title: Phase-specific genes for macroconidiation in Neurospora crassa.
abstract: Two new mutant genes in Neurospora crassa prevent the formation of free macroconidia from proconidial chains. These genes, called conidial separation-1 and conidial separation-2, are phase-specific, playing no role in either the sexual life cycle or other aspects of the asexual life cycle. A cell-wall-associated autolytic activity was found to increase in wild-type cultures at the time of active formation of free conidia from proconidial chains; no such increase was detected in mutant cultures. It appears that the products of these genes are both essential for and unique to macroconidiation.
mesh_terms: D001329:Autolysis; D002473:Cell Wall; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005796:Genes; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D009491:Neurospora / Q000254:growth & development*; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000254:growth & development*; D010641:Phenotype; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development