A cytosine methyltransferase homologue is essential for sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genome defense processes RIP (repeat-induced point mutation) in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, and MIP (methylation induced premeiotically) in the fungus Ascobolus immersus depend on proteins with DNA methyltransferase (DMT) domains. Nevertheless, these proteins, RID and Masc1, respectively, have not been demonstrated to have DMT activity. We discovered a close homologue in Aspergillus nidulans, a fungus thought to have no methylation and no genome defense system comparable to RIP or MIP.

Principal findings

We report the cloning and characterization of the DNA methyltransferase homologue A (dmtA) gene from Aspergillus nidulans. We found that the dmtA locus encodes both a sense (dmtA) and an anti-sense transcript (tmdA). Both transcripts are expresse

SUBMITTER: Lee DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2432034 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature