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Ribosomal RNA synthesis during phosphorus starvation in wild type Neurospora and in phosphorus regulatory mutants

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Summary

When N. crassa is starved for phosphate the rate of synthesis of total RNA, as measured by the incorporation of uridine, rapidly dclines, attaining a value of 2% of the control after 4 h. Synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), measured by direct hybridization to ribosomal DNA covalently coupled to diazobenzyloxymethyl (DBM) paper, also declines to a value 3%–4% that of the control after 4 h of phosphate starvation. Measurement of rRNA synthesis in regulatory mutant strains expressing “phosphorus-family” enzymes indicates that two of these mutant strains, pgov c12 and nuc-1, respond differently to phosphate starvation from the response in wild-type or the other five mutant strains. The results suggest that the wild-type products of the regulatory loci, pgov + and nuc-1 + may have a role in regulating rRNA synthesis as well as “phosphorus family” enzymes.

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Communicated by G.A. O'Donovan

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Stellwag, E.J., Metzenberg, R.L. Ribosomal RNA synthesis during phosphorus starvation in wild type Neurospora and in phosphorus regulatory mutants. Molec. Gen. Genet. 194, 105–110 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383504

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383504

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