Differential complementation of a Neurospora crassa Galpha(i) mutation using mammalian Galpha protein genes

Heterotrimeric (alphabetagamma) G proteins interact with sensory receptors to transduce signals to downstream effectors in eukaryotes. We previously reported that GNA-1 from Neurospora crassa is a microbial member of the Galphai family found in higher organisms. Deletion of gna-1 leads to female sterility, slower growth rates on normal and hyperosmotic solid medium, and increased resistance to heat and oxidative stress. In this study we compare mammalian genes for proteins of the Galphai sub-family (Galphai, Galphao, Galphat and Galphaz), and Galphas (which is not a member of the Galphai family) with the N. crassa gna-1 gene with respect to their ability to complement deltagna-1 phenotypes. Northern analysis detected full-length transcripts of all these genes, except that for Galphai, in N. crassa transformants. Measurements of pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation and Western analysis showed that the GNA-1, Galphaz, Galphao and Galphas proteins were present in the respective transformed strains. Strains in which the mammalian Galpha protein could be detected were subjected to phenotypic testing. During the vegetative cycle, none of the mammalian Galpha genes complemented the thermotolerance phenotype of deltagna-1. However, the three expressed mammalian Galpha genes achieved at least partial complementation of the defects in vegetative apical extension rate. cAMP levels did not correlate with restoration of vegetative growth rate by the mammalian genes. During the sexual cycle, Galphao was the only mammalian Galpha gene that rescued the defect in female fertility characteristic of deltagna-1 strains. Alignment of GNA-1, Galphaz, Galphao and Galphas protein sequences revealed correlations between the observed complementation pattern and the degree of identity to GNA-1 in various functional motifs. The finding that Galphac gave the best restoration of vegetative growth but could not restore normal female fertility implies that GNA-1 regulates different pathways that are important for vegetative and sexual growth in N. crassa.