The transcription of the gene for iso-orotate decarboxylase (IDCase), an enzyme of the thymidine salvage pathway, is downregulated in the pregc mutant strain of Neurospora crassa grown under phosphate starvation.
The preg gene encodes a cyclin-like protein that is implicated in the derepression of nucleases and phosphatases that scavenge phosphate from the environment. To better understand the regulatory role of the preg gene product, the differential display reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate transcripts differentially expressed in the pregc mutant strain of the mold Neurospora crassa grown under phosphate starvation, at pH 7.8. Two transcripts, whose differential expressions were confirmed by Northern blotting, were downregulated in a strain of N. crassa carrying a loss-of-function mutation in the preg gene (preg(c) allele). These transcripts revealed genes coding for enzymes involved in the thymidine salvage pathway (iso-orotate decarboxylase) and in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone C-methyltransferase), which may be relevant to a further understanding of the molecular events involved in the phosphorus sensing in N. crassa.
Leal
Juliana
J
Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 3900, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Squina
Fabio M
FM
Martinez-Rossi
Nilce M
NM
Rossi
Antonio
A
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009154:Mutation; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C117582:isoorotate decarboxylase; D013936:Thymidine