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GRISEA, a putative copper-activated transcription factor fromPodospora anserina involved in differentiation and senescence

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Abstract

Podospora anserina is a filamentous fungus with a limited lifespan. Lifespan is controlled by both environmental and genetic factors. Using a combination of genetic and molecular approaches we have cloned one of these factors, gerontogenegrisea. The cloned wild-type copy ofgrisea complements the altered morphological characteristics (e.g., colony and ascospore color), the defect in gametangia development, and the increased lifespan of the pleiotropic mutantgrisea. A molecular analysis revealed thatgrisea is a discontinuous gene with a single intron. The deduced amino acid sequence shows significant homology to MAC1, ACE1 and AMT1, indicating that GRISEA, like the proteins fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae (MAC1 and ACE1) andCandida glabrata (AMT1), codes for a copperactivated transcription factor. This conclusion is consistent with the pleiotropic nature of thegrisea phenotype. We suggest that the gerontoprotein GRISEA is one component of a transcription apparatus involved in the genetic control of morphogenesis and aging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung Molekularbiologie der Alterungsprozesse, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Heinz D. Osiewacz & Ulrike Nuber

  2. Botanisches Institut, Molckulare Entwicklungsbiologie und Biotechnologie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Marie-Curie-Str. 9, D-60439, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Heinz D. Osiewacz

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  1. Heinz D. Osiewacz
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  2. Ulrike Nuber
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Communicated by E. Cerdá-Olmedo

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Osiewacz, H.D., Nuber, U. GRISEA, a putative copper-activated transcription factor fromPodospora anserina involved in differentiation and senescence. Molec. Gen. Genet. 252, 115–124 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173211

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