Search

A cell cycle mutant strain which is defective in the G1 period, B2-39, was selected from 1,200 temperature-sensitive mutants of the heterobasidiomycetous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides M-1057. In the mutant cells, ribosomal ribonucleic acid synthesis was initially inhibited upon temperature shift-up from a permissive (25 degrees C) to a restrictive (36 degrees C) temperature. Moreover, the mutant was found to be temperature sensitive in deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase I activity in vitro. In a revertant-mutant strain, B2-39-R-2, both ribosomal ribonucleic acid synthesis in vivo and enzyme activity in vitro were simultaneously recovered. These results indicate that the mutant has a temperature-sensitive, deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase I and suggest that ribosomal ribonucleic acid synthesis acts as one of the control factors for initiation of both deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and bud emergence.

The number of spores per basidium in the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus can be readily determined using the light microscope.

The events which occur in the early stages of the mating process of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides between strains M-919 (mating type A) and M-1057 (mating type a) were investigated. In preliminary experiments we determined the frequency of mating by two newly designed methods: the liquid culture method and the membrane-filter microculture method. The mating frequencies of strains M-919 and M-1057 were 89% in the liquid culture method and 62% in the membrane-filter microculture method. The early stages in the mating process included the following events: (i) M-919 cells produce constitutively the extracellular inducing substance (A factor), (ii) M-1057 cells receive A factor, and in response to it they form mating tubes and secrete another inducing substance (a factor), (iii) M-919 cells receive a factor, and in response to it they form mating tubes, (iv) mating tubes elongate to the cells or the tubes of mating partner, (v) tips of the growing tubes recognize the opposite mating type cells or their tubes, followed by cell-to-cell fusion.

The effects of pH and growth density on the amount of an extracellular enzyme, galactose oxidase, synthesized by the fungus Dactylium dendroides were studied. Growth at a pH below 6.7 caused a decrease in the ability of the organism to release galactose oxidase. The enzyme retained by these fungal cells was liberated whenever the pH was raised to 7.0. Cycloheximide addition failed to inhibit the appearance of this protein; [3H]leucine added prior to pH adjustment was not incorporated into the released protein, These observations indicate the released protein is not newly synthesized protein. The retained enzyme would be secreted slowly over a 2-day period if the pH was not increased. In addition to regulating protein retention, pH was also shown to be associated with vacuolization, cell volume, culture density, and inhibition of protein synthesis. Cultures maintained at low pH were characterized by a dense growth consisting of highly vacuolated, buoyant, fungal hyphae. Increasing the pH from 6 to 7 caused a decrease in vacuole size. Cells grown at neutral pH maintained a lower density of growth and, based on activity measurements, synthesized 33% more galactose oxidase. Furthermore, cultures grown at pH 6.0 and maintained at a lower cell density produced galactose oxidase at a level similar to that of cells grown at neutral pH. Thus, the elevated density of the cell culture was inhibitory to galactose oxidase synthesis. The observed effects on protein synthesis and release were rather specific for galactose oxidase, since other extracellular proteins appeared in the earliest stages of growth.

Gill lamellae from the young fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Coprinus micaceus possess cytoplasmic particles with cytochemically demonstrable acid phosphatase activity; they are presumed to be lysosomes.

A golgi apparatus believed to be involved in basidiospore formation has been found in Coprinus lagopus following meiosis in the basidium.

Study of a mutant of the basidomycete Schizophyllum commune with continuous migration of nuclei revealed that the mutant is characterized by vacuolization, bundles of fibrillar-like material, and microtubules. The bundles of fibrillar-like material and microtubules extend through degraded septa to adjacent cells and are found in proximity to nuclei.

Differential labeling of mates, based on the selective uptake of cobalt by mitochondria of one of the partners, has been used to determine visually by means of phase-contrast microscopy whether transfer of mitochondria occurs after hyphal fusion. Compatible and incompatible matings of the tetrapolar basidiomycete, Schizophyllum commune, were studied. Transfer was detectable in common-A, common-AB, and fully compatible matings. It was not detectable in common-B matings

Mycelial enzyme extracts of Schizophyllum commune were prepared during vegetative growth matings leading to common-A and common-B heterokaryons and the dikaryon, and were examined for hydrolytic activity against an alkaliinsoluble cell-wall glucan (R-glucan) isolated from this mushroom. In extracts from several individual homokaryotic mycelia the R-glucanase activity was low and did not increase when the cultures exhausted glucose in the medium. In common-A matings, a 30-fold increase in specific activity of intracellular R-glucanase was found even in the presence of glucose in the broth. An increase of this magnitude was not observed in the common-B mating nor in the fully compatible cross leading to the dikaryon. Extracts of the dikaryon did show elevated R-glucanase activity after exogenous glucose disappearance and subsequent fruiting. In none of these situations was an enzyme activity detected towards an alkali-soluble cell-wall glucan (S-glucan) prepared from S. commune. Changes in R-glucanase were not parallelled by identical changes in laminarinase, pustulanase, cellobiase, and p-nitrophenyl-beta-d-glucosidase, but comparable increases in specific activities were found for hydrolysis of glycogen and maltose. After interaction of the various mycelia in mating combinations, the S-glucan/R-glucan ratio of the cell wall of the dikaryon was found to be similar to that of the homokaryons, but increased in the common-B interaction and was elevated almost threefold in the common-A heterokaryon.

The inhibitory effect of fungitoxic derivatives of 1,4-oxathiin on substrate oxidation by the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is diminished by a single-gene mutation (oxr). The difference between mutant and wild type is approximately the same on the basis of inhibition of either growth and operation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in intact cells or succinate-driven reduction of ferricyanide by mitochondrial preparations. The mutation affects the behavior of the succinic dehydrogenase system of mitochondria not only in the presence but also in the absence of the toxicant, from which it is concluded that some component of the system itself has been modified. The malonate and the antimycin A sensitivity of the oxr mutant is similar to that of the wild type but cross-resistance to thiazole derivatives is easily demonstrated.

Phenoloxidase activity was studied in mycelia carrying mutations that affect sporocarp formation. The results suggest that phenoloxidase activity may be essential to, but is not sufficient for, the fruiting response in Schizophyllum.

Electron microscopic features and biochemical events were outlined in basidiospore germination of Schizophyllum commune. Normal ultrastructural changes included prominent vacuolization and more abundant endoplasmic reticulum. A lag phase in outgrowth included depletion of cellular reserves of trehalose, mannitol, and arabitol and subsequent increases in ribonucleic acid and protein. Depletion of polyols required exogenous carbon and nitrogen sources and was arrested by protein synthesis antagonists. Outgrowth subsequent to the lag period was accompanied by increased glycogen deposition and alkali-soluble glucan production.

Aeciospores of the long-cycle heteroecious rust fungus, Cronartium fusiforme, were found to have an extremely thick cell wall with striking spicules protruding from it. The wall was readily degraded by commercial chitinase, but spicules were unaffected. Quiescent spores contained two nuclei with distinct nuclear membranes possessing many pores. Numerous membrane-bounded lipid bodies were found both in wild-type orange and in white mutant aeciospores. An abundance of irregularly ovoid mitochondria was present in quiescent spores. After glutaraldehydeosmium fixation, the surface of the mitochondria appeared to be covered with ribosomes or microtubules in a paracrystalline array, whereas after permanganate fixation only smooth outer mitochondrial membranes were noted. The latter fixative revealed abundant vesicular endoplasmic reticulum in the spore. Spores incubated at 20 C on agar produced one to five distinct germ tubes within 65 to 180 min. These thin-walled tubes exhibited varying degrees of branching, and reached a total hyphal length of 300 to 500 mu prior to rupturing. Emergence of germ tubes took place through a pore in the spore wall and appeared to be mainly a physical flowing of cytoplasm from the spore into the germ tube without division of nuclei or other cell organelles. On completion of germination, the protoplasm of the germ tube contained both nuclei and nearly all of the other spore contents. Mitochondria had smooth outer membranes, were greatly elongated, and possessed distinct longitudinal cristae. A limited amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum was arranged parallel to the germ tube wall. Other organelles seen in germ tubes were lipid bodies, concentric membrane figures, and numerous ribosomes. Lipid bodies appeared smaller and fewer in number than in quiescent spores.

Short and thick fibers were observed on the outer surface of the yeast phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and long and thin fibers were seen on the inner surface. The long fibers disappear with chitinase treatment and are composed of chitin. The short fibers disappear under alkali treatment and are composed of alpha-glucan. Comparisons with alpha-(1 --> 3)-glucan isolated from Aspergillus niger and Polyporus betulinus and with chitin from fungal origin support our point of view.

Previously undescribed structures found in Coniophora cerebella are described. They appear like spherical bodies, about 0.5 mum in diameter, situated along the wall and septa of the hyphae. They are not membrane bound and seem to be composed of ribosomes.

A gene which can suppress a specific mutation disruptive to nuclear migration in Schizophyllum is described. It controls the rate of migration of invading nuclei through the mutant mycelium, thus suppressing the mutant character. The gene is located between the two loci of the B incompatibility factor.

Hyde, James M. (University of Mississippi Medical School, Jackson), and Charles H. Walkinshaw. Ultrastructure of basidiospores and mycelium of Lenzites saepiaria. J. Bacteriol. 92:1218-1227. 1966.-Ungerminated and germinated basidiospores and 2-day-old mycelial cultures of Lenzites saepiaria were similar in their fine structure. Fixation with glutaraldehyde, followed by osmium tetroxide, was far superior to permanganate. Cell organelles were seen in cytoplasm of spores and hyphae, and clamp connections were abundant in hyphal elements. Numerous lomasomes, vesicular bodies, and complex concentric membranes occurred in the cytoplasm and were often associated with the cell membrane or the dolipore membrane (parenthesome) of the septum. Endoplasmic reticulum was not found, but numerous ribosomes were seen; polyribosome groupings were frequently noted. The nucleus was bounded by a double membrane which contained few pores. Germinating spores exhibited one or more large osmiophilic bodies in association with a vacuole and membranous elements. Other than possessing a thin wall, the emerging germ tube was similar in structure to the parent spore.

Electron microscopic examination of Coccidioides immitis revealed dense septum-associated bodies, characteristic of Ascomycetes. Similar examinations of a filamentous variant of Cryptococcus neoformans failed to clarify the taxonomic position of this yeast but did not exclude the possibility that this organism is a heterobasidiomycete. Septal pores were not seen in either organism.

Mitochondria were isolated from the mycelium of a B-factor mutant in Schizophyllum commune that was previously shown to have its energy metabolism partially uncoupled. These mitochondria were compared to mitochondria isolated from wild-type mycelia and were found to increase their respiration rate upon addition of adenosine diphosphate to only one-half the extent of the mitochondria of wild-type mycelia.