Control and localization of the phosphatases in conidia of Neurospora crassa

Abstract

Repressible acid, repressible alkaline, and constitutive alkaline phosphatases were studied with respect to their control and localization in conidia of Neurospora crassa. In contrast to constitutive alkaline phosphatase, the production and secretion of repressible phosphatases is regulated by phosphate level and pH of the culture medium. Phosphatase activity increased with conidial germination and was detectable partially in the growth medium after 5 h incubation. These enzymes were found to be located in different cell compartments. Part of the whole cell enzyme activity involved a soluble exoconidial fraction, and another part, a cell-bound enzyme that remained after successive washes. The cell-bound enzyme was sensitive to treatment with dilute acid and was thought to be located in the mural space. A third part of the enzyme activity was judged to be intracellular, as shown by treatments with surface-active agents and heat, which disrupted the conidia or destroyed the conidial permeability barriers. On the basis of these criteria, the constitutive alkaline phosphatase was considered to be more cryptic than the repressible phosphatases. The alkaline phosphatases were also active during heat treatment, suggesting they may be involved in the mechanism of secretion.Key words: Neurospora crassa, repressible acid phosphatase, repressible alkaline phosphatase, constitutive alkaline phosphatase, conidia.