The Aspergillus nidulans pkcA gene is involved in polarized growth, morphogenesis and maintenance of cell wall integrity

Revital Ronen, Haim Sharon, Emma Levdansky, Jacob Romano, Yona Shadkchan, Nir Osherov*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

The protein kinase C (PKC) family participates in maintaining integrity and growth of fungal cell walls. However, the precise molecular role of these proteins in the filamentous fungi remains unknown. In this work, pkcA, the gene encoding the PKC homolog in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, was cloned and its function analyzed using a conditional alcA-PKC mutant strain. Repression of pkcA expression resulted in increased conidial swelling, decreased rates of hyphal growth, changes in the ultrastructure of the cell wall and increased sensitivity to antifungal agents. These results suggest that the protein encoded by pkcA is involved in key aspects of cell morphogenesis and cell wall integrity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-329
Number of pages9
JournalCurrent Genetics
Volume51
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2007

Funding

FundersFunder number
Stoltz Foundation
Academy of Leisure Sciences741/01

    Keywords

    • Aspergillus nidulans
    • Fungal cell wall
    • pkcA

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