abstract: Aspergillus developmental mutants

[Tom Adams]

Genetic Requirements for Initiating Asexual Development in Aspergillus 
nidulans 
Jenny Wieser, Bee Na Lee, John W. Fondon III, and Thomas H. Adams
Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX  77843
Phone: 	409-845-1468, email:	TOM at BIO.TAMU.EDU
Current Genetics (1994). In Press.

Abstract

	Conidiation in the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans requires 
activation of brlA, a well characterized transcriptional regulator of genes 
that are induced specifically during asexual development.  We have isolated 
and characterized developmental mutations in six loci designated fluG, flbA, 
flbB, flbC, flbD, and flbE that result in defective development and reduced 
brlA expression.  These mutants grow indeterminately to produce masses of 
aerial hyphae resulting in formation of cotton-like colonies with a "fluffy" 
morphology.  The results of growth and epistasis tests involving all 
pairwise combinations of fluffy mutations indicate complex hierarchical 
relationships among these loci.  We suggest one model to explain these 
genetic interactions and propose that there are multiple mechanisms for 
activating brlA.

Tom Adams
Department of Biology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX  77843
409-845-1468
Tom at bio.tamu.edu