Aspergillus nidulansSeptin AspB Plays Pre- and Postmitotic Roles in Septum, Branch, and Conidiophore Development
Year: 2002
Type: article
Abstract: Members of the septin family of proteins act as organizational scaffolds in areas of cell division and new growth in a variety of organisms. Herein, we show that in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the septin AspB is important for cellular division, branching, and conidiation both pre- and postmitotically. AspB localizes postmitotically to the septation site with an underlying polarity that is evident as cytokinesis progresses. This localization at the septation site is dependent on actin and occurs before the cross-wall is visible. AspB localizes premitotically as a ring at sites of branching and secondary germ tube emergence. It is the only known branch site marker. In addition, AspB is found at several stages during the development of the asexual reproductive structure, the conidiophore. It localizes transiently to the vesicle/metula and metula/phialide interfaces, and persistently to the phialide/conidiospore interface. A temperature-sensitive mutant of AspB shows phenotypic abnormalities, including irregular septa, high numbers of branches, and immature asexual reproductive structures.
Source: Molecular Biology of the Cell
Authors: Patrick J. Westfall, Michelle Momany
Institution: University of Georgia
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2127323698