scholarly journals Transcription and Translation of the Sex Message in the Smut Fungus, Ustilago Violacea

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-460
Author(s):  
A. W. DAY ◽  
J. E. CUMMINS
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Mating Types ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Opposite Mating Type ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Ustilago Violacea ◽  
Anther Smut ◽  
Free Media ◽  
Type Strains

Cells of opposite mating type, a1 and a2, of the anther smut, Ustilago violacea assemble a conjugation tube after about 3-4 h of mating on nutrient-free media. Low doses of ultraviolet light (u.v.) delay but do not prevent conjugation in wild-type strains if given in the first 2-3 h of mating. However, irradiation later than this period has little effect and conjugation proceeds normally. The u.v. effect is photoreactivable and we conclude that u.v. induces dimers which affect transcription of specific messenger RNA molecules needed for conjugation (‘sex message’). Our evidence suggests that the dimers may cause mistranscription rather than the complete prevention of transcription. The effect of u.v. on conjugation in reciprocal crosses of u.v.-sensitive and wild-type strains indicates clearly that both partners must complete transcription of sex messages in order to conjugate. Inactivation of either partner before transcription prevents conjugation, but conjugation proceeds when either cell is inactivated after transcription of the sex messages has occurred. These results suggest that a mutual and reciprocal exchange of information between the 2 mating-types occurs prior to the assembly of the conjugation tube.

Fungal fimbriae. II. Their role in conjugation in Ustilago violacea

1975 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Day ◽  
N. H. Poon
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Electron Micrographs ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Smut Fungus ◽  
Mating Types ◽  
Opposite Mating Type ◽  
Sensitive Material ◽  
Ustilago Violacea ◽  
Anther Smut

During conjugation in the anther smut fungus Ustilago violacea cells of opposite mating type first pair tightly and then develop a conjugation tube or bridge between them. The cells of both mating types are covered in long fine hairs or fimbriae, some of which appear to end in knobs. Experiments involving enzyme treatments of the cell surface indicate that these fimbriae do not play an essential role in cell pairing, instead pairing seems to be initiated when one or both mating types produce amorphous masses of α-amylase-sensitive material. Electron micrographs, enzyme and inhibitor studies, and experiments using restrictive temperatures suggest, however, that fimbriae may be essential for the later stages of conjugation i.e. development of the conjugation tube. If so, it is suggested that they may permit the exchange of macromolecules between the conjugating cells, initiating localized wall-softening and wall-breakdown.

Conjugation in Ustilago violacea. I. Morphology

1974 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. Poon ◽  
J. Martin ◽  
A. W. Day
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Electron Micrographs ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Smut Fungus ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Opposite Mating Type ◽  
Ustilago Violacea ◽  
Anther Smut

Conjugation in the anther smut fungus, Ustilago violacea, is described and five stages are characterized viz. (i) intimate pairing of cells of opposite mating type; (ii) development of bumps from each cell at the point of pairing. The cell walls of opposing pegs are fused, but the plasma membranes are not yet affected; (iii) elongation of the bumps into pegs; (iv) dissolution of the walls and plasma membranes of opposing pegs at the point of contact, and the formation of a tube; (v) elongation of the tube to the mature mating configuration (about 5 μm). Electron micrographs and Nomarski interference contrast micrographs of this sequence are illustrated. The assembly of the conjugation tube begins as early as 1.5 h after the cells are mixed on mating medium and is completed in about 45 min. Even in asynchronous populations there is a burst of synchronous mating, followed by later asynchronous mating. Observations on the ability to mate of unbudded and budded cells support the evidence from cell cycle work that allele a1 mates only in the G1 phase (unbudded) while allele a2 is competent to mate during all phases.

scholarly journals Doubling Ty1 element copy number in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: host genome stability and phenotypic effects.

Genetics ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 1043-1052
Author(s):  
J D Boeke ◽  
D J Eichinger ◽  
G Natsoulis
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Genome Structure ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Opposite Mating Type ◽  
Spore Viability ◽  
Normal Number ◽  
Yeast Strains ◽  
Type Strains

Abstract Haploid yeast strains bearing approximately double the normal number of Ty1 elements have been constructed using marked GAL/Ty1 fusion plasmids. The strains maintain their high transposon copy number and overall genome structure in the absence of selection. The strains bearing extra Ty1 copies are surprisingly similar phenotypically to the parental strain. The results suggest that the limit to transposon copy number, if any, has not been reached. When these strains are crossed by wild-type strains (i.e., bearing the normal complement of Ty1 elements) or by strains of opposite mating type also bearing excess Ty1 elements, normal to very slightly reduced spore viability is observed, indicating that increasing the extent of transposon homology scattered around the genome does not result in significant increases in frequency of ectopic reciprocal recombination. The results suggest that yeast cells have evolved mechanisms for coping with excess transposon copies in the genome.

scholarly journals InsP7is a small-molecule regulator of NUDT3-mediated mRNA decapping and processing-body dynamics

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (32) ◽  
pp. 19245-19253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumyadip Sahu ◽  
Zhenzhen Wang ◽  
Xinfu Jiao ◽  
Chunfang Gu ◽  
Nikolaus Jork ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inositol Pyrophosphate ◽  
Body Dynamics ◽  
Processing Body ◽  
The Stability

Regulation of enzymatic 5′ decapping of messenger RNA (mRNA), which normally commits transcripts to their destruction, has the capacity to dynamically reshape the transcriptome. For example, protection from 5′ decapping promotes accumulation of mRNAs into processing (P) bodies—membraneless, biomolecular condensates. Such compartmentalization of mRNAs temporarily removes them from the translatable pool; these repressed transcripts are stabilized and stored until P-body dissolution permits transcript reentry into the cytosol. Here, we describe regulation of mRNA stability and P-body dynamics by the inositol pyrophosphate signaling molecule 5-InsP7(5-diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate). First, we demonstrate 5-InsP7inhibits decapping by recombinant NUDT3 (Nudix [nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X]-type hydrolase 3) in vitro. Next, in intact HEK293 and HCT116 cells, we monitored the stability of a cadre of NUDT3 mRNA substrates following CRISPR-Cas9 knockout ofPPIP5Ks(diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate 5-kinases type 1 and 2, i.e.,PPIP5KKO), which elevates cellular 5-InsP7levels by two- to threefold (i.e., within the physiological rheostatic range). ThePPIP5KKO cells exhibited elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and increased P-body abundance. Pharmacological and genetic attenuation of 5-InsP7synthesis in the KO background reverted both NUDT3 mRNA substrate levels and P-body counts to those of wild-type cells. Furthermore, liposomal delivery of a metabolically resistant 5-InsP7analog into wild-type cells elevated levels of NUDT3 mRNA substrates and raised P-body abundance. In the context that cellular 5-InsP7levels normally fluctuate in response to changes in the bioenergetic environment, regulation of mRNA structure by this inositol pyrophosphate represents an epitranscriptomic control process. The associated impact on P-body dynamics has relevance to regulation of stem cell differentiation, stress responses, and, potentially, amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

scholarly journals Identification ofvib-1, a Locus Involved in Vegetative Incompatibility Mediated byhet-cinNeurospora crassa

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qijun Xiang ◽  
N Louise Glass
Keyword(s):  
Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Recognition System ◽  
Deletion Mutants ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Vegetative Incompatibility ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Self Recognition ◽  
Allelic Differences ◽  
Native Gel ◽  
Type Strains

AbstractA non-self-recognition system called vegetative incompatibility is ubiquitous in filamentous fungi and is genetically regulated by het loci. Different fungal individuals are unable to form viable heterokaryons if they differ in allelic specificity at a het locus. To identify components of vegetative incompatibility mediated by allelic differences at the het-c locus of Neurospora crassa, we isolated mutants that suppressed phenotypic aspects of het-c vegetative incompatibility. Three deletion mutants were identified; the deletions overlapped each other in an ORF named vib-1 (vegetative incompatibility blocked). Mutations in vib-1 fully relieved growth inhibition and repression of conidiation conferred by het-c vegetative incompatibility and significantly reduced hyphal compartmentation and death rates. The vib-1 mutants displayed a profuse conidiation pattern, suggesting that VIB-1 is a regulator of conidiation. VIB-1 shares a region of similarity to PHOG, a possible phosphate nonrepressible acid phosphatase in Aspergillus nidulans. Native gel analysis of wild-type strains and vib-1 mutants indicated that vib-1 is not the structural gene for nonrepressible acid phosphatase, but rather may regulate nonrepressible acid phosphatase activity.

scholarly journals HET-E and HET-D Belong to a New Subfamily of WD40 Proteins Involved in Vegetative Incompatibility Specificity in the Fungus Podospora anserina

Genetics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 161 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-81
Author(s):  
Eric Espagne ◽  
Pascale Balhadère ◽  
Marie-Louise Penin ◽  
Christian Barreau ◽  
Béatrice Turcq
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Difference ◽  
Podospora Anserina ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Incompatible Interaction ◽  
Vegetative Incompatibility ◽  
Repeat Domain ◽  
Upper Face ◽  
E1a Gene ◽  
Type Strains ◽  
Wd40 Repeats

Abstract Vegetative incompatibility, which is very common in filamentous fungi, prevents a viable heterokaryotic cell from being formed by the fusion of filaments from two different wild-type strains. Such incompatibility is always the consequence of at least one genetic difference in specific genes (het genes). In Podospora anserina, alleles of the het-e and het-d loci control heterokaryon viability through genetic interactions with alleles of the unlinked het-c locus. The het-d2Y gene was isolated and shown to have strong similarity with the previously described het-e1A gene. Like the HET-E protein, the HET-D putative protein displayed a GTP-binding domain and seemed to require a minimal number of 11 WD40 repeats to be active in incompatibility. Apart from incompatibility specificity, no other function could be identified by disrupting the het-d gene. Sequence comparison of different het-e alleles suggested that het-e specificity is determined by the sequence of the WD40 repeat domain. In particular, the amino acids present on the upper face of the predicted β-propeller structure defined by this domain may confer the incompatible interaction specificity.

scholarly journals Fluctuating Diffusivity of RNA-Protein Particles: Analogy with Thermodynamics

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Yuichi Itto
Keyword(s):  
Internal Energy ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Statistical Fluctuation ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Thermodynamic Entropy ◽  
Laws Of Thermodynamics ◽  
Protein Particles ◽  
Quantity Of Heat

A formal analogy of fluctuating diffusivity to thermodynamics is discussed for messenger RNA molecules fluorescently fused to a protein in living cells. Regarding the average value of the fluctuating diffusivity of such RNA-protein particles as the analog of the internal energy, the analogs of the quantity of heat and work are identified. The Clausius-like inequality is shown to hold for the entropy associated with diffusivity fluctuations, which plays a role analogous to the thermodynamic entropy, and the analog of the quantity of heat. The change of the statistical fluctuation distribution is also examined from a geometric perspective. The present discussions may contribute to a deeper understanding of the fluctuating diffusivity in view of the laws of thermodynamics.

scholarly journals Isolation of a gene required for programmed initiation of development by Aspergillus nidulans.

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3827-3833 ◽  
Author(s):  
T H Adams ◽  
W A Hide ◽  
L N Yager ◽  
B N Lee
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Deprivation ◽  
Deletion Mutants ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Microbial Development ◽  
Type Strains ◽  
Posttranscriptional Level

In contrast to many other cases in microbial development, Aspergillus nidulans conidiophore production initiates primarily as a programmed part of the life cycle rather than as a response to nutrient deprivation. Mutations in the acoD locus result in "fluffy" colonies that appear to grow faster than the wild type and proliferate as undifferentiated masses of vegetative cells. We show that unlike wild-type strains, acoD deletion mutants are unable to make conidiophores under optimal growth conditions but can be induced to conidiate when growth is nutritionally limited. The requirement for acoD in conidiophore development occurs prior to activation of brlA, a primary regulator of development. The acoD transcript is present both in vegetative hyphae prior to developmental induction and in developing cultures. However, the effects of acoD mutations are detectable only after developmental induction. We propose that acoD activity is primarily controlled at the posttranscriptional level and that it is required to direct developmentally specific changes that bring about growth inhibition and activation of brlA expression to result in conidiophore development.

scholarly journals Influences of Histone Stoichiometry on the Target Site Preference of Retrotransposons Ty1 and Ty2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 142 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A Rinckel ◽  
David J Garfinkel
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Target Site ◽  
Site Preference ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Histone Proteins ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Type Strains ◽  
Orientation Bias

Abstract In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the target site specificity of the retrotransposon Ty1 appears to involve the Ty integration complex recognizing chromatin structures. To determine whether changes in chromatin structure affect Ty1 and Ty2 target site preference, we analyzed Ty transposition at the CAN1 locus in mutants containing altered levels of histone proteins. A Δhta1-htb1 mutant with decreased levels of H2A and H2B histone proteins showed a pattern of Ty1 and Ty2 insertions at CAN1 that was significantly different from that of both the wild-type and a Δhta2-htb2 mutant, which does not have altered histone protein levels. Altered levels of H2A and H2B proteins disrupted a dramatic orientation bias in the CAN1 promoter region. In the wild-type strains, few Ty1 and Ty2 insertions in the promoter region were oriented opposite to the direction of CAN1 transcription. In the Δhta1-htb1 background, however, numerous Ty1 and Ty2 insertions were in the opposite orientation clustered within the TATA region. This altered insertion pattern does not appear to be due to a bias caused by selecting canavanine resistant isolates in the different HTA1-HTB1 backgrounds. Our results suggest that reduced levels of histone proteins alter Ty target site preference and disrupt an asymmetric Ty insertion pattern.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document