How to build a fungal fruit body: from uniform cells to specialized tissue.
It is a challenge in biology to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms necessary to form a complex three-dimensional structure composed of different cell types. Interesting models to study the underlying processes are fungi that can transform their wire-like hyphal filaments into complex and sometimes container-like fruit bodies. In the past, the role of developmental triggers and transcription factors was a major focus of research on fungal model organisms. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Nowrousian and collaborators report that fruit body development of the model organism Sordaria macrospora includes a novel player, a specific membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum that is not required for vegetative growth. This finding represents an important step towards connecting regulation of development with the co-ordinated changes in cellular compartments.
Busch
Silke
S
Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Georg-August - Universität Göttingen, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Braus
Gerhard H
GH
D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020037:Sordariales / Q000254:growth & development*
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins