Back to Search Start Over

The nsdD gene encodes a putative GATA-type transcription factor necessary for sexual development of Aspergillus nidulans

Authors :
Jae-Hyuk Yu
Kap-Hoon Han
Kyu-Yong Han
Dong-Min Han
Kwang-Yeop Jahng
Keon-Sang Chae
Source :
Molecular Microbiology. 41:299-309
Publication Year :
2001
Publisher :
Wiley, 2001.

Abstract

The ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually is one of the characteristics of the homothalic ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans. Unlike the other Aspergillus species, A. nidulans undergoes sexual development that seems to be regulated by internal and external stimuli. To begin to understand the sexual reproduction of A. nidulans we previously isolated and characterized several NSD (never in sexual development) mutants that failed to produce any sexual reproductive organs, and identified four complementation groups, nsdA, nsdB, nsdC, and nsdD. The nsdD gene has been isolated, and it is predicted to encode a GATA-type transcription factor with the type IVb zinc finger DNA-binding domain. The mRNA of the nsdD gene started to accumulate in the early phase of vegetative growth, and the level increased as sexual development proceeded. However, it decreased during asexual sporulation and no nsdD mRNA was detected in conidia. Deletion of nsdD resulted in no cleistothecia (fruiting bodies) formation, even under the conditions that preferentially promoted sexual development, indicating that nsdD is necessary for sexual development. In contrast, when the nsdD gene was over-expressed, sexual-specific organ (Hulle cell) was formed even in submerged culture, which normally completely blocked sexual development, and the number of cleistothecia was also dramatically increased on solid medium. These results lead us to propose that the nsdD gene functions in activating sexual development of A. nidulans. Multiple copies of the nsdD gene could suppress nsdB5 and veA1, indicating that either nsdD acts downstream of these genes or possibly functions in overlapping pathway(s).

Details

ISSN :
13652958 and 0950382X
Volume :
41
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Molecular Microbiology
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........c1d2d7a97cd4a861ee47b68b3183bb75
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02472.x