Deletion of a lectin gene does not affect the phenotype of the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora.
A number of filamentous fungi are known to produce high levels of saline-soluble and low-molecular-mass lectins. The function of these proteins are not clear but it has been proposed that they are involved in storage of nutrients, development, recognition of other organisms, and defense reactions. A gene encoding such a lectin (AOL) was deleted in the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora by homologous recombination. The deletion mutants did not express any hemagglutinating activity or protein cross-reacting with AOL antibodies. There were no significant differences between the DeltaAOL and wild-type strains in spore (conidia) germination, saprophytic growth, and pathogenicity. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the growth and reproduction of collembolan feeding on the various strains of A. oligospora. Thus either the previous proposed functions of AOL are not correct, or the fungus can compensate for the absence of the lectin by expressing other proteins with similar function(s) as AOL.
Balogh
Johanna
J
Department of Microbial Ecology, Lund University, Ecology Building, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden.
Tunlid
Anders
A
Rosén
Stefan
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D037102:Lectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009348:Nematoda / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
C100687:AOL protein, Arthrobotrys oligospora; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037102:Lectins