A mutant of Aspergillus nidulans defective in NAD-linked glutamate dehydrogenase

A mutation leading to partial loss of NAD-linked ("catabolic') glutamate dehydrogenase does not affect the regulation of ammonium-repressible activities in Aspergillus nidulans. This mutation has been used to show that NAD-linked glutamate dehydrogenase does not normally participate in ammonium assimilation. A mutation leading to loss of NADP-linked ("anabolic') glutamate dehydrogenase has been used to show that NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase is not normally involved in glutamate catabolism. Strains defective in either enzyme are useful for determining which amino acids are metabolised via transamination to yield glutamate rather than via deamination to yield ammonium.