A WD40 repeat protein regulates fungal cell differentiation and can be replaced functionally by the mammalian homologue striatin.

ABSTRACT: Fruiting body development in fungi is a complex cellular differentiation process that is controlled by more than 100 developmental genes. Mutants of the filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora showing defects in fruiting body formation are pertinent sources for the identification of components of this multicellular differentiation process. Here we show that the sterile mutant pro11 carries a defect in the pro11 gene encoding a multimodular WD40 repeat protein. Complementation analysis indicates that the wild-type gene or C-terminally truncated versions of the wild-type protein are able to restore the fertile phenotype in mutant pro11. PRO11 shows significant homology to several vertebrate WD40 proteins, such as striatin and zinedin, which seem to be involved in Ca2+-dependent signaling in c

SUBMITTER: Poggeler S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC329509 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature