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Cold-sensitive mutants in Aspergillus nidulans

II. Mutations affecting ribosome production

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Summary

Four cold-sensitive mutants of Aspergillus nidulans which produce abnormal ribosome sedimentation profiles have been identified. After growth at 37° C followed by incubation at 20° C, all four mutant strains (designated ARP) produce profiles containing a reduced ratio of large to small ribosomal subunits. In at least three of the ARP strains the altered profile results from decreased production of the large ribosomal subunit at the non-permissive temperature. No mutants were found to accumulate incomplete ribosomal precursors under these conditions.

In each ARP strain there is a single mutation which determines both cold-sensitivity and production of an altered ribosome profile. These four mutations define three loci. The arpA locus is in linkage group VII. The arpB and arpC loci are far apart in linkage group VIII. Two additional unlinked mutations, one determining actidione-ultrasensitivity and the other cold-sensitivity, were identified in the ARP strains.

Both mutations at the arpA locus also confer resistance to a high concentration of actidione (2 mg ml-1). Additional actidione-resistant, cold-sensitive strains were isolated but none had the ARP phenotype. Recombination analysis of actidione resistant mutants has identified six new loci determining resistance to the drug in A. nidulans.

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Communicated by O. Siddiqi

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Waldron, C., Roberts, C.F. Cold-sensitive mutants in Aspergillus nidulans . Molec. Gen. Genet. 134, 115–132 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268414

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