The response regulator RRG-1 functions upstream of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway impacting asexual development, female fertility, osmotic stress, and fungicide resistance in Neurospora crassa.
Two-component systems, consisting of proteins with histidine kinase and/or response regulator domains, regulate environmental responses in bacteria, Archaea, fungi, slime molds, and plants. Here, we characterize RRG-1, a response regulator protein from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. The cell lysis phenotype of Delta rrg-1 mutants is reminiscent of osmotic-sensitive (os) mutants, including nik-1/os-1 (a histidine kinase) and strains defective in components of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway: os-4 (MAPK kinase kinase), os-5 (MAPK kinase), and os-2 (MAPK). Similar to os mutants, Delta rrg-1 strains are sensitive to hyperosmotic conditions, and they are resistant to the fungicides fludioxonil and iprodione. Like os-5, os-4, and os-2 mutants, but in contrast to nik-1/os-1 strains, Delta rrg-1 mutants do not produce female reproductive structures (protoperithecia) when nitrogen starved. OS-2-phosphate levels are elevated in wild-type cells exposed to NaCl or fludioxonil, but they are nearly undetectable in Delta rrg-1 strains. OS-2-phosphate levels are also low in Delta rrg-1, os-2, and os-4 mutants under nitrogen starvation. Analysis of the rrg-1(D921N) allele, mutated in the predicted phosphorylation site, provides support for phosphorylation-dependent and -independent functions for RRG-1. The data indicate that RRG-1 controls vegetative cell integrity, hyperosmotic sensitivity, fungicide resistance, and protoperithecial development through regulation of the OS-4/OS-5/OS-2 MAPK pathway.
Jones
Carol A
CA
Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, and Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Greer-Phillips
Suzanne E
SE
Borkovich
Katherine A
KA
D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000502:physiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D010641:Phenotype; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D011758:Pyrroles; C448982:RRG1 protein, S pombe; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases