Crassa Research Articles

First report of Ilyonectria crassa on potato

First report of Ilyonectria crassa on potato

A channel for calcium

Structural Biology Maintaining the correct balance of calcium concentrations between the cytosol and the mitochondria is essential for cellular physiology. A calcium-selective channel called the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) mediates calcium entry into mitochondria. Yoo et al. report the high-resolution structure of MCU from Neurospora crassa. The channel is formed by four MCU protomers with differing symmetry between the soluble and membrane domains. The structure, together with mutagenesis, suggests that two acidic rings inside the channel provide the selectivity for calcium. Science , this issue p. [506][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aar4056

Up-Frameshift Protein UPF1 Regulates Neurospora crassa Circadian and Diurnal Growth Rhythms.

Up-Frameshift Protein UPF1 Regulates Neurospora crassa Circadian and Diurnal Growth Rhythms.

Etiological identification of 50 isolates from fungal corneal ulceration by semi-nested PCR amplification of ITS2 region

Objective To identify the pathogens of 50 cases of fungal corneal ulceration by using semi-nested PCR amplification of ITS2 region. Methods Fifty isolates of fungal corneal ulceration and 3 standard fungal strains cultures were collected and their DNAs were extracted.Their ITS2 regions were amplified by semi-nested PCR and sequenced.The results were compared with the nucleotide sequences in the NCBI GenBank.The pathogens of the fungi were identified and their distribution were analysed. Results The sequences results of the 3 standard fungal strains were consistent with the information in the GenBank.The pathological microorganisms of 50 cases of fungal corneal ulceration were:24 Fusarium (48%)，including 17 Fusarium solani，6 Fusarium oxysporum and 1 Fusarium verticillioide； 10 Aspergillius (20%)，including 5 Aspergillius flavus，3 Aspergillius sydowii and 2 Aspergillius nidulans；6 Penicillium (12%)，including 2 Penicillium citreo-viride, 2 Penicillium multicolor and 2 Penicillium oxalicum；5 Candida (10%), including 3 Candida albicans and 2 Candida parapsilosis；3 Cladosporium (6%), including 2 Cladosporium herbarum and 1 case of Cladosporium cladosporioides；1 case of Neurospora crassa(2%)；1 Alternaria alternata(2%). Conclusion Semi-nested PCR amplification of ITS2 region was proved to be a fast, simple and accurate method to identify pathogens of fungal corneal ulceration, and may be useful for personalized treatment and epidemiological investigation of local fungi.（Chin J Lab Med,2012,35:1163-1166） Key words: Corneal ulcer; Eye infections，fungal; Polymerase chain reaction; DNA，intergenic

Studying economically valuable and morphological characteristics in storage root of parental lines and hybrids of forage beet (Beta vulgaris l. subsp. vulgaris var. crassa)

Проведена оцінка вихідних форм та гібридних комбінацій буряку кормового за окремими показниками продуктивності та морфологічними характеристиками коренеплодів. Виділені кращі комбінації для подальших схрещувань та добору.

Heteroplasmy and expression of mitochondrial genes in alloplasmic and euplasmic wheat

The plant chondriome confers a complex nature. The atp4 gene (formerly called orf25) of Aegilops crassa (CR) harbors the promoter sequence of the rps7 gene from common wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring, CS). The rps7 gene of CR has the promoter sequence of CS atp6. The atp6 gene of CR contains an unknown sequence inside of its coding region. Since repeat sequences have been found around the breaking points, these structural alterations are most likely generated through homologous recombination. In this study, PCR analysis was performed to detect structural alterations in each of three lines: euplasmic lines of Ae. crassa, Chinese Spring, and alloplasmic Chinese Spring wheat with the cytoplasm of Ae. crassa ((cr)-CS). We found that each of these lines contained both genotypes, although mitochondrial genotypes of CR in Chinese Spring wheat and CS genotypes in Ae. crassa were still retained as minor fractions (less than 10%). On the other hand, CS mitochondrial gene frequencies in ((cr)-CS) were shown to be ca. 30%. SNP analysis after DNA sequencing of these genes indicated that minor types of all three mitochondrial genes in alloplasmic wheat contained the mitochondrial gene types from pollens. Since the frequencies of paternal mitochondrial gene types in F(1) were about 20%, successive backcrossing increased the frequencies of paternal mitochondrial gene types to around 30% in alloplasmic wheat. Expression profiles of these mitochondrial genes were quantitatively analyzed by RT-PCR. Transcripts of paternal mitochondrial gene types were scarcely found. This suggests that minor fractions including paternal mitochondrial gene types are maintained and silenced in the descendants.

REVISION OF THE EARLY CRETACEOUS CORAL GENUS FELIXIGYRA

The Early Cretaceous coral genus Felixigyra Prever, 1909 is revised on the basis of type material from Italy. Felixigyra has a hydnophoroid-meandroid colony organisation with conical monticules attached to each other. The very thick monticules are arranged in a way that calicular centres become apparent. The septa are compact and rhopaloid. The genus can be related to other genera of the Eugyridae family, but differs from them by its particularly developed monticules. It also shows certain resemblance to meandroid genera of the Trochoidomeandridae family. Of the six species originally assigned to Felixigyra only five are recognized, since the type of Felixigyra crassa is too poorly preserved to give a diagnosis. The remaining five species have almost no significant difference in calicular dimensions. In addition to the Italian material, one sample from the Early Cenomanian of Greece and one sample from the Early Albian of Mexico are also assigned to the genus. Material assigned to Felixigyra after Prever (1909) needs to be entirely reclassified to the genus Eohydnophora .

How Organelles Really Look in N. crassa and Where Calcium Is Stashed

How Organelles Really Look in N. crassa and Where Calcium Is Stashed

Three new species of the genus Dactylospora in Spain

Three species of the genus Dactylospora, D. crassa Sarrión & Hafellner, D. mediterranea Sarrión & Hafellner, and D. pseudourceolata Sarrión & Hafellner are described as new from Spain. The morphology, anatomy, and ecology of the three taxa are discussed. A key to the Spanish Dactylospora species is provided.

The synthesis of Phosphate-repressible alkaline phosphatase do not appear to be regulated by ambient pH in the filamentous mould Neurospora crassa

Para investigar a resposta adaptativa ao pH ambiente em fungos, foram determinados por ELISA os niveis de fosfatase alcalina Pi-repressivel expressada pelo gene pho-2 de Neurospora crassa. Foi mostrado que as linhagens 74A e pho-2A deste fungo secretam quantidades semelhantes da fosfatase alcalina Pi-repressivel independentemente do pH ambiente, quando ambos os genes preg e pgov nao sao funcionais, isto e, quando a linhagem nuc-2+ cresce em condicoes de limitacao em fosfato inorgânico (Pi). Isto sugere que o gene pho-2, o qual e regulado pela acao hieraquica dos genes nuc-2, preg, pgov e nuc-1, e reprimido pelo fosfato inorgânico, mas nao responde ao pH ambiente, e que a diferenca na glicosilacao observada para a fosfatase alcalina Pi-repressivel (APase) retida no micelio em pH 5,6 ou APase secretada no meio de cultura em pH 8,0 e a resposta genetica para o monitoramento do pH ambiente em N. crassa.

Immunolocalization of CA II and H+ V-ATPase in epithelial cells of the mouse and rat epididymis.

Acidification of the epididymal lumen has been suggested to play an important role in sperm functions; however, the cell types, pumps, and mechanisms involved have not been fully addressed. In this study, carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and a 67-kd subunit of Neurospora crassa vacuolar proton adenosinetriphosphatase (H+ V-ATPase) pump were immunolocalized using light microscopy and electron microscopy (EM) in the epididymis of rats and mice. In both animals, narrow cells, identified in the initial segment and intermediate zone of the epididymis, contained numerous small vesicles in their apical region, often cup-shaped in appearance. In the mouse but not rat, these cells also possessed numerous cisternae of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting steroid synthesis; and cytoplasmic blebs of their apical cell surface, which appeared to detach, suggesting apocrine secretion. Anti-CA II antibody was immunocytochemically localized in the light microscope within narrow cells but not over any other cell types of the entire epididymis. Anti-H+ V-ATPase antibody was also localized in narrow cells of the initial segment and intermediate zone; as well as clear cells of the caput, corpus, and cauda regions. Using EM, gold particles for anti-CA II and H+ V-ATPase antibodies were noted in the apical region of narrow cells in relation to the numerous, small, cup-shaped vesicles. Although CA II was mainly located in the cytosol near these vesicles, H+ V-ATPase appeared on their delimiting membrane and on the apical plasma membrane of these cells. A similar distribution was noted for H+ V-ATPase in clear cells. The nature of the small vesicles of the apical region of narrow cells was examined with electron-dense fluid phase tracers that were introduced into the epididymal lumen. The tracers appeared within these vesicles and a few endosomes 1 hour after injection, suggesting that they contact the apical plasma membrane. Since these vesicles are also related to CA II and H+ V-ATPase, the data suggests that, as the site of proton production, the vesicles recycle to and from the apical cell surface, and in this way, deliver protons to the epididymal lumen for acidification. Clear cells and their expression of H+ V-ATPase may also serve in this function. In summary, both narrow and clear cells appear to be involved in luminal acidification, an activity that may be essential for sperm as they traverse and are stored in the epididymis.

Sensitivity to Phenylpyrrole Fungicides and Abnormal Glycerol Accumulation in <i>Os</i> and <i>Cut</i> Mutant Strains of <i>Neurospora crassa</i>

アカパンカビの浸透圧感受性株に対する薬剤感受性を調べたところ, os-1, os-2, os-4, os-5変異株が, ジカルボキシイミド剤, 芳香族炭素系剤と同様にフルジオキソニルにも交差耐性を示すことを見いだした. os-2, os-4, os-5変異株は各剤に高度の耐性を示したが, os-1変異株は低度耐性でイプロジオン (LD50: 14μg/ml) とフルジオキソニル (LD50: 0.087μg/ml) に対し感受性を残していた. 一方, 浸透圧感受性 cut 変異株は野生株と同等の薬剤感受性を示した. また, 野生株をフルジオキソニル処理すると分生胞子の膨潤と破裂が誘導されたが, この形態異常は cut 変異株でも同様に観察された. フルジオキソニル, イプロジオンを野生株に処理するとグリセロールの異常蓄積が認められることが報告されているが, これらのグリセロール異常蓄積は薬剤に高度耐性を示すos-2, os-4, os-5変異株では認められなかった. また, 低度耐性os-1変異株を10μg/mlの薬剤濃度で処理した場合に, フルジオキソニルでは顕著なグリセロールの蓄積が認められたが, イプロジオンではグリセロール蓄積量は野生株と比較し低下していた. これらの結果から薬剤耐性とグリセロール異常蓄積の相関が推定された. しかし, 浸透圧感受性 cut 変異株は薬剤に野生株同等の感受性を示したにも関わらず, フルジオキソニル, イプロジオンによるグリセロールの蓄積誘導は認められなかった. 高浸透圧下では, os変異株はグリゼロールの蓄積を示したが蓄積量は野生株より低下していた. 一方, cut 変異株では高浸透圧条件下でもグリセロール蓄積は認められず, 同変異株ではグリセロール合成能が欠損していると推定された. フルジオキソニル, イプロジオンはグリセロール合成能を欠失した株に対しても野生株と同じ抗菌作用を示すと考えられることから, これらの化合物は浸透圧のシグナル伝達をかく乱するが, グリセロールの異常蓄積は直接抗菌作用発現に関与していないと考えられた.

The Role of DNA Methylation in Plant Development

DNA methylation has been implicated in a wide range of biological processes including gene regulation (Razin and Cedar 1991; Finnegan et al. 1993), determination of chromatin structure (Lewis and Bird 1991), timing of DNA replication (Lewis and Bird 1991), genomic imprinting (Sasaki et al. 1993), increasing the spontaneous mutation rate (Coulondre et al. 1978; Duncan and Miller 1980), as the basis for epigenetic phenomena (Holliday 1993), and as a defense mechanism to protect against foreign or invading DNA (Bird 1986; Bestor 1990; Doerfler 1991). Despite this, the existence of organisms such as yeast and Drosophila that lack DNA methylation has led to debate about the role of DNA methylation. There can be no doubt that DNA methylation plays a fundamental role in mouse development following the establishment of a targeted mutation of the DNA methyltransferase gene in the germ line of transgenic mice. Embryos that were homozygous for the mutation had methylation levels reduced to about 30% of wild-type levels. These embryos were stunted and delayed in development compared to their normal siblings and spontaneously aborted in mid-gestation. Although the underlying cause for the embryo-lethal phenotype has not been determined, it has been proposed that inappropriate gene expression resulting from the reduced level of DNA methylation is involved (Li et al. 1992). In contrast, mutants of Neurospora crassa that abolish all detectable methylation showed only minor changes in vigor and growth morphology, suggesting that DNA methylation is not absolutely essential for development of this organism (Foss et al. 1993). This...

ミツトゲクロザコエビ(新称)(十脚目:コエビ下目:エビジャコ科)の日本からの初記録

ミツトゲクロザコエビ(新称)(十脚目:コエビ下目:エビジャコ科)の日本からの初記録

Isolation and identification of the Aspergillus nidulans gdhA gene encoding NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase.

The Neurospora crassa am gene was used as a heterologous probe to identify clones from two independently constructed Aspergillus nidulans gene libraries. These clones have a common HindIII 1.85 kb fragment. This A. nidulans nucleotide stretch hybridises to a N. crassa 2.7 kb BamHI fragment of wild type DNA but not to a co-migrating fragment from the DNA of the N. crassa am132 deletion mutant. One A. nidulans clone was shown to complement the N. crasse am132 deletion strain. The N. crassa transformants show low levels (approximately 5%) of heterologous glutamate dehydrogenase activity. The A. nidulans gdhA gene was found to locate in N. crassa at both the "homologous" (i.e. am) site as well as non-homologous sites. Partial nucleotide analysis of the fragment has revealed the 5' end of the locus and considerable homology with the N. crassa am gene. We concluded that we have cloned the A. nidulans gdhA gene.

Mediterranean Octocorallia: Description of Clavularia Carpediem n. sp. and Synonymy of Clavularia Crassa and C. Ochracea on Etho-Ecological Grounds

A new stoloniferan octocoral from the Mediterranean (Morocco) is described under the name Clavularia carpediem and critically compared with C. marioni Von Koch, 1891 and C. arctica (Sars, 1861). A thorough redescription of the latter species is given.

Estimation of deuteration levels in whole cells and cellular proteins by 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy and neutron scattering.

Methods using conventional Fourier transform 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy at 250 MHz for the determination of the overall deuteration levels of cells cultured in media containing 2H2O or deuterated carbon sources are described. These were developed for Escherichia coli as a model, and extended to Neurospora crassa hyphae and mouse myeloma cells P815. The results were investigated by 1H n.m.r. and neutron scattering measurements on deuterated proteins that were obtained from E. coli. It is concluded that 1H n.m.r. is able to observe the soluble proteins of E. coli in certain cases, that deuteration levels can be determined by 1H n.m.r. for small quantities of proteins in their native state, and that glycerol is a more efficient carbon source than glucose for the deuteration of E. coli proteins.

Selection of improved microconidial strains of N. crassa

Selection of improved microconidial strains of N. crassa

Descriptions of Platygastrinae from Sweden (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

AbstractThe new species Platygaster gracilipes and P. masneri are described. P. crassa Szelényi was given the new name P. szelenyii, because the name was preoccupied by Polygnotus crassus Kryg. & Schmiedek., which was transferred to Platygaster.

Mutants excreting lysine, histidine and methionine in N. crassa

Mutants excreting lysine, histidine and methionine in N. crassa