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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans Growth Rate using Live Microscopy and Open-Source Software
Published on: July 24, 2021
The Aspergillus nidulans pkcA gene is involved in polarized growth, morphogenesis and maintenance of cell wall
Revital Ronen1, Haim Sharon, Emma Levdansky
1Department of Human Microbiology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv 69978, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Abstract:
The protein kinase C (PKC) family participates in maintaining integrity and growth of fungal cell walls. However, the precise molecular role of these proteins in the filamentous fungi remains unknown. In this work, pkcA, the gene encoding the PKC homolog in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, was cloned and its function analyzed using a conditional alcA-PKC mutant strain. Repression of pkcA expression resulted in increased conidial swelling, decreased rates of hyphal growth, changes in the ultrastructure of the cell wall and increased sensitivity to antifungal agents. These results suggest that the protein encoded by pkcA is involved in key aspects of cell morphogenesis and cell wall integrity.
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