Skip to main content
Log in

On the mechanism of mitotic recombination in Aspergillus nidulans

I. Intragenic recombination and DNA replication

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Adenine or pABA starvation induce mitotic recombination within the ad9 and paba1 cistrons respectively. Adenine concentrations in the plating medium as low as 1×10-8 M increase recombination frequency; the concentration optimal in respect to induced recombination frequency is 5×10-7 M.

Recombination within the paba1 cistron is stimulated by low pABA concentrations, or caseine hydrolysate, or methionine.

Aminopterin applied for one or two hours before conidia of pABA-requiring diploid are plated on proper selective media, induces recombination within the pro1, ad9 and paba1 cistrons. Conclusion is drawn that it is adenine or thymine starvation which induce mitotic recombination.

The implications of this and other similar evidence are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berger, H.: Genetic analysis of T4D phage heterozygotes produced in the presence of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. Genetics 52, 729 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodmer, W. F., and A. T. Ganeson: Biochemical and genetic studies of integration and recombination in Bacillus subtilis transformation. Genetics 50, 717 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowne, S. W., and P. Rogers: Ultraviolet light and enzyme synthesis. J. molec. Biol. 5, 90 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bresler, S. E., and V. A. Lanzov: Mechanism of genetic recombination during bacterial conjugation of Escherichia coli K-12. II. Incorporation of the donor DNA fragment into the recombinant chromosome. Genetics 56, 117 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Calef, E.: Effect on linkage maps of selection of cross-overs between closely linked markers. Heredity 11, 265 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clavilier, L., M. Luzzati et P. Slonimski: Sur la conversion du gene ad3 chez la levure. C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 154, 1970 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, D. R., and C. W. Lawrence: The mechanism of recombination in Chlamydomonas reinhardi. II. The influence of inhibitors of DNA synthesis on intergenic recombination. Mutation Res. 4, 147 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Doudney, C. O.: Ultraviolet light-induced mutation as an event in the physiology of the bacterial cell. In: Repair from genetic radiation damage, p. 125–148 (F. H. Sobles, ed.). London: Pergamon Press 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esposito, R. E., and R. Holliday: The effect of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine on genetic replication and mitotic crossing-over in synchronized cultures of Ustilago maydis. Genetics 50, 1009 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahmy, O. G., and M. J. Fahmy: Mutagenesis in relation to nucleic acid synthesis in cellular genetic systems. In: Symposium on the mutational process, Mechanisms of mutation and inducing factors, p. 267–282 (Z. Landa, ed.). Prague: Academia 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogel, S., and D. D. Hurst: Coincidence relations between gene conversion and mitotic recombination in Saccharomyces. Genetics 48, 321 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley, J. M., N. H. Giles, and C. F. Roberts: Complementation at the adenylosuccinase locus in Aspergillus nidulans. Genetics 52, 1247 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Folsome, C. E., and M. Monk: Genetic interference and recombination in phage T4: the role of heterozygotes. Genetics 52, 119 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, M. S., and M. K. Allen: On the mechanism of deoxyribonucleate integration in Pneumococcus transformation. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 52, 412 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fratello, B., G. Morpurgo, and G. Sermonti: Induced somatic segregation in Aspergillus nidulans. Genetics 45, 785 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallant, J., and T. Spotswood: Measurement of the stability of the repressor of alkaline phosphatase synthesis in Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 52, 1591 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The recombinogenic effect of thymidylate starvation in Escherichia coli. Genetics 52, 107 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottieb, D.: Biosynthetic processes in germinating spores. In: The fungus spore, p. 217–230 (M. F. Madelin, ed.). London: Butterworths & Co. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanawalt, P.: Involvement of synthesis of RNA in thymineless death. Nature (Lond.) 198, 286 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Repair replication in the bacterial genome. In the: Genetical aspects of radiosensitivity: Mechanisms of repair, p. 97–103. Vienna: IAEA 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, P. J., and H. L. K. Whitehouse: A polaron model of genetic recombination by the formation of hybrid deoxyribonucleic acid. Nature (Lond.) 201, 1052 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Helling, R. B.: Increased recombination in induced ara genes of Escherichia coli B/r. Genetics 56, 564 (Abstr.) (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holliday, R.: Induced mitotic crossing-over in Ustilago maydis. Genet. Res. 2, 231 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The induction of mitotic recombination by mitomycin C in Ustilago and Saccharomyces. Genetics 50, 323 (1964a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: A mechanism for gene conversion in fungi. Genet. Res. 5, 282 (1964b).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Studies on mitotic gene conversion in Ustilago. Genet. Res. 8, 323 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Holliday, R.: Genetic recombination in fungi. Contribution to an Internat. Conference on Replication and Recombination of Genetic Material held at Canberra, August/September 1967. (A typescript.)

  • Hurst, D. D., and S. Eogel: Mitotic recombination and heteroallelic repair in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 50, 435 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • James, A. P.: A genetic analysis of sectoring in ultraviolet-induced variant colonies of yeast. Genetics 40, 204 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and B. Lee-Whiting: Radiation-induced genic segregations in vegetative cells of diploid yeast. Genetics 40, 826 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, G. J. O.: UV-induced mitotic recombination in the paba1 region of Aspergillus nidulans. Genetica 35, 127 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, G. J. O.: UV-induced mitotic recombination in the paba1 cistron of Aspergillus nidulans, p. 7–47. Utrecht: Ph. D. Thesis. Drukkerij elinkwijk 1966.

  • Kellenberger, G., M. L. Zichichi, and J. J. Weigle: Exchange of DNA in the reconbination of bacteriophage lambda. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 47, 869 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozinski, A. W., and P. B. Kozinski: Replicative fragmentation in T4 bacteriophage DNA. II. Biparental molecular recombination. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 52, 211 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwiatkowski, Z., and K. Grad: A comparison of the ultraviolet effect on the mitotic recombination in two different cistrons of Aspergillus nidulans. Acta microbiol. pol. 14, 15 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacks, S.: Molecular fate of DNA in genetic transformation of Pneumococcus. J. molec. Biol. 5, 119 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leive, L.: A specific increase in permeability in Escherichia coli produced by EDTA. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 53, 745 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Loveless, A.: Genetic and allied effects of alkylating agents, p. 1–270. London: Butterworths & Co. 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luzzati, M.: Inhibition spécificque de la recombinaison intragénique. Ph. D. Thesis, L'Université de Paris, 1965.

  • —, L. Clavilier et P. Slonimski: Inhibition par l'histidine de la reversion prototrophe chez la levure diploîde hétéroallélique pour le locus adenine-histidine. C. R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 249, 1412 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Smith, C. A.: A genetic investigation of the ad9 cistron of Aspergillus nidulans. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1961.

  • Menigmann, H. D., and W. Szybalski: Molecular mechanism of thymineless death. Biochem biophys. Res. Commun. 9, 398 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meselson, M.: On the mechanism of genetic recombination. J. molec. Biol. 9, 734 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and J. J. Weigle: Chromosome breakage accompanying genetic recombination in bacteriophage. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 47, 857 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Morpurgo, G.: Induction of mitotic crossing-over in Aspergillus nidulans by bifunctional alkylating agents. Genetics 48, 1259 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and G. Sermonti: Chemically-induced instabilities in a heterozygous diploid of Penicillium chrysogenum. Genetics 44, 135 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Murrell, W. G.: Spore formation and germination as a microbial reaction to environment. In the: Microbial reaction to environment (G. C. Meynell and H. Gooder, eds.), p. 100–150. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauling, C., and P. Hanawalt: Nonconservative DNA replication in bacteria after thymine starvation. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 54, 1728 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettijohn, D., and P. Hanawalt: Evidence for repair-replication of ultraviolet damaged DNA in bacteria. J. molec. Biol. 9, 395 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pontecorvo, G., J. A. Roper, L. M. MacDonald, and A. W. F. Bufton: The genetics of Aspergillus nidulans. Advanc. Genet. 5, 141 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Putrament, A.: Prolonged appearance of adenine-independent revertants in heteroallelic diploids ad9/ad15 of Aspergillus nidulans. Aspergillus news Letter 5, 17 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Putrament, A.: Prolonged appearance of pABA-independent recombinants in heteroallelic diploids paba2/paba18 of Aspergillus nidulans. Aspergillus news Letter 6, 19 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Diepoxybutane-induced mitotic recombination in Aspergillus nidulans. Proc. symp. Mutational Process: The physiology of gene and mutation expression, p. 107–114. Praha: Academia 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roman, H., and F. Jacob: A comparison of spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced allelic recombination with reference to the recombination of outside markers. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 23, 155 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudner, R.: Mutation as an error in base pairing. I. Mutagenicity of base analogues and their incorporation into the DNA of Salmonella typhimurium. Z. Vererbungsl. 92, 336 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, F. J.: Spontaneous mutation in non-dividing bacteria. Genetics 40, 726 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaltlin, C., and F. W. Stahl: Additional evidence for two kinds of heterozygotes in phage T4. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 54, 1340 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, C. J.: Changes occurring during germination of Aspergillus nidulans conidia. J. gen. Microbiol. 16, 775 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqi, O. H.: The fine structure of the paba1 region of Aspergillus nidulans. Genet. Res. 4, 12 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Incorporation of parental DNA into genetic recombinants of Escherichia coli. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 49, 589 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, D. T.: Effects of mitomycin C on crossing over in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 51, 635 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkin, E.: Genetic recombination in bacteriophage. In: Progress in nucleic acid research and molecular biology (J. N. Davidson and W. E. Cohn, eds.) vol. 4, p. 51–80. New York: Academic Press 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wake, R. G.: A study of the possible extent of synthesis of repair DNA during germination of Bacillus subtilis spores. J. molec. Biol. 25, 217 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weglenski, P.: Genetical analysis of proline mutants and their suppressors in Aspergillus nidulans. Genet. Res. 8, 311 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, H. L. K.: A theory of crossing-over by means of hybrid deoxyribonucleic acid. Nature (Lond.) 199, 1034 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: An operator model of crossing-over. Nature (Lond.) 211, 708 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and P. J. Hastings: The analysis of genetic recombination on the polaron hybrid DNA model. Genet. Res. 6, 27 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkie, D., and D. Lewis: The effect of ultraviolet light on recombination in yeast. Genetics 48, 1701 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, S., and F. J. De Serres: Chemistry of crossing-over. Nature (Lond.) 213, 1091 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa, H.: DNA synthesis during germination of Bacillus subtilis spores. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 53, 1476 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann, F. K., and U. von Laer: Induction of recombination with ethyleneimine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutation Res. 4, 377 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, R. Schwaier, and U. von Laer: Mitotic recombination induced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. with nitrous acid, diethylsulphate and carcinogenic, alkylating agents. Z. Vererbungsl. 98, 230 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Putrament, A. On the mechanism of mitotic recombination in Aspergillus nidulans . Molec. Gen. Genetics 100, 307–320 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334058

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334058

Keywords

Navigation