An altered invertase in the cot-2 mutant of Neurospora crassa

Because the cot-2 and inv loci of Neurospora crassa are closely linked, the invertase from the morphological mutant, cot-2, was examined. The cot-2 strains produce an invertase with altered heat sensitivity, Km, and ratio of heavy to light forms. The cellular localization of cot-2 invertase is different from that of the wild type. There were no observable changes in the energy of activation or the pH optimum of cot-2 invertase, and some of the differences detected were not apparent under culture conditions that promoted wild-type growth. Since recombination (about 5 percent) occurred between cot-2 and inv and culture conditions affected the enzyme characteristics, we suggest cot-2 determines, in part, the carbohydrate composition of the enzyme.