A new wc-1 mutant of Neurospora crassa shows unique light sensitivity in the circadian conidiation rhythm.
A new clock mutant ( rhy-2) was isolated by DNA insertion mutagenesis using a plasmid that contains a region located upstream of the cmd gene in the genome of Neurospora crassa. This mutant is arrhythmic with regard to conidiation in continuous darkness but rhythmic under a light-dark cycle. After plasmid rescue from genomic DNA of the rhy-2 strain, the insertion was localized to the gene white collar-1 ( wc-1). Plasmid DNA was inserted 3' to the sequence encoding the polyglutamine region of the WC-1 gene product, and an mRNA encoding a truncated WC-1 protein must be synthesized under the control of the cmd promoter. The new wc-1 mutant, rhy-2, is still sensitive to light, although only weakly. Since the circadian rhythm of conidiation in continuous darkness is eliminated in the mutant, the polyglutamine region in WC-1 may be essential for both clock function and light-induced carotenogenesis in Neurospora.
Toyota
Katuya
K
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700, Japan.
Onai
Kiyoshi
K
Nakashima
Hideaki
H
D000483:Alleles; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003624:Darkness; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D008027:Light; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C105589:wc-1 protein, Neurospora crassa; D002338:Carotenoids