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Neurons show the path: tip-to-nucleus communication in filamentous fungal development and pathogenesis

Oier Etxebeste1, Eduardo A Espeso2

  • 1Biochemistry II laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20018 San Sebastian, Spain oier.echeveste@ehu.eus.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews
|September 3, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Fungal hyphae use signal transduction to communicate environmental information over long distances from the cell tip to nuclei. This process is crucial for understanding fungal invasion and developing future control strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Fungal hyphae exhibit polar growth, extending unidirectionally for substrate penetration and host invasion.
  • This growth pattern creates significant distances between the sensing polarity site and the nucleus, where responses are orchestrated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare long-distance communication mechanisms in fungal hyphae with those in neurons.
  • To highlight the importance of understanding these pathways for fungal invasion, dissemination, and developmental control.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review comparing signal transduction in fungal hyphae and neuronal systems.
  • Analysis of studies on sensory information transfer from the hyphal tip to nuclei.

Main Results:

  • Signal transduction pathways effectively bridge the distance between the hyphal tip and nuclei, enabling adaptive responses.
  • Mechanisms for long-distance communication in hyphae show striking parallels with neuronal signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding hyphal long-distance communication is vital for deciphering fungal invasion and dissemination.
  • These insights can inform future strategies for controlling fungal development and pathogenesis.
Keywords:
developmentfilamentous fungineuronal polarizationpolar growthsignal transductionvegetative hyphae

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