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The sexual spore pigment asperthecin is required for normal ascospore production and protection from UV light in Aspergillus nidulans
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Yi Ming Chiang,
Clay C C Wang,
Daniel L Lindner,
Nancy P Keller
Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Volume: 48, Issue: 9-10
Swansea University Author:
Claudio Greco
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DOI (Published version): 10.1093/jimb/kuab055
Abstract
Many fungi develop both asexual and sexual spores that serve as propagules for dissemination and/or recombination of genetic traits. Asexual spores are often heavily pigmented and this pigmentation provides protection from UV light. However, little is known about any purpose pigmentation that may se...
| Published in: | Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology |
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| ISSN: | 1367-5435 1476-5535 |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press (OUP)
2021
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61513 |
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| Abstract: |
Many fungi develop both asexual and sexual spores that serve as propagules for dissemination and/or recombination of genetic traits. Asexual spores are often heavily pigmented and this pigmentation provides protection from UV light. However, little is known about any purpose pigmentation that may serve for sexual spores. The model Ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans produces both green pigmented asexual spores (conidia) and red pigmented sexual spores (ascospores). Here we find that the previously characterized red pigment, asperthecin, is the A. nidulans ascospore pigment. The asperthecin biosynthetic gene cluster is composed of three genes: aptA, aptB, and aptC, where deletion of either aptA (encoding a polyketide synthase) or aptB (encoding a thioesterase) yields small, mishappen hyaline ascospores; while deletion of aptC (encoding a monooxygenase) yields morphologically normal but purple ascospores. ∆aptA and ∆aptB but not ∆aptC or wild type ascospores are extremely sensitive to UV light. We find that two historical ascospore color mutants, clA6 and clB1, possess mutations in aptA and aptB sequences, respectively. |
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| Keywords: |
Polyketide, UV protection, Ascospore, Cleistothecia, Fungi |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health
under grant 2R01GM112739-05A1 to N.P.K and by USDA Forest
Service, Northern Research Station. |
| Issue: |
9-10 |