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Biochemical analysis of mutants defective in nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa: Evidence for autogenous control by nitrate reductase

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Summary

A biochemical analysis of mutants altered for nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa is described. Mutant alleles at each of the nine nit (nitrate-nonutilizing) loci were assayed for nitrate reductase activity, for three partial activities of nitrate reductase, and for nitrite reductase activity. In each case, the enzyme deficiency was consistent with data obtained from growth tests and complementation tests in previous studies. The mutant strains at these nit loci were also examined for altered regulation of enzyme synthesis. Such exeriments revealed that mutations which affect the structural integrity of the native nitrate reductase molecule can result in constitutive synthesis of this enzyme protein and of nitrite reductase. These results provide very strong evidence that, as in Aspergillus nidulans, nitrate reductase autogenously regulates the pathway of nitrate assimilation. However, only mutants at the nit-2 locus affect the regulation of this pathway by nitrogen metabolite repression.

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Author notes

  1. A. Brian Tomsett

    Present address: Department of Genetics, University of Liverpool, L69 3BX, Liverpool, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Gilmer Hall, 22901, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    A. Brian Tomsett & Reginald H. Garett

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  1. A. Brian Tomsett
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  2. Reginald H. Garett
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Communicated by W. Gajewski

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Tomsett, A.B., Garett, R.H. Biochemical analysis of mutants defective in nitrate assimilation in Neurospora crassa: Evidence for autogenous control by nitrate reductase. Molec. Gen. Genet. 184, 183–190 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272903

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272903

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