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A fungal actin-related protein involved in nuclear migration

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Abstract

The ro-4 mutant of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa forms distinctive colonies in which hyphae grow into rope-like aggregates. This unusual morphology coincides with a defect in hyphal nuclear migration. The ro-4 gene was cloned from a cosmid library by complementation of the closely linked pab-2 gene. The deduced 380 amino acid protein is most similar to the vertebrate actin-related protein/centractin. The R04 protein is not essential for cell viability, and new strains created by inducing point mutations at the ro-4 locus have a phenotype which is very similar to that of the original mutant. This study provides genetic evidence that an actin-related protein plays a role in nuclear motility. Since nuclear motility is believed to be a microtubule-dependent process, the ro-4 gene product may function as a component of the dynactin complex which activates force generation by cytoplasmic dynein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Carleton University, 112 Colonel By Drive, KlS 5B6, Ottawa, Canada

    Malcolm J. Robb, Margaret A. Wilson & P. John Vierula

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  1. Malcolm J. Robb
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  2. Margaret A. Wilson
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  3. P. John Vierula
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Robb, M.J., Wilson, M.A. & Vierula, P.J. A fungal actin-related protein involved in nuclear migration. Molec. Gen. Genet. 247, 583–590 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290350

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