title: Structure and function analysis of the calcium-related gene spray in Neurospora crassa.
abstract: The spray gene was cloned, and wildtype and mutant alleles were sequenced. Spray(+) has a 3452-bp open reading frame plus seven introns. The spray mutant had a T --> G transversion close to the carboxyl end, creating a stop codon (TGA). The sequence shows no match to genes of known function, but the carboxyl end shows seven transmembrane domains and matches putative membrane proteins of yeast. The most abundant transcript detected was 4.4 kb in size. Repeat-induced point mutagenesis produced the mutant spray phenotype. Electrophysiological analysis showed that ion fluxes in the spray plasma membrane are normal; furthermore, whereas the spray mutant was known to have no organelle-based calcium fluorescence, the cytosol shows a tip-high calcium gradient. The spray mutant is sensitive to calcineurin inhibitors. The results suggest that the SPRAY protein is located in an organellar membrane, regulating the distribution of Ca(2+) via calcineurin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bok
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Silverman-Gavrila
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bowring
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Catcheside
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017354:Point Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C434753:spray protein, Neurospora crassa; D002118:Calcium