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Neurospora crassa homologue of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 has a role in growth, calcium stress tolerance, and ultraviolet survival

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Abstract

NCU04379 gene encodes a conserved Ca2+ and/or calmodulin binding protein that possesses a consensus signal for N-terminal myristoylation and four EF-hands, characteristics of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1proteins. The NCU04379.2 knockout mutant shows slow growth rate, increased sensitivity to calcium and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and a wild-type fragment carrying NCU04379 gene complements the mutant. Therefore, NCU04379 gene has a role in growth, calcium stress tolerance, and UV survival. Crosses homozygous for ΔNCU04379.2 mutant strains were fully fertile; however, we found evidence for involvement of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase encoding genes NCU02283 and NCU09123 in sexual development.

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Acknowledgments

Charges for strains and race tubes obtained from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC) were generously waived. The FGSC is supported by National Science Foundation grant BIR-9222772. We thank Dr. N. B. Raju (Stanford University) for helpful suggestions during the preparation of this manuscript, Dr. D. P. Kasbekar and M. Ramakrishnan (CCMB) for help in Southern analysis. RD and RK were supported by Junior Research Fellowships from the CSIR-UGC and the MHRD, respectively. This work was supported in part by a Start-up grant (IITG), and a SERC FAST Track grant (DST) to RT.

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  1. Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781 039, India

    Rekha Deka, Ravi Kumar & Ranjan Tamuli

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Deka, R., Kumar, R. & Tamuli, R. Neurospora crassa homologue of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 has a role in growth, calcium stress tolerance, and ultraviolet survival. Genetica 139, 885–894 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-011-9592-y

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