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A WD40 repeat protein regulates fungal cell differentiation and can be replaced functionally by the mammalian

Stefanie Pöggeler1, Ulrich Kück

  • 1Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany.

Eukaryotic Cell
|February 12, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified the pro11 gene, encoding a WD40 repeat protein, as crucial for fungal fruiting body development in Sordaria macrospora. Functional substitution with a related vertebrate protein highlights conserved mechanisms in eukaryotic cell differentiation.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Fruiting body development in fungi is a complex process regulated by numerous developmental genes.
  • Mutants with defects in this process are vital for identifying key genetic components.
  • Sordaria macrospora serves as a model organism for studying fungal multicellular differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the gene responsible for defects in fruiting body formation in the sterile mutant pro11 of Sordaria macrospora.
  • To investigate the function of the PRO11 protein and its role in fungal development.
  • To explore evolutionary conservation of developmental pathways by functional complementation with vertebrate homologs.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic complementation analysis of the pro11 mutant.
  • Gene cloning and sequencing to identify the pro11 gene.
  • Functional substitution experiments using a mouse cDNA encoding the homologous protein striatin.

Main Results:

  • The sterile mutant pro11 contains a defect in the pro11 gene, which encodes a multimodular WD40 repeat protein.
  • Wild-type gene or truncated versions restored fertility in the pro11 mutant, indicating PRO11's essential role.
  • The mouse striatin protein functionally substituted for PRO11, restoring fertility in the mutant.

Conclusions:

  • The PRO11 protein is essential for fruiting body development in Sordaria macrospora.
  • PRO11 shares homology with vertebrate WD40 proteins involved in signaling and scaffolding, suggesting conserved functions.
  • The study suggests an evolutionarily conserved cellular process regulates fungal fruiting body formation and eukaryotic cell differentiation.

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