Abstract
The fungus, Achlya, is one of the most primitive eukaryotes known to secrete and respond to diffusible steroid sex hormones (pheromones). Antheridiol, which is produced by female strains of Achlya induces male strains to differentiate male sex organs. Induction of male strains with antheridiol elicits several changes in macromolecular synthesis including a quantitative enhancement in the synthesis of poly adenylated messenger RNA. We have examined whether this quantitative change is due to the regulation of RNA polymerase II. The level of polymerase increases as a response to the pheromone. This was examined using two different approaches, one of which included an extremely sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Furthermore, the specific activities of polymerase II preparations isolated from pheromone-stimulated cultures was significantly higher than the specific activities of enzyme preparations isolated from control. A comparison of the polypeptide subunit composition of polymerase II preparations isolated from both pheromone-treated and control cultures on SDS polyacrylamide gels indicated no qualitative differences. Apparent differences in the stoichiometry of two specific subunits were reproducibly observed. The subunits of 140,000 and of 69,000 stained much more intensely in RNA polymerase II preparations isolated from 4h antheridiol-treated cultures.
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Horgen, P.A., Iwanochko, M. & Bettiol, M.F. Antheridiol, RNA polymerase II and sexual development in the aquatic fungus, Achlya . Arch. Microbiol. 134, 314–319 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407809
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407809