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Polarized growth in fungi--interplay between the cytoskeleton, positional markers and membrane domains

Reinhard Fischer1, Nadine Zekert, Norio Takeshita

  • 1Department of Applied Microbiology, University of Karlsruhe, Hertzstrasse 16, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany.

Molecular Microbiology
|April 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The cytoskeleton, including microtubules and actin, is crucial for polarity in fungal hyphae. Microtubules guide cell-end markers, influencing actin organization for polarized growth in yeasts and filamentous fungi.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mycology
  • Cytoskeletal Dynamics

Background:

  • Filamentous fungi exhibit extreme cell polarization, essential for growth via directed vesicle transport.
  • Cytoskeletal elements, specifically microtubules (MT) and actin, are vital for establishing and maintaining this polarity.
  • Understanding cytoskeletal roles is key to fungal cell extension and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the interactions between microtubule and actin cytoskeletons in yeasts and filamentous fungi.
  • To elucidate the role of cytoskeletal organization in establishing and maintaining cell polarity.
  • To discuss the combined function of sterol-rich membrane domains and cell-end marker proteins in polarity establishment.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of cytoskeletal organization and function across different fungal species.
  • Review of existing literature on vesicle transport, motor proteins, and cytoskeletal dynamics.
  • Integration of findings on cell-end marker proteins and membrane domains.

Main Results:

  • Actin-mediated vesicle transport is sufficient for polar growth in some yeasts, while microtubules are additionally required in others like S. pombe.
  • Microtubules in S. pombe deliver cell-end markers that polarize the actin cytoskeleton.
  • Evidence suggests conserved mechanisms from S. pombe to filamentous fungi, with MTs potentially serving as tracks for long-distance vesicle transport.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between microtubule and actin cytoskeletons, along with cortical interactions, is critical for fungal polarity.
  • Cell-end marker proteins and sterol-rich membrane domains are key factors in polarity establishment.
  • Comparative insights reveal conserved and distinct strategies for cytoskeletal regulation in fungal cell growth.

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