Extragenic suppressors of a dynein mutation that blocks nuclear migration in Aspergillus nidulans

Cytoplasmic dynein is a large molecular weight protein complex that functions as a microtubule-dependent, negative, end-directed "motor." Mutations in nudA, which encodes the heavy chain of cytoplasmic dynein, inhibit nuclear migration in Aspergillus nidulans. This paper describes the selection and characterization of extragenic suppressors of the nudA1 mutation preparatory to the identification of other proteins that interact directly or indirectly with the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain. To facilitate future cloning of the suppressor genes, we have searched particularly for extragenic suppressor mutations that also convey a selectable phenotype, such as cold or dimethyl sulfoxide sensitivity. Genetic analysis of 16 revertants has defined at least five extragenic suppressors of nudA1 (snaA-E). All the sna mutations except one were recessive in diploids homozygous for nudA1 and heterozygous for sna mutations. To characterize the nuclear migration phenotype in the sna mutants, conidia of one representative of each complementation group were germinated, fixed and nuclei stained. The sna mutants display partial suppression of the nudA1 nuclear migration defect. Although conidiophores were produced in the sna mutants, they failed to develop normally and to produce spores. Examination of the nudA1,sna conidiophores under the microscope showed that nuclear migration into the metulae and phialides was defective.