title: The dynamics of signal complex formation mediating germling fusion in Neurospora crassa.
abstract: Colony initiation of filamentous fungi commonly involves fusion of germinating vegetative spores. Studies in Neurospora crassa revealed an unusual cell-cell communication mechanism mediating this process, in which the fusion partners coordinately alternate between two physiological stages, probably related to signal sending and receiving. This "cell dialog" involves the alternating, oscillatory recruitment of the SO protein and the MAK-2 MAP kinase module to the apical plasma membrane of growing fusion tips. In this review video article, we show the dynamics of the fluorescent labeled proteins SO and MAK-2 and provide an animated graphical model of the "cell dialog" process.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hamzeh H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hammadeh
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illgen
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weichert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraβe 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address: a.fleissner@tu-bs.de.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fleiβner
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D025301:Hyphae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics*; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases
keywords: Cell fusion; MAP kinase; Neurospora crassa