Effect of cyclic AMP on catabolite-repressed zoosporangial formation in Phytophthora capsici
Zoosporangial formation in Phytophthora capsici was sensitively inhibited by glucose and other catabolites including sugars, citric acid cycle acids, and amino acids, but was only slightly inhibited by 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose and by other seemingly weak catabolites. The inhibitions were specifically prevented by cyclic AMP among the various related nucleotides evaluated. The reversing effect by cyclic AMP was observed only on zoosporangial formation that was partially repressed by catabolites, but the completely repressed zoosporangial formation could not be reversed by cyclic AMP. Furthermore, cyclic AMP failed in reversing zoosporangial formation that was inhibited by antibiotics such as antimycin A and cycloheximide. The results suggested that the initiation of zoosporangial formation in the fungus is under the control of catabolite repression that is mediated by cyclic AMP.