Temporal and spatial controls of Aspergillus development

The mechanisms regulating elaboration of the multicellular asexual reproductive apparatus, the conidiophore, of the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans provide a model for the control of fungal development. Recent advances have been made on three fronts. First, new physical and chemical signals have been discovered that control commitment of cells to the conidiation pathway. Second, positively acting developmental regulatory genes have been cloned and characterized. In addition, evidence has been obtained for the existence of negatively acting regulatory loci. Finally, an anonymous developmentally regulated gene has been used to make a directed mutation that has revealed the morphogenetic function of the gene.