Title |
A Putative APSES Transcription Factor Is Necessary for Normal Growth and Development of Aspergillus nidulans |
Author |
Ji-Yeon Lee1, Lee-Han Kim1, Ha-Eun Kim1, Jae-Sin Park1, Kap-Hoon Han2, and Dong-Min Han1* |
Address |
1Division of Life Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan 570-749, Republic of Korea, 2Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, Wanju 565-901, Republic of Korea |
Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 51(6),800–806, 2013,
|
DOI |
10.1007/s12275-013-3100-2
|
Key Words |
Aspergillus nidulans, APSES transcription factor, rgdA, asexual development, VeA |
Abstract |
The nsdD gene encoding a GATA type transcription factor
positively controls sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans.
According to microarray data, 20 genes that were upregulated
by deleting nsdD during various life cycle stages were
randomly selected and deleted for functional analysis. None
of the mutants showed apparent changes in growth or development
compared with those of the wild-type except the
AN3154 gene that encodes a putative APSES transcription
factor and is an ortholog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae swi4.
Deleting AN3154 resulted in retarded growth and development,
and the gene was named rgdA (retared growth and
development). The rgdA deletion mutant developed a reduced
number of conidia even under favorable conditions for asexual
development. The retarded growth and development was
partially suppressed by the veA1 mutation. The conidial heads
of the mutant aborted, showing reduced and irregular shaped
phialides. Fruiting body development was delayed compared
with that in the wild-type. The mutant did not respond to
various nutritional or environmental factors that affected the
development patterns. The rgdA gene was expressed at low
levels throughout the life cycle and was not significantly affected
by several regulators of sexual and asexual development
such as nsdD, veA, stuA, or brlA. However, the rgdA gene
affected brlA and abaA expression, which function as key
regulators of asexual sporulation, suggesting that rgdA functions
upstream of those genes. |