Skip to main content
Log in

TheAspergillus nidulans geneschsA andchsD encode chitin synthases which have redundant functions in conidia formation

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

Abstract

We previously isolated three chitin synthase genes (chsA, chsB, andchsC) fromAspergillus nidulans. In the present work, we describe the isolation and characterization of another chitin synthase gene, namedchsD, fromA. nidulans. Its deduced amino acid sequence shows 56.7% and 55.9% amino acid identity, respectively, with Cal1 ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae and Chs3 ofCandida albicans. Disruption ofchsD caused no defect in cell growth or morphology during the asexual cycle and caused no decrease in chitin content in hyphae. However, double disruption ofchsA andchsD caused a remarkable decrease in the efficiency of conidia formation, while double disruption ofchsC andchsD caused no defect. Thus it appears thatchsA andchsD serve redundant functions in conidia formation.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrianopoulos A, Timberlake WE (1994) TheAspergillus nidulans abaA gene encodes a transcriptional activator that acts as a genetic switch to control developmnet. Mol Cell Biol 14:2503–2515

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballance DJ (1986) Sequences important for gene expression in filamentous fungi. Yeast 2:229–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartnicki-Garcia S (1968) Cell wall chemistry, morphogenesis, and taxonomy of fungi. Annu Rev Microbiol 22:87–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Binks PR, Robson GD, Goosey MW, Trinci APJ (1993) Inhibition of phosphatidylcholine and chitin biosynthesis inPyricularia oryzae, Botrytis fabae andFusarium graminearum by epifenphos. J Gen Microbiol 139:1371–1377

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgia PT, Dodge CL (1992) Characterization ofAspergillus nidulans mutants deficient in cell wall chitin or glucan. J Bacteriol 174:377–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulawa CE, Slater M, Cabib E, Au-Young J, Sburlati A, Lee Adair W Jr, Robbins PW (1986) TheS. cerevisiae structural gene for chitin synthase is not required for chitin synthesis in vivo. Cell 46:213–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang YC, Timberlake WE (1993) Identification ofAspergillus brlA response elements (BREs) by genetic selection in yeast. Genetics 133:29–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen-Wu JL, Zwicher J, Bowen AR, Robbins PW (1992) Expression of chitin synthase genes during yeast and hyphal growth phases ofCandida albicans. Mol Microbiol 6:497–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi W-J, Santos B, Durán A, Cabib E (1994) Are yeast chitin synthases regulated at the transcriptional or the posttranslational level? Mol Cell Biol 14:7685–7694

    Google Scholar 

  • Din AB, Yarden O (1994) TheNeurospora crassa chs-2 gene encodes a non-essential chitin synthase. Microbiology 140:2189–2197

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins DG, Bleasby AJ, Fuchs R (1992) Clustal V: improved software for multiple sequence alignment. Comp Appl Biosci 8:189–191

    Google Scholar 

  • May G (1992) Fungal technology. In: Kinghorn JR, Turner G (eds) Applied molecular genetics of filamentous fungi. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellado E, Aufauvre-Brown A, Specht CA, Robbins PW, Holden DW (1995) A multigene family related to chitin synthase genes of yeast in the opportunistic pathogenAspergillus fumigatus. Mol Gen Genet 246:353–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Motoyama T, Kojima N, Horiuchi H, Ohta A, Takagi M (1994a) Isolation of a chitin synthase gene (chsC) ofAspergillus nidulans. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 58:2254–2257

    Google Scholar 

  • Motoyama T, Sudoh M, Horiuchi H, Ohta A, Takagi M (1994b) Isolation and characterization of two chitin synthase genes ofRhizopus oligosporus. Biosci Biotchnol Biochem 58:1685–1693

    Google Scholar 

  • Oakley CE, Weil CF, Kretz PL, Oakley BR (1987) Cloning of theriboB locus ofAspergillus nidulans. Gene 53:293–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Pammer M, Briza P, Ellinger A, Schuster T, Stucka R, Feldmann H, Breitenbach M (1992)DIT101 (CSD2, CAL1), a cell cycle regulated yeast gene required for synthesis of chitin in cell walls and chitosen in spore walls. Yeast 8:1089–1099

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowlands RT, Turner G (1973) Nuclear and extranuclear inheritance of oligomycin resistance inAspergillus nidulans. Mol Gen Genet 126:201–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Saitou N, Nei M (1987) The neighbor-joining method: a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees. Mol Biol Evol 4:406–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual (2nd edn). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanger F, Nicklen S, Coulson AR (1977) DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:5463–5467

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw JA, Mol PC, Bowers B, Silverman SJ, Valdivieso MH, Durán A, Cabib E (1991) The function of chitin synthases 2 and 3 in theSaccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle. J Cell Biol 114:111–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman SJ (1989) Similar and different domains of chitin synthases 1 and 2 ofS. cerevisiae: two isozymes with distinct functions. Yeast 5:459–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Sudoh M, Nagahashi S, Doi M, Ohta A, Takagi M, Arisawa M (1993) Cloning of the chitin synthase 3 gene fromCandida albicans and its expression during the yeast-hyphal transition. Mol Gen Genet 241:351–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Unkles SE (1992) Gene organization in industrial filamentous fungi. In: Kinghorn JR, Turner G (eds) Applied molecular genetics of filamentous fungi. Chapman & Hall, London, pp 28–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdivieso MH, Mol PC, Shaw JA, Cabib E, Durán A (1991)CAL1, a gene required for activity of chitin synthase 3 inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. J Cell Biol 114:101–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanai K, Kojima N, Takaya N, Horiuchi H, Ohta A, Takagi M (1994) Isolation and characterization of two chitin synthase genes fromAspergillus nidulans. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 58:1828–1835

    Google Scholar 

  • Yarden O, Yanofksy C (1991) Chitin synthase 1 plays a major role in cell wall biogenesis inNeurospora crassa. Genes Dev 5:2420–2430

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by C. A. M. J. J. van den Hondel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Motoyama, T., Fujiwara, M., Kojima, N. et al. TheAspergillus nidulans geneschsA andchsD encode chitin synthases which have redundant functions in conidia formation. Molec. Gen. Genet. 251, 442–450 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02172373

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02172373

Key words

Navigation