title: A Bnr-like formin links actin to the spindle pole body during sporulation in the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii.
abstract: Formin proteins are nucleators of actin filaments and regulators of the microtubule cytoskeleton. As such, they play important roles in the development of yeast and other fungi. We show here that AgBnr2, a homologue of the ScBnr1 formin from the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii, localizes to the spindle pole body (SPB), the fungal analogue of the centrosome of metazoans. This protein plays an important role in the development of the typical needle-shaped spores of A. gossypii, as suggested by several findings. First, downregulation of AgBNR2 causes defects in sporangium formation and a decrease in the total spore number. Second, a fusion of AgBNR2 to GFP that is driven by the native AgBNR2 promoter is only visible in sporangia. Third, AgBnr2 interacts with a AgSpo21, a sporulation-specific component of the SPB. Furthermore, we provide evidence that AgBnr2 might nucleate actin cables, which are connected to SPBs during sporulation. Our findings add to our understanding of fungal sporulation, particularly the formation of spores with a complex, elongated morphology, and provide novel insights into formin function.
authors: Department of Genetics, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 11, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kemper
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Mohlzahn
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Lickfeld
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Lang
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Wählisch
authors: Hans-Peter
authors: HP
authors: Schmitz