Aspergillus and Penicillium. In addition to CPA Aspergillus flavus produces polyketide-derived carcinogenic aflatoxins. Aflatoxin biosynthesis genes form a gene cluster in a subtelomeric region. Isolates of A. flavus lacking aflatoxin production due to the loss of the entire aflatoxin gene cluster and portions of the subtelomeric region are often unable to produce CPA, which suggests a physical link of genes involved in CPA biosynthesis to the aflatoxin gene cluster. Examining the subtelomeric region in A. flavus isolates of different chemotypes revealed a region possibly associated with CPA production. Disruption of three of the four genes present in this r... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1999229 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1999229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996643&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%3D19032986%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we examined the C. albicans SC5314 transcriptome from renal infections in the rabbit. Genes involved in adhesion, stress adaptation and the assimilation of alternative carbon sources were up-regulated in these cells compared with control cells grown in RPMI 1640, whereas genes involved in morphogenesis, fermentation and translation were down-regulated. When we compared the congenic virulent C. albicans strains NGY152 and SC5314, there was minimal overlap between their transcriptomes during kidney infections. This suggests that much of the gene regulation observed during infections is not essential for virulence. Indeed, we observed a poor correlation between the transcriptome and phenome for those genes that were regulated during kidney infection and that have been virulence ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996643 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1996643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975537&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%3D19010432%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pollack JK, Harris SD, Marten MR Autophagy is a ubiquitous, non-selective degradation process in eukaryotic cells that is conserved from yeast to man. Autophagy research has increased significantly in the last ten years, as autophagy has been connected with cancer, neurodegenerative disease and various human developmental processes. Autophagy also appears to play an important role in filamentous fungi, impacting growth, morphology and development. In this review, an autophagy model developed for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used as an intellectual framework to discuss autophagy in filamentous fungi. Studies imply that, similar to yeast, fungal autophagy is characterized by the presence of autophagosomes and controlled by Tor kinase. In addition, fungal autophagy is ap... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975537 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1975537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975536&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%3D19010433%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Georgianna DR, Payne GA Aflatoxins are notorious toxic secondary metabolites known for their impacts on human and animal health, and their effects on the marketability of key grain and nut crops. Understanding aflatoxin biosynthesis is the focus of a large and diverse research community. Concerted efforts by this community have led not only to a well-characterized biosynthetic pathway, but also to the discovery of novel regulatory mechanisms. Common to secondary metabolism is the clustering of biosynthetic genes and their regulation by pathway specific as well as global regulators. Recent data show that arrangement of secondary metabolite genes in clusters may allow for an important global regulation of secondary metabolism based on physical location along the chromosome. Avai... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975536 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1975536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975535&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%3D19013535%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rocha AA, Malavazi I, Goldman GH, Puccia R We show indirect evidences for the possible involvement of NIT2-like binding motifs in transcription modulation of the PbGP43 gene, which codes for an important antigen from the human fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. This investigation was motivated by the finding of 23 NIT2-like sites within the proximal -2047 nucleotides of the PbGP43 5' intergenic region from the Pb339 isolate. They compose four clusters, two of them identical. We found four NIT2-containing probes that were positive in electrophoretic mobility shift assays and further analyzed them. PbGP43 could be modulated by nitrogen primary sources in Pb339, Pb3 and Pb18 isolates, as observed by reverse transcription (RT) real time-PCR. Gene reporter assays conduc... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975535 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1975535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964247&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%3D19007898%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe the cloning and characterization of the Trichoderma harzianumThctf1 gene, which shows high sequence identity with a transcription factor gene of Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi. In T. harzianum, disruption of the Thctf1 gene by homologous recombination gave rise to transformants that in plate experiments did not show the yellow pigmentation observed in the wild-type strain. In several Trichoderma spp. a yellow pigmentation and a coconut aroma have been related to the production of 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6PP) compounds. Prompted by this, we explored whether the loss of pigmentation in the Thctf1 null mutants of T. harzianum might be related to the synthesis of 6PP. Chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses revealed that the disruptants did not produce two secondary metabolites, d... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964247 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1964247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952255&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%3D18996495%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yeh YL, Lin YS, Su BJ, Shen WC Blue light regulates diverse physiological and developmental processes in fungi. Our prior studies demonstrated that the evolutionally conserved Cwc1 and Cwc2 proteins mediate the blue light-inhibited sexual filamentation in Cryptococcus neoformans. To characterize the putative domains of the Cwc1 and Cwc2 proteins, we generated partially deleted versions of these genes under the GPD1 promoter and examined their effects. The results confirmed that LOV and PAS domains are essential for the function of the Cwc1 protein, and the PAS domain and zinc finger DNA-binding motif are also crucial for the Cwc2 protein. To further understand how light inhibits filamentous growth, a genome wide mutant screening was conducted to identify genes important for th... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952255 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1952255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952257&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%3D18992353%26dopt%3DAbstract We report also that lack of peroxisomal ABC transporters does not prevent peroxisomal long-chain fatty acid oxidation, suggesting the existence of another pathway for their import into peroxisomes. Finally, we show that some aspects of fatty acid degradation are clearly fungus species specific. PMID: 18992353 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952257 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1952257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952258&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%3D18992352%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shima Y, Ito Y, Kaneko S, Hatabayashi H, Watanabe Y, Adachi Y, Yabe K Mutants exhibiting resistance to the fungicide, carboxin, were isolated from Aspergillus oryzae, and the mutations in the three gene loci, which encode succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) B, C, and D subunits, were identified to be independently responsible for the resistance. A structural model of the SDH revealed the different mechanisms that confer carboxin-resistance in different mutations. The mutant AosdhB gene (AosdhB(cxr)) was further examined for possible use as a transformant selection marker. After transformation with AosdhB(cxr), carboxin-resistant colonies appeared within 4 days of culture, and all of the examined colonies carried the transgene. Insertion analyses revealed that the AosdhB(cxr) gene wa... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952258 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1952258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952256&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%3D18992354%26dopt%3DAbstract This report describes the expression in Escherichia coli of a 12kDa polypeptide (WdMyo12p) of WdChs5p, which was used to raise in rabbits a polyclonal antibody that recognized exclusively its MMD region. Results from the use of the antibody in immunocytolocalization studies supported our previous findings that WdChs5p is critically important at infection temperatures for maintaining the cell wall integrity of developing yeast buds, elongating tips of hyphae, and random sites of expansion in sclerotic forms. The results also suggested that WdChs5p localizes to the regions of cell wall growth in an actin-dependent fashion. PMID: 18992354 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952256 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1952256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914947&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%3D18951989%26dopt%3DAbstract We report also on the effects of nutrient availability on the regulation of microsclerotial development in V. dahliae; the gene's activity appears to be regulated in response to carbon availability. Lastly, constitutive expression of VDH1 results in delayed disease symptom development, but has no noticeable effect on in vitro microsclerotial development. PMID: 18951989 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914947 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1914947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914946&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%3D18952188%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Solieri L, Cassanelli S, Croce MA, Giudici P Ploidy is a fundamental genetic trait with important physiological and genomic implications. We applied complementary molecular tools to highlight differences in genome size and ploidy between Zygosaccharomyces rouxii strain CBS 732(T) and other related wild strains (ATCC 42981, ABT 301, and ABT 601). The cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry revealed a genome size of 12.7+/-0.2Mb for strain CBS 732(T), 21.9+/-0.2Mb for ATCC 42981, 28.1+/-1.3Mb for ABT 301, and 39.00+/-0.3Mb for ABT 601. Moreover, karyotyping analysis showed a high variability, with wild strains having a higher number of chromosomal bands than CBS 732(T). The ploidy level was assessed comparing genome size from flow cytometry with the average haploid size from elect... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914946 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1914946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914945&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%3D18952189%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ruff JA, Lodge JK, Baker LG Cryptococcus neoformans is the causative agent of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, most frequently occurring in immunocompromised individuals. There are three varieties of C. neoformans, var. grubii, var. neoformans, and var. gatti. Worldwide var. grubii is the most prevalent clinical isolate. However, few tools for the study of essential genes in var. grubii exist. Here we describe three endogenous inducible promoters for use in the study of this important opportunistic pathogen. We identified eight potential homologs of S. cerevisiae galactose genes in var. grubii. We found that GAL1, GAL7, and UGE2 were regulated by glucose and galactose and can be used successfully during mating. Our analysis indicated these promoters should prove to be excelle... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914945 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1914945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907812&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%3D18948219%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yamashita K, Shiozawa A, Watanabe S, Fukumori F, Kimura M, Fujimura M The ATF/CREB family transcriptional factors are regulated by stress-activated MAP kinase in yeast. The disruptants of the atf-1 gene, which encodes an ATF/CREB family transcriptional factor, were isolated and characterized in Neurospora crassa. The characteristic phenotypes in the os-2 MAP kinase strain, such as osmotic sensitivity and fludioxonil resistance, were not observed in the Deltaatf-1 strain; however, like the os-2 strain, up-regulation of the catalase gene cat-1 and the clock-controlled gene ccg-1 by treatment with fludioxonil (1mug/mL) or 4% NaCl was almost completely abolished in the Deltaatf-1 strain. A gel shift assay indicated that ATF-1 bound to the cat-1 and ccg-1 promoters probably through... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907812 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1907812 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907811&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%3D18948220%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang K, Ussery DW, Brunak S Several Aspergillus fungal genomic sequences have been published, with many more in progress. Obviously, it is essential to have high-quality, consistently annotated sets of proteins from each of the genomes, in order to make meaningful comparisons. We have developed a dedicated, publicly available, splice site prediction program called NetAspGene, for the genus Aspergillus. Gene sequences from Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common mould pathogen, were used to build and test our model. Compared to many animals and plants, Aspergillus contains smaller introns; thus we have applied a larger window size on single local networks for training, to cover both donor and acceptor site information. We have applied NetAspGene to other Aspergilli, including As... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907811 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1907811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907810&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%3D18948221%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pinto D, Duarte M, Soares S, Tropschug M, Videira A Immunophilins are intracellular receptors of immunosuppressive drugs, carrying peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity, with a general role in protein folding but also involved in specific regulatory mechanisms. Four immunophilins of the FKBP-type (FK506-binding proteins) were identified in the genome of Neurospora crassa. Previously, FKBP22 has been located in the endoplasmic reticulum as part of chaperone/folding complexes and FKBP13 has been found to have a dual location in the cytoplasm and mitochondria. FKBP11 is apparently located exclusively in the cytoplasm. It is not expressed during vegetative development of the fungus although its expression can be induced with calcium and during sexual development. Overexpres... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907810 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1907810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895382&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%3D18935968%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mertens JA, Burdick RC, Rooney AP A search of the recently sequenced Rhizopus oryzae strain 99-880 genome database uncovered 18 putative polygalacturonase genes with two genes being identical and only one with similarity to a previously reported R. oryzae polygalacturonase gene. The 17 different genes share 50% to greater than 90% identity at the nucleotide level as well as the deduced protein sequence level. The cDNA of the different genes was isolated directly or recombinantly and used to express the encoded proteins in Pichia pastoris. Recombinant protein expression demonstrated that 15 of the 17 genes encode active enzymes with twelve genes encoding for endo-polygalacturonase enzymes and three genes encoding for exo-polygalacturonase enzymes. Phylogenetic analysis indicate... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895382 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895383&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%3D18935967%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: El-Ganiny AM, Sanders DA, Kaminskyj SG Growing resistance to current anti-fungal drugs is spurring investigation of new targets, including those in fungal wall metabolism. Galactofuranose (Galf) is found in the cell walls of many fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus, which is currently the most prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogen in developed countries, and A. nidulans, a closely-related, tractable model system. UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) converts UDP-galactopyranose into UDP-Galf prior to incorporation into the fungal wall. We deleted the single-copy UGM sequence (AN3112.4, which we call ugmA) from an A. nidulans nkuADelta strain, creating ugmADelta. Haploid ugmADelta strains were able to complete their asexual life cycle, showing that ugmA is not essential. Howeve... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895383 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895384&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%3D18930158%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Punt PJ, Schuren FH, Lehmbeck J, Christensen T, Hjort C, van den Hondel CA Expression of several Aspergillus niger genes encoding major secreted, but not vacuolar, protease genes including the major acid protease gene pepA, was shown to be affected in the previously isolated A. niger protease mutant, AB1.13 [Mattern, I.E., van Noort, J.M., van den Berg, P., Archer, D.A., Roberts, I.N., Hondel, C.A.M.J.J., 1992. Isolation and characterization of mutants of Aspergillus niger deficient in extracellular proteases. Molecular & General Genetics 2, 332-336]. Complementation cloning of the putative protease-regulatory gene affected in this mutant was accomplished using a functional selection approach based on the use of the A. nidulans amdS selection marker driven by the A. niger ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895384 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883462&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%3D18854220%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tokuoka M, Seshime Y, Fujii I, Kitamoto K, Takahashi T, Koyama Y Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a mycotoxin produced by several strains of Penicillium and Aspergillus species. Aspergillus oryzae strains used in fermented foods do not produce CPA; however, several wild-type A. oryzae strains produce CPA. Here, we identified a novel polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) gene involved in CPA production by comparing the telomere-adjacent region of a CPA-producing strain (A. oryzae NBRC 4177) with that of a nonproducing strain (A. oryzae RIB40). NBRC 4177 has an additional 17-18-kb sequence beyond the region corresponding to the telomere repeat in RIB40 and this additional regions contains 3' region of the PKS-NRPS gene, while RIB40 has only the 5' region of t... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883462 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1883462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883461&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%3D18854221%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kito H, Fujikawa T, Moriwaki A, Tomono A, Izawa M, Kamakura T, Ohashi M, Sato H, Abe K, Nishimura M In many eukaryotic organisms, the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) system is a major pathway for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). DNA ligase IV is a component of the NHEJ system and is strictly required for the NHEJ system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in Neurospora crassa. To investigate the functions of DNA Ligase IV in Magnaporthe grisea, we generated deletion mutants of MGLIG4, which encodes a homolog of N. crassa DNA Ligase IV. Mutants (mglig4) showed no defects in asexual or sexual growth, and were fully pathogenic. Compared to the wild-type, mglig4 exhibited weak sensitivity to a DNA-damaging agent, camptothecin. In addition, the frequency of targeted-gen... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883461 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1883461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844990&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%3D18824239%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Montero-Barrientos M, Hermosa R, Nicolás C, Cardoza RE, Gutiérrez S, Monte E All organisms share similar mechanisms in the heat shock response, such as synthesis of conserved heat shock proteins. Here, we report on the cloning, characterization and functional analysis of a Trichoderma harzianum T34 hsp70 gene. The expression of this gene was evaluated in cultures grown in abiotic stress conditions. An increased level of expression was detected when the fungus was grown at 37 or 41 degrees C, as well as in the presence of oxidative or osmotic agents. The overexpression of hsp70 in T. harzianum T34 gave rise to transformants with higher quantities of biomass obtained after heat shock treatment. In addition, these transformants showed an enhanced tolerance to oxidative,... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844990 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1844990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844989&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%3D18824240%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: O'Donnell K, Ward TJ, Aberra D, Kistler HC, Aoki T, Orwig N, Kimura M, Bjørnstad A, Klemsdal SS A survey of Fusarium head blight (FHB)-contaminated wheat in Ethiopia recovered 31 isolates resembling members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex. Results of a multilocus genotyping (MLGT) assay for FHB species and trichothecene chemotype determination suggested that 22 of these isolates might represent a new species within the Fg complex. Phylogenetic analyses of multilocus DNA sequence data resolved the 22 Ethiopian isolates as a novel, phylogenetically distinct species. The new species also appears to be novel in that MLGT probe data and sequence analysis of both ends of the TRI-cluster identified 15ADON and NIV recombination blocks, documenting inter-chemotype reco... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844989 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1844989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844991&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%3D18824119%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jacobs DI, Olsthoorn MM, Maillet I, Akeroyd M, Breestraat S, Donkers S, van der Hoeven RA, van den Hondel CA, Kooistra R, Lapointe T, Menke H, Meulenberg R, Misset M, Müller WH, van Peij NN, Ram A, Rodriguez S, Roelofs MS, Roubos JA, van Tilborg MW, Verkleij AJ, Pel HJ, Stam H, Sagt CM The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is widely exploited for industrial production of enzymes and organic acids. An integrated genomics approach was developed to determine cellular responses of A. niger to protein production in well-controlled fermentations. Different protein extraction methods in combination with automated sample processing and protein identification allowed quantitative analysis of 898 proteins. Three different enzyme overproducing strains were compared to their isoge... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844991 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1844991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844988&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%3D18824241%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kelly DE, Kraševec N, Mullins J, Nelson DR The cytochromes P450 (CYPs) are found in all biological kingdoms and genome sequencing projects continue to reveal an ever increasing number. The principle aim of this paper is to identify the complete CYPome of Aspergillus nidulans from the genome sequence version AN.3 deposited at the Broad institute, assign the appropriate CYP nomenclature and define function where possible. The completed analysis revealed a total of 111 CYP genes, 3 of which were previously unknown and 8 pseudogenes, representing 89CYP families, 21 of which are unique. We have identified 28 potential gene clusters associated with one or more CYP genes and discussed those with putative PKS and NRPS associated function. The chromosomal location of the genes, p... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844988 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1844988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829370&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%3D18812228%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Estrada AF, Maier D, Scherzinger D, Avalos J, Al-Babili S Neurosporaxanthin, beta-apo-4'-carotenoic acid (C(35)), represents the end-product of the carotenoid pathway in Neurospora crassa. It is supposed to be synthesized in three steps catalyzed by sequential AL-2, CAO-2 and YLO-1 activities: (i) cyclization of 3,4-didehydrolycopene (C(40)); (ii) cleavage of torulene into beta-apo-4'-carotenal (C(35)); and finally (iii) oxidation of beta-apo-4'-carotenal. However, analyses of the ylo-1 mutant revealed the accumulation of intermediates other than beta-apo-4'-carotenal. Here, we generated a 3,4-didehydrolycopene accumulating Escherichia coli strain and showed that CAO-2 cleaves this acyclic carotene in vivo and in vitro yielding apo-4'-lycopenal. The apocarotenoids accumulated ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829370 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1829370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815587&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%3D18805498%26dopt%3DAbstract This report highlights the first biochemical characterization of a multi-domain biosynthetic enzyme for basidiomycete secondary metabolism: the tri-domain enzyme atromentin synthetase AtrA, from Tapinella panuoides, which adenylates and dimerizes 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid into atromentin. Also, the l-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase AtrD, which provides the substrate for this dimerization step, has been characterized. AtrA and AtrD expand the shikimic acid pathway from l-tyrosine to atromentin, the central terphenylquinone intermediate for a prominent and widely occurring class of basidiomycete pigments, among them various pharmaceutically relevant compounds. The genes atrA and atrD were cloned and found to be clustered within one genetic locus. Given the broad distribution of at... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815587 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1815587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1815588&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%3D18804170%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: von Döhren H The genome of Aspergillus nidulans carries 27 genes encoding nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) structures, although only five of these forming peptides and amino acid containing metabolites have been identified so far. This manuscript describes domain structures, substrate binding pockets and related genes and gene clusters and summarizes our current state of product prediction of fungal NRPS systems. PMID: 18804170 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815588 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1815588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809905&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%3D18799136%26dopt%3DAbstract We report the analysis of three catalases, PbCatA, PbCatP and PbCatC. The former are monofunctional catalases and the latter is a catalase-peroxidase. Differential expression of catalases as measured by activity and by quantitative analysis of transcripts was observed in the morphological conversion and in response to different stress conditions. PbCatA manifested higher activity in the mycelial phase, showed increased activity during transition from mycelium to yeast and during conditions of endogenous oxidative stress. Consistent with our previous studies, PbCatP manifested higher activity in yeast cells since it is putatively involved in the control of exogenous reactive oxygen species. P. brasiliensis displays an oxidative stress response following phagocytosis by macrophages, inducing... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809905 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1809905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806450&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%3D18796334%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elleuche S, Pöggeler S Cyanase degrades toxic cyanate to NH(3) and CO(2) in a bicarbonate-dependent reaction. High concentrations of cyanate are fairly toxic to organisms. Here, we characterize a eukaryotic cyanase for the first time. We have isolated the cyn1 gene encoding a cyanase from the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora and functionally characterized the cyn1 product after heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed a predicted catalytic centre of three conserved amino-acids. A Deltacyn1 knockout in S. macrospora was totally devoid of cyanase activity and showed an increased sensitivity to exogenously supplied cyanate in an arginine-depleted medium, defects in ascospore germination, but no other obvious morphological phe... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806450 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1806450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806449&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%3D18796335%26dopt%3DAbstract This study identified that arabitol is the primary compatible solute in S. nodorum but in-built levels of redundancy are present allowing the fungus to tolerate osmotic stress. PMID: 18796335 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806449 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1806449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764086&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%3D18765290%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Plaine A, Walker L, Da Costa G, Mora-Montes HM, McKinnon A, Gow NA, Gaillardin C, Munro CA, Richard ML The outer layer of the Candida albicans cell wall is enriched in highly glycosylated proteins. The major class, the GlycosylPhosphatidylInositol (GPI)-anchored proteins are tethered to the wall by GPI-anchor remnants and include adhesins, glycosyltransferases, yapsins and superoxide dismutases. In silico analysis suggested that C. albicans possesses 115 putative GPI anchored proteins (GpiPs), almost twice the number reported for Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A global approach to characterise in silico predicted GpiPs has been initiated by generating a library of 45 mutants. This library was subjected to a screen for cell wall modifications by testing the cell wall integrity (SDS ... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764086 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1764086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1755086&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%3D18761413%26dopt%3DAbstract We report the characterization of a second gene, ZrNHA1, encoding a new K(+)(Na(+))/H(+)-antiporter capable of both K(+) and Na(+) export. Synteny analyses suggested that ZrSOD2-22 originated by single duplication of the ZrNHA1 gene. Substrate specificities and transport properties of ZrNha1p and ZrSod2-22p were compared upon heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae, and then directly in Z. rouxii. Deletion mutants and phenotype analyses revealed that ZrSod2-22 antiporter is important for Na(+) detoxification, probably together with ZrEna1 ATPase; ZrNha1p is indispensable to maintain potassium homeostasis and ZrEna1p is not, in contrast to the situation in S. cerevisiae, involved in this function. PMID: 18761413 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology) Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1755086 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1755086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746735&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%3D18722543%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vrabl P, Mutschlechner W, Burgstaller W Glucose uptake by Penicillium ochrochloron (formerly Penicillium simplicissimum) was studied from 0.01 to 400mM glucose using chemostat culture and bioreactor batch culture. The characteristics of glucose uptake varied considerably with the conditions of growth, harvest and uptake assay. Glucose-limited grown mycelium showed one saturable transport system [K(S) below 0.01mM; v(max) 1.1-1.2mmol (gdry weight)(-1)h(-1)] plus a first order process (permeability P=1.2x10(-7)cms(-1)). Ammonium-limited grown mycelium showed only one saturable transport system [K(S) 0.3-0.7mM; v(max) 0.5-0.8mmol (gdry weight)(-1)h(-1)]. During exponential growth at high glucose concentration (300-400mM) a first order process was found with a P value of 5.6-9.3x1... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746735 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1746735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655623&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%3D18456523%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mueller O, Kahmann R, Aguilar G, Trejo-Aguilar B, Wu A, de Vries RP Ustilago maydis establishes a biotrophic relationship with its host plant, i.e. plant cells stay alive despite massive fungal growth in infected tissue. The genome sequence has revealed that U. maydis is poorly equipped with plant cell wall degrading enzymes and uses novel secreted protein effectors as crucial determinants for biotrophic development. Many of these effector genes are clustered and differentially regulated during plant colonization. In this review, we analyze the secretome of U. maydis by differentiating between secreted enzymes, likely structural proteins of the fungal cell wall (excluding GPI-anchored proteins) as well as likely effectors with either apoplastic or cytoplasmic function. This cl... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655623 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:19:07 +0100 1655623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655622&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%3D18468465%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Feldbrügge M, Zarnack K, Vollmeister E, Baumann S, Koepke J, König J, Münsterkötter M, Mannhaupt G Eukaryotic gene expression begins with transcription and maturation of mRNAs in the nucleus and ends with their translation and degradation in the cytoplasm. Here, we present an inventory of the posttranscriptional machinery of Ustilago maydis that is based on the recently sequenced genome and its comprehensive manual annotation. We used the detailed knowledge available for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and higher eukaryotes to predict posttranscriptional components in this plant pathogen. The comparison to S. cerevisiae revealed that most core components are shared. Both fungi belong to the small group of organisms lacking components of the RNAi machinery. However... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655622 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:19:04 +0100 1655622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655621&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%3D18508396%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ruiz-Herrera J, Ortiz-Castellanos L, Martínez AI, León-Ramírez C, Sentandreu R A study of the proteins involved in the synthesis and structure of the cell wall of Ustilago maydis was made by in silico analysis of the fungal genome, with reference to supporting experimental evidence. The composition of the cell wall of U. maydis shows similarities with the structural composition of the walls of Ascomycetes, but also shows important differential features. Accordingly, the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the U. maydis wall polysaccharides chitin and beta-1,6 glucans displayed some differential characteristics. The most salient difference in protein composition was the predicted absence of Pir proteins, an important class of proteins present in the Ascomycetes.... Fungal Genetics and Biology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655621 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 10:18:54 +0100 1655621