title: The fluG-BrlA pathway contributes to the initialisation of autolysis in submerged Aspergillus nidulans cultures.
abstract: The fluG gene proved to be essential in the initialisation of autolysis in Aspergillus nidulans (teleomorph Emericella nidulans) cultures, while a loss-of-function mutation in only one out of the flbB-E genes had only minor effects on autolysis. In contrast to its important role in sporulation, brlA regulated only some, but not all, elements of the autolytic process. The tightly coupled autolytic events (chitinase and proteinase production, hyphal fragmentation, disorganisation of pellets, autolytic loss of biomass) observable in ageing cultures of A. nidulans were disconnected by loss-of-function mutations in some genes of the FluG-BrlA regulatory network. The tight correlation between pellet morphology and size and hydrolase production was also erased by these mutations. On the other hand, the mutations studied did not affect the glutathione metabolism of the fungus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Debrecen, P.O. Box 63, H-4010 Debrecen, Hungary. emri@freemail.hu
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Emri
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Tünde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pusztahelyi
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Varecza
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pócsi
mesh_terms: D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D001329:Autolysis; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins