Characterisation of Aspergillus nidulans polarisome component BemA

Fungal Genet Biol. 2008 Jun;45(6):897-911. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2007.12.001. Epub 2007 Dec 8.

Abstract

BemA, the orthologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bem1p, was identified through genome sequence comparison. We have shown that it plays a similar role to Bem1p in yeast, acting as a cell growth protein. Deletion of the gene produced a moderately abnormal hyphal tip morphology, and had an extremely detrimental effect on conidiospore production, with development stalling after conidiophore vesicle production. It was also shown that BemA is required for vacuole fusion, similar to Bem1p. This role is dependent on the first SH3 domain of the protein, whose deletion has no detectable effect on cell growth. Localisation studies showed that BemA formed a clear cap at hyphal tips, analogous to the S. cerevisiae polarisome. The relationship between BemA and SepA, a spitzenkörper protein, was investigated. It was found that localisation of the proteins were interdependent, and a conditional double mutant was inviable.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Aspergillus nidulans / cytology
  • Aspergillus nidulans / genetics
  • Aspergillus nidulans / growth & development*
  • Aspergillus nidulans / physiology
  • Cell Polarity*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Hyphae / cytology
  • Hyphae / growth & development
  • Protein Transport
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / metabolism
  • src Homology Domains

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • BEM1 protein, S cerevisiae