Abstract
Tyrosinase derepression in Neurospora mycelia grown in Vogel medium, submitted to starvation in phosphate buffer 0.1 M, pH 6.0, was abolished by exogenous magnesium sulfate. This effect seemed to be caused by the sulfate ion itself and not by a sulfate-derivative. Sulfate repression required protein synthesis, thus suggesting the involvement of a specific gene product mediating sulfate repression. Cultures made in Westergaard and Mitchell crossing medium became competent for sexual development and could be stimulated to form tyrosinase either by mating or starvation. In that case the enzyme derepression was insensitive to the sulfate effect. The possible existence of a positive mechanism for the control of tyrosinase activity during sexual development is suggested.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barratt RW, Rimbey RL (1982) Neurospora stock list (11th revision). Neurospora Newsletter 29:45–121
Cruz AK, Terenzi HF (1981) Derepression of tyrosinase by sexual stimulation, Neurospora Newsletter 28:8–9
Feldman JF, Thayer JP (1974) Cyclic-AMP induced tyrosinase synthesis of Neurospora crassa. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 61:977–982
Fling M, Horowitz NH, Heinemann SF (1963) The isolation and properties of crystalline tyrosinase from Neurospora. J Biol Chem 238:2045–2053
Froehner SC, Eriksson KE (1974a) Induction of Neurospora crassa laccase with protein synthesis inhibitors. J Bacteriol 120:450–457
Froehner SC, Eriksson KE (1974b) Purification and properties of Neurospora crassa laccase. J Bacteriol 120:458–465
Hirsch HM (1954) Environmental factors influencing the differentiation of protoperithecia and their relation to tyrosinase and melanin formation in Neurospora crassa. Physiol Plant 7:72–97
Horowitz NH, Shen SC (1952) Neurospora tyrosinase. J Biol Chem 197:513–520
Horowitz NH, Fling M, MacLeod HL, Sueoka N (1960) Genetic determination and enzymatic induction of tyrosinase in Neurospora. J Mol Biol 2:96–104
Horowitz NH, Fling M, MacLeod HL, Watanabe Y (1961) Structural and regulative genes controlling tyrosinase synthesis in Neurospora. Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 26:233–238
Horowitz NH, Feldman HM, Pall ML (1970a) Derepression of tyrosinase in Neurospora crassa by cycloheximide, actinomycin D and puromycin. J Biol Chem 245:2784–2788
Horowitz NH, Fling M, Feldman HM, Pall ML, Froehner SC (1970b) Derepression of tyrosinase synthesis in Neurospora by aminoacid analogs. Develop Biol 21:147–156
Katan T, Arnon R, Galun E (1975) Immunochemical studies on tyrosinase induction in Neurospora. Eur J Biochem 59:387–394
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:267–275
Marzluf GA, Metzenberg RL (1968) Positive control by the cys-3 locus in regulation of sulfur metabolism in Neurospora. J Mol Biol 23:423–437
Marzluf GA (1970) Genetic and biochemical studies of distinct sulfate permease species in different developmental stages of Neurospora crassa. Arch Biochem Biophys 138:254–263
Marzluf GA (1972) Control of the synthesis activity and turnover of enzymes of sulfur metabolism in Neurospora crassa. Arch Biochem Biophys 150:714–724
Metzenberg RL, Parson JW (1966) Altered repression of some enzymes of sulfur utilization in a temperature-conditional lethal mutant of Neurospora. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 55:629–635
Murray NE (1965) Cysteine mutant strains of Neurospora. Genetics 52:801–808
Murray NE (1968) Linkage information of cysteine and methionine mutants. Neurospora Newsletter 13:19–20
Pall ML (1971) Amino acid transport in Neurospora crassa. IV. Properties and regulation of amethionine transport system. Biochim Biophys Acta 233:201–214
Prade RA, Terenzi HF (1982) Role of sulfhydryl compounds in the control of tyrosinase activity in Neurospora crassa. Biochem Genetics 20:1235–1243
Savageau MA (1983) Regulation of differentiated cell-specific functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 80:1411–1415
Schaeffer P (1953) A black mutant of Neurospora crassa. Mode of action of the mutant allele and action of light on melanogenesis. Arch Biochem Biophys 47:359–379
Vogel HJ (1956) A convenient growth medium for Neurospora (Medium N). Microbial Genet Bull 13:42–43
Westergaard M, Mitchell HK (1947) Neurospora V. A synthetic medium favoring sexual reproduction. Am J Bot 34:573–577
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work is a part of two theses, by Rolf Alexander Prade and Angela Kaysel Cruz submitted to the Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, respectively, of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto in partial fulfillments of the requirements for the Master Degree.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Prade, R.A., Cruz, A.K. & Terenzi, H.F. Regulation of tyrosinase during the vegetative and sexual life cycles of Neurospora crassa . Arch. Microbiol. 140, 236–242 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454934
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454934