scholarly journals Mitotic mutants ofAspergillus nidulans

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ronald Morris
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Complementation Group ◽  
Gene Symbol ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Mutants ◽  
Ofaspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Complementation Groups ◽  
Genetic Clustering

SUMMARYForty-five temperature-sensitive mutants ofAspergillus nidulanswhich are defective in nuclear division, septation or distribution of nuclei along the mycelium have been isolated, and most have been subjected to complementation analysis and mapped to chromosome. Thirty-five of the mutants were unable to complete nuclear division at the restrictive temperature. Twenty-six of these mutants exhibited a co-ordinate drop in both spindle and chromosome mitotic indices at 42 °C, indicating that they fail to enter mitosis. These mutants have been assigned to the gene symbolnim. Nine mutants exhibited a co-ordinate rise in spindle and chromosome mitotic indices at 42 °C, indicating that they are arrested in mitosis. These mutants were assigned the gene symbolbim. Five mutants failed to form septa and were given the gene symbolsep; and five mutants had an abnormal nuclear distribution and were given the gene symbolnud. All of the mutations were recessive. Most of the mutants were in different complementation groups. Mutants in the same complementation groups were phenotypically similar, but phenotypically similar mutants were not necessarily or usually in the same complementation group. There was no evidence for genetic clustering of phenotypically similar mutants. The mutants were located on all eight chromosomes.

The PHOA and PHOB Cyclin-Dependent Kinases Perform an Essential Function in Aspergillus nidulans

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 1105-1115
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Dou ◽  
Dongliang Wu ◽  
Weiling An ◽  
Jonathan Davies ◽  
Shahr B Hashmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Cell Cycle Control ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Null Alleles ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Cyclin Dependent Kinase ◽  
Essential Function

Abstract Unlike Pho85 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the highly related PHOA cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) of Aspergillus nidulans plays no role in regulation of enzymes involved in phosphorous acquisition but instead modulates differentiation in response to environmental conditions, including limited phosphorous. Like PHO85, Aspergillus phoA is a nonessential gene. However, we find that expression of dominant-negative PHOA inhibits growth, suggesting it may have an essential but redundant function. Supporting this we have identified another cyclin-dependent kinase, PHOB, which is 77% identical to PHOA. Deletion of phoB causes no phenotype, even under phosphorous-limited growth conditions. To investigate the function of phoA/phoB, double mutants were selected from a cross of strains containing null alleles and by generating a temperature-sensitive allele of phoA in a ΔphoB background. Double-deleted ascospores were able to germinate but had a limited capacity for nuclear division, suggesting a cell cycle defect. Longer germination revealed morphological defects. The temperature-sensitive phoA allele caused both nuclear division and polarity defects at restrictive temperature, which could be complemented by expression of mammalian CDK5. Therefore, an essential function exists in A. nidulans for the Pho85-like kinase pair PHOA and PHOB, which may involve cell cycle control and morphogenesis.

scholarly journals hyp Loci Control Cell Pattern Formation in the Vegetative Mycelium of Aspergillus nidulans

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-680
Author(s):  
Susan G W Kaminskyj ◽  
John E Hamer
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Tip Growth ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Apical Cell ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
Temperature Shift ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Apical Cells

Abstract Aspergillus nidulans grows by apical extension of multinucleate cells called hyphae that are subdivided by the insertion of crosswalls called septa. Apical cells vary in length and number of nuclei, whereas subapical cells are typically 40 μm long with three to four nuclei. Apical cells have active mitotic cycles, whereas subapical cells are arrested for growth and mitosis until branch formation reinitiates tip growth and nuclear divisions. This multicellular growth pattern requires coordination between localized growth, nuclear division, and septation. We searched a temperature-sensitive mutant collection for strains with conditional defects in growth patterning and identified six mutants (designated hyp for hypercellular). The identified hyp mutations are nonlethal, recessive defects in five unlinked genes (hypA-hypE). Phenotypic analyses showed that these hyp mutants have aberrant patterns of septation and show defects in polarity establishment and tip growth, but they have normal nuclear division cycles and can complete the asexual growth cycle at restrictive temperature. Temperature shift analysis revealed that hypD and hypE play general roles in hyphal morphogenesis, since inactivation of these genes resulted in a general widening of apical and subapical cells. Interestingly, loss of hypA or hypB function lead to a cessation of apical cell growth but activated isotropic growth and mitosis in subapical cells. The inferred functions of hypA and hypB suggest a mechanism for coordinating apical growth, subapical cell arrest, and mitosis in A. nidulans.

Cytokinesis in Aspergillus nidulans is controlled by cell size, nuclear positioning and mitosis

1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 2179-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.D. Wolkow ◽  
S.D. Harris ◽  
J.E. Hamer
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Cell Size ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Nuclear Positioning ◽  
Septum Formation ◽  
Nuclear Distribution ◽  
Cellular Compartments

The mycelium of Aspergillus nidulans is composed of multinucleate cellular compartments delimited by crosswalls called septa. Septum formation is dependent on mitosis and requires the recruitment of actin to the site of septum formation. Employing a collection of temperature sensitive nuclear distribution (nudA2, nudC3 and nudF7), nuclear division (nimA5, hfaB3), and septation (sepD5, sepG1) mutants, we have investigated the interdependency among nuclear positioning, mitosis, and cell growth in structuring the cellular compartments of A. nidulans. The cellular compartments of nud+ strains were highly uniform with regard to nuclear distribution and averaged 38 microns in length. Incubation of nud mutants at semi-restrictive temperature resulted in aberrant nuclear distribution that appeared to direct the formation of variable-sized cellular compartments, ranging from 5 microns to greater than 81 microns. In germinating spores, the first septum forms at the basal end of the germ tube following the third round of nuclear division. Germlings must undergo mitosis in order to form a septum. Temperature-sensitive mitotic mutants were used to show that a single nuclear division is sufficient to activate septum formation, provided a critical cell size has been attained. In mitotic mutants and wild-type cells, delays in nuclear division resulted in the misplacement of the first septum. These results strongly support the role of mitotic nuclei in determining septal placement, and suggest that cell size control is post-mitotic in A. nidulans.

scholarly journals A search for temperature-sensitive mutants ofUstilago maydisblocked in DNA synthesis

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Unrau ◽  
R. Holliday
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Ustilago Maydis ◽  
Temperature Treatment ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Mutants ◽  
Dna And Rna

SUMMARYOver 400 temperature-sensitive mutants ofUstilago maydishave been tested for DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature of 32°C by measuring14C adenine incorporation into DNA and RNA. Five mutants were defective in DNA synthesis but none was completely blocked. One mutant,tsd-1, which is unlinked to the others, forms long uninucleate filaments at 32°C which die exponentially after 4h temperature treatment. The phenotype is comparable to that of thymine-starved bacteria, but it is possible that rather than being specifically defective in DNA synthesis the mutant is blocked in nuclear division.

scholarly journals Identification and characterization of Aspergillus nidulans mutants defective in cytokinesis.

Genetics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
S D Harris ◽  
J L Morrell ◽  
J E Hamer
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Nuclear Division ◽  
Temperature Shift ◽  
Mitotic Division ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
The Third ◽  
Septum Formation ◽  
New Genes

Abstract Filamentous fungi undergo cytokinesis by forming crosswalls termed septa. Here, we describe the genetic and physiological controls governing septation in Aspergillus nidulans. Germinating conidia do not form septa until the completion of their third nuclear division. The first septum is invariantly positioned at the basal end of the germ tube. Block-and-release experiments of nuclear division with benomyl or hydroxyurea, and analysis of various nuclear division mutants demonstrated that septum formation is dependent upon the third mitotic division. Block-and-release experiments with cytochalasin A and the localization of actin in germlings by indirect immunofluorescence showed that actin participated in septum formation. In addition to being concentrated at the growing hyphal tips, a band of actin was also apparent at the site of septum formation. Previous genetic analysis in A. nidulans identified four genes involved in septation (sepA-D). We have screened a new collection of temperature sensitive (ts) mutants of A. nidulans for strains that failed to form septa at the restrictive temperature but were able to complete early nuclear divisions. We identified five new genes designated sepE, G, H, I and J, along with one additional allele of a previously identified septation gene. On the basis of temperature shift experiments, nuclear counts and cell morphology, we sorted these cytokines mutants into three phenotypic classes. Interestingly, one class of mutants fails to form septa and fails to progress past the third nuclear division. This class of mutants suggests the existence of a regulatory mechanism in A. nidulans that ensures the continuation of nuclear division following the initiation of cytokinesis.

scholarly journals THE SELECTION OF S. CEREVISIAE MUTANTS DEFECTIVE IN THE START EVENT OF CELL DIVISION

Genetics ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven I Reed
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Linkage Map ◽  
Nuclear Genes ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Mating Pheromone ◽  
Preliminary Characterization ◽  
Complementation Groups ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT Thirty-three temperature-sensitive mutations defective in the start event of the cell division cycle of Saccharomyces cereuisiae were isolated and subjected to preliminary characterization. Complementation studies assigned these mutations to four complementation groups, one of which, cdc28, has been described previously. Genetic analysis revealed that these complementation groups define single nuclear genes, unlinked to one another. One of the three newly identified genes, cdc37, has been located in the yeast linkage map on chromosome IV, two meiotic map units distal to hom2.—Each mutation produces stage-specific arrest of cell division at start, the same point where mating pheromone interrupts division. After synchronization at start by incubation at the restrictive temperature, the mutants retain the capacity to enlarge and to conjugate.

Genetic Analysis of Yeast RPA1 Reveals Its Multiple Functions in DNA Metabolism

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 989-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Umezu ◽  
Neal Sugawara ◽  
Clark Chen ◽  
James E Haber ◽  
Richard D Kolodner
Keyword(s):  
Dna Replication ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Single Stranded Dna ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Mutants

Abstract Replication protein A (RPA) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein identified as an essential factor for SV40 DNA replication in vitro. To understand the in vivo functions of RPA, we mutagenized the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RFA1 gene and identified 19 ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation- and methyl methane sulfonate (MMS)-sensitive mutants and 5 temperature-sensitive mutants. The UV- and MMS-sensitive mutants showed up to 104 to 105 times increased sensitivity to these agents. Some of the UV- and MMS-sensitive mutants were killed by an HO-induced double-strand break at MAT. Physical analysis of recombination in one UV- and MMS-sensitive rfa1 mutant demonstrated that it was defective for mating type switching and single-strand annealing recombination. Two temperature-sensitive mutants were characterized in detail, and at the restrictive temperature were found to have an arrest phenotype and DNA content indicative of incomplete DNA replication. DNA sequence analysis indicated that most of the mutations altered amino acids that were conserved between yeast, human, and Xenopus RPA1. Taken together, we conclude that RPA1 has multiple roles in vivo and functions in DNA replication, repair, and recombination, like the single-stranded DNA-binding proteins of bacteria and phages.

scholarly journals AN ENRICHMENT FOR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MUTANTS IN TETRAHYMENA THERMOPHILA

Genetics ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 1079-1092
Author(s):  
Duane W Martindale ◽  
Ronald E Pearlman
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Restrictive Temperature ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Macromolecular Synthesis ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Uv Treatment ◽  
Temperature Sensitive Mutants ◽  
Near Ultraviolet ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Resistant Mutants

ABSTRACT The parameters for the killing of Tetrahymena by 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and near-ultraviolet light have been determined. Significant preferential killing by UV* of cells that have incorporated BUdR was obtained when the cells were irradiated in a nonnutrient buffer. UV alone was found to be toxic to cells irradiated in growth medium. Mutants defective in division at a restrictive temperature were isolated from mutagenized cultures that had been treated with BUdR and UV and from mutagenized cultures that had no such treatment. Results indicate that the number of temperature sensitive (ts) growth mutants can be increased five to six times using the BUdR/UV treatment. Data are presented that indicate differences in the frequency of occurrence of various types of ts mutants, with and without enrichment. A mutant that immediately stopped macromolecular synthesis and cell division upon being placed at the restrictive temperature was more resistant to BUdR/UV treatment than wild type by 1000-fold. Using the above techniques, BUdR-resistant mutants altered in the phosphorylation of thymidine have been isolated.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document