Mutants affecting amino acid cross-pathway control in Neurospora crassa

A fungal transcription factor essential for starch degradation affects integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism

In Neurospora crassa, the transcription factor COL-26 functions as a regulator of glucose signaling and metabolism. Its loss leads to resistance to carbon catabolite repression. Here, we report that COL-26 is necessary for the expression of amylolytic genes in N. crassa and is required for the utilization of maltose and starch. Additionally, the Δcol-26 mutant shows growth defects on preferred carbon sources, such as glucose, an effect that was alleviated if glutamine replaced ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. This rescue did not occur when maltose was used as a sole carbon source. Transcriptome and metabolic analyses of the Δcol-26 mutant relative to its wild type parental strain revealed that amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, the TCA cycle and GABA shunt were adversely affected. Phylogenetic analysis showed a single col-26 homolog in Sordariales, Ophilostomatales, and the Magnaporthales, but an expanded number of col-26 homologs in other filamentous fungal species. Deletion of the closest homolog of col-26 in Trichoderma reesei, bglR, resulted in a mutant with similar preferred carbon source growth deficiency, and which was alleviated if glutamine was the sole nitrogen source, suggesting conservation of COL-26 and BglR function. Our finding provides novel insight into the role of COL-26 for utilization of starch and in integrating carbon and nitrogen metabolism for balanced metabolic activities for optimal carbon and nitrogen distribution.

In nature, filamentous fungi sense nutrient availability in the surrounding environment and adjust their metabolism for optimal utilization, growth and reproduction. Carbon and nitrogen are two of major elements required for life. Within cells, signals from carbon and nitrogen catabolism are integrated, resulting in balanced metabolic activities for optimal carbon and nitrogen distribution. However, coordination of carbon and nitrogen metabolism is often missed in studies that are based on comparisons between single carbon or nitrogen sources. In this study, we performed systematic transcriptional profiling of Neurospora crassa on different components of starch and identified the transcription factor COL-26 to be an essential regulator for starch utilization and needed for coordinating carbon and nitrogen regulation and metabolism. Proteins with sequence similar to COL-26 widely exist among ascomycete fungi. Here we provide experimental evidence for shared function of a col-26 ortholog in Trichoderma reesei. Our finding provides novel insight into how the regulation of carbon and nitrogen metabolism can be integrated in filamentous fungi by the function of COL-26 and which may aid in the rational design of fungal strains for industrial purposes.

Shaping the fungal adaptome--stress responses of Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus as prime pathogen to cause aspergillosis has evolved as a saprophyte, but is also able to infect and colonise immunocompromised hosts. Based on the 'dual use' hypothesis of fungal pathogenicity, general characteristics have to be considered as unspecific virulence determinants, among them stress adaptation capacities. The susceptible, warm-blooded mammalian host represents a specific ecological niche that poses several kinds of stress conditions to the fungus during the course of infection. Detailed knowledge about the cellular pathways and adaptive traits that have evolved in A. fumigatus to counteract situations of stress and varying environmental conditions is crucial for the identification of novel and specific antifungal targets. Comprehensive profiling data accompanied by mutant analyses have shed light on such stressors, and nutritional deprivation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, elevated temperature, alkaline pH, extensive secretion, and, in particular during treatment with antifungals, cell membrane perturbations appear to represent the major hazards A. fumigatus has to cope with during infection. Further efforts employing innovative approaches and advanced technologies will have to be made to expand our knowledge about the scope of the A. fumigatus adaptome that is relevant for disease.

Transcriptional profiling of cross pathway control in Neurospora crassa and comparative analysis of the Gcn4 and CPC1 regulons

Identifying and characterizing transcriptional regulatory networks is important for guiding experimental tests on gene function. The characterization of regulatory networks allows comparisons among both closely and distantly related species, providing insight into network evolution, which is predicted to correlate with the adaptation of different species to particular environmental niches. One of the most intensely studied regulatory factors in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the bZIP transcription factor Gcn4p. Gcn4p is essential for a global transcriptional response when S. cerevisiae experiences amino acid starvation. In the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa, the ortholog of GCN4 is called the cross pathway control-1 (cpc-1) gene; it is required for the ability of N. crassa to induce a number of amino acid biosynthetic genes in response to amino acid starvation. Here, we deciphered the CPC1 regulon by profiling transcription in wild-type and cpc-1 mutant strains with full-genome N. crassa 70-mer oligonucleotide microarrays. We observed that at least 443 genes were direct or indirect CPC1 targets; these included 67 amino acid biosynthetic genes, 16 tRNA synthetase genes, and 13 vitamin-related genes. Comparison among the N. crassa CPC1 transcriptional profiling data set and the Gcn4/CaGcn4 data sets from S. cerevisiae and Candida albicans revealed a conserved regulon of 32 genes, 10 of which are predicted to be directly regulated by Gcn4p/CPC1. The 32-gene conserved regulon comprises mostly amino acid biosynthetic genes. The comparison of regulatory networks in species with clear orthology among genes sheds light on how gene interaction networks evolve.

A high-throughput gene knockout procedure for Neurospora reveals functions for multiple transcription factors

The low rate of homologous recombination exhibited by wild-type strains of filamentous fungi has hindered development of high-throughput gene knockout procedures for this group of organisms. In this study, we describe a method for rapidly creating knockout mutants in which we make use of yeast recombinational cloning, Neurospora mutant strains deficient in nonhomologous end-joining DNA repair, custom-written software tools, and robotics. To illustrate our approach, we have created strains bearing deletions of 103 Neurospora genes encoding transcription factors. Characterization of strains during growth and both asexual and sexual development revealed phenotypes for 43% of the deletion mutants, with more than half of these strains possessing multiple defects. Overall, the methodology, which achieves high-throughput gene disruption at an efficiency >90% in this filamentous fungus, promises to be applicable to other eukaryotic organisms that have a low frequency of homologous recombination.

Lessons from the genome sequence of Neurospora crassa: tracing the path from genomic blueprint to multicellular organism

We present an analysis of over 1,100 of the approximately 10,000 predicted proteins encoded by the genome sequence of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. Seven major areas of Neurospora genomics and biology are covered. First, the basic features of the genome, including the automated assembly, gene calls, and global gene analyses are summarized. The second section covers components of the centromere and kinetochore complexes, chromatin assembly and modification, and transcription and translation initiation factors. The third area discusses genome defense mechanisms, including repeat induced point mutation, quelling and meiotic silencing, and DNA repair and recombination. In the fourth section, topics relevant to metabolism and transport include extracellular digestion; membrane transporters; aspects of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and lipid metabolism; the mitochondrion and energy metabolism; the proteasome; and protein glycosylation, secretion, and endocytosis. Environmental sensing is the focus of the fifth section with a treatment of two-component systems; GTP-binding proteins; mitogen-activated protein, p21-activated, and germinal center kinases; calcium signaling; protein phosphatases; photobiology; circadian rhythms; and heat shock and stress responses. The sixth area of analysis is growth and development; it encompasses cell wall synthesis, proteins important for hyphal polarity, cytoskeletal components, the cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase machinery, macroconidiation, meiosis, and the sexual cycle. The seventh section covers topics relevant to animal and plant pathogenesis and human disease. The results demonstrate that a large proportion of Neurospora genes do not have homologues in the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The group of unshared genes includes potential new targets for antifungals as well as loci implicated in human and plant physiology and disease.

Transcriptional autoregulation and inhibition of mRNA translation of amino acid regulator gene cpcA of filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans

The CPCA protein of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans is a member of the c-Jun-like transcriptional activator family. It acts as central transcription factor of the cross-pathway regulatory network of amino acid biosynthesis and is functionally exchangeable for the general control transcriptional activator Gcn4p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In contrast to GCN4, expression of cpcA is strongly regulated by two equally important mechanisms with additive effects that lead to a fivefold increased CPCA protein amount under amino acid starvation conditions. One component of cpcA regulation involves a transcriptional autoregulatory mechanism via a CPCA recognition element (CPRE) in the cpcA promoter that causes a sevenfold increased cpcA mRNA level when cells are starved for amino acids. Point mutations in the CPRE cause a constitutively low mRNA level of cpcA and a halved protein level when amino acids are limited. Moreover, two upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the 5' region of the cpcA mRNA are important for a translational regulatory mechanism. Destruction of both short uORFs results in a sixfold increased CPCA protein level under nonstarvation conditions and a 10-fold increase under starvation conditions. Mutations in both the CPRE and uORF regulatory elements lead to an intermediate effect, with a low cpcA mRNA level but a threefold increased CPCA protein level independent of amino acid availability. These data argue for a combined regulation of cpcA that includes a translational regulation like that of yeast GCN4 as well as a transcriptional regulation like that of the mammalian jun and fos genes.

cpc-3, the Neurospora crassa homologue of yeast GCN2, encodes a polypeptide with juxtaposed eIF2alpha kinase and histidyl-tRNA synthetase-related domains required for general amino acid control

Based on characteristic amino acid sequences of kinases that phosphorylate the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha kinases), degenerate oligonucleotide primers were constructed and used to polymerase chain reaction-amplify from genomic DNA of Neurospora crassa a sequence encoding part of a putative protein kinase. With this sequence an open reading frame was identified encoding a predicted polypeptide with juxtaposed eIF2alpha kinase and histidyl-tRNA synthetase-related domains. The 1646 amino acid sequence of this gene, called cpc-3, showed 35% positional identity over almost the entire sequence with GCN2 of yeast, which stimulates translation of the transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes encoded by GCN4. Strains disrupted for cpc-3 were unable to induce increased transcription and derepression of amino acid biosynthetic enzymes in amino acid-deprived cells. The cpc-3 mutation did not affect the ability to up-regulate mRNA levels of cpc-1, encoding the GCN4 homologue and transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes in N. crassa, but the mutation abolished the dramatic increase of CPC1 protein level in response to amino acid deprivation. These findings suggest that cpc-3 is the functional homologue of GCN2, being required for increased translation of cpc-1 mRNA in amino acid-starved cells.

Chromosome rearrangements in Neurospora and other filamentous fungi

Knowledge of fungal chromosome rearrangements comes primarily from N. crassa, but important information has also been obtained from A. nidulans and S. macrospora. Rearrangements have been identified in other Sordaria species and in Cochliobolus, Coprinus, Magnaporthe, Podospora, and Ustilago. In Neurospora, heterozygosity for most chromosome rearrangements is signaled by the appearance of unpigmented deficiency ascospores, with frequencies and ascus types that are characteristic of the type of rearrangement. Summary information is provided on each of 355 rearrangements analyzed in N. crassa. These include 262 reciprocal translocations, 31 insertional translocations, 27 quasiterminal translocations, 6 pericentric inversions, 1 intrachromosomal transposition, and numerous complex or cryptic rearrangements. Breakpoints are distributed more or less randomly among the seven chromosomes. Sixty of the rearrangements have readily detected mutant phenotypes, of which half are allelic with known genes. Constitutive mutations at certain positively regulated loci involve rearrangements having one breakpoint in an upstream regulatory region. Of 11 rearrangements that have one breakpoint in or near the NOR, most appear genetically to be terminal but are in fact physically reciprocal. Partial diploid strains can be obtained as recombinant progeny from crosses heterozygous for insertional or quasiterminal rearrangements. Duplications produced in this way precisely define segments that cover more than two thirds of the genome. Duplication-producing rearrangements have many uses, including precise genetic mapping by duplication coverage and alignment of physical and genetic maps. Typically, fertility is greatly reduced in crosses parented by a duplication strain. The finding that genes within the duplicated segment have undergone RIP mutation in some of the surviving progeny suggests that RIP may be responsible for the infertility. Meiotically generated recessive-lethal segmental deficiencies can be rescued in heterokaryons. New rearrangements are found in 10% or more of strains in which transforming DNA has been stably integrated. Electrophoretic separation of rearranged chromosomal DNAs has found useful applications. Synaptic adjustment occurs in inversion heterozygotes, leading progressively to nonhomologous association of synaptonemal complex lateral elements, transforming loop pairing into linear pairing. Transvection has been demonstrated in Neurospora. Beginnings have been made in constructing effective balancers. Experience has increased our understanding of several phenomena that may complicate analysis. With some rearrangements, nondisjunction of centromeres from reciprocal translocation quadrivalents results in 3:1 segregation and produces asci with four deficiency ascospores that occupy diagnostic positions in linear asci. Three-to-one segregation is most frequent when breakpoints are near centromeres. With some rearrangements, inviable deficiency ascospores become pigmented. Diagnosis must then depend on ascospore viability. In crosses between highly inbred strains, analysis may be handicapped by random ascospore abortion. This is minimized by using noninbred strains as testers.

Cloning and characterization of a general amino acid control transcriptional activator from the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica

We have cloned and characterized a homologue of the Neurospora crassa general amino acid control gene cpc-1 from the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. The deduced amino acid sequence of C. parasitica CPC1 (cpCPC1) contains regions with significant homology to the transcriptional activation, DNA binding, and dimerization domains previously defined for N. crassa CPC1 (ncCPC1) and the equivalent "b-ZIP" transcription factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GCN4 (scGCN4). Treatment of C. parasitica with low levels of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide caused cpc-1 transcript levels to undergo a rapid, transient increase similar to that reported for the mammalian b-ZIP transactivators, c-Jun and c-Fos. Northern analysis also revealed that amino acid starvation of C. parasitica elicits an increase in cpc-1 transcript levels. Hypovirus infection did not affect this increase, although transcript accumulation for several amino acid biosynthetic genes was slightly diminished in the hypovirus-containing strain. Recombinant cpCPC1 specifically bound to the consensus DNA binding element (AP-1), 5'-A/GTGACTCAT-3', also located upstream of the C. parasitica cpc-1 coding region. Constitutive transgenic expression of a DNA binding defective cpCPC1 mutant impaired the ability of C. parasitica to adjust to amino acid starvation. Moreover, these transformants showed reduced ability to grow on host chestnut tissue. Our results define a general amino acid control transactivator in a plant pathogenic fungus and suggest that functional modulation of this factor can influence fungal virulence.

Molecular characterization of the proline-1 (pro-1) locus of Neurospora crassa, which encodes delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase

delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR; [L-proline: NAD(P+) 5-oxidoreductase]; EC 1.5.1.2) catalyzes the final step in proline biosynthesis. We have shown that the proline-1 (pro-1) locus of Neurospora crassa encodes P5CR. The pro-1 gene was localized to a 3.2 kb region by complementation of (restoration of proline-independent growth to) a proline auxotroph carrying a recessive mutation at the pro-1 locus. The nucleotide sequence of this 3.2 kb region contains an open reading frame with coding capacity of 311 amino acids. The deduced polypeptide shows significant similarity to P5CR amino acid sequences. Similarity of N. crassa P5CR is greatest to that of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but is also strong to P5CR sequences from archaea, eubacteria, plants, and humans. In N. crassa, amino acid imbalance, including deficiency or excess of a single amino acid, such as histidine, induces expression of many amino acid biosynthetic genes that are under cross-pathway control, a general regulatory system analogous to general amino acid control in Saccharomyces. Although P5CR catalyzes the only committed step in proline biosynthesis, pro-1 expression was unaltered by histidine starvation and independent of CPC1, a positively acting transcription factor that mediates cross-pathway control in N. crassa.

The cpc-2 gene of Neurospora crassa encodes a protein entirely composed of WD-repeat segments that is involved in general amino acid control and female fertility

Phenotypic and molecular studies of the mutation U142 indicate that the cpc-2+ gene is required to activate general amino acid control under conditions of amino acid limitation in the vegetative growth phase, and for formation of protoperithecia in preparation for the sexual phase of the life cycle of Neurospora crassa. The cpc-2 gene was cloned by complementation of the cpc-2 mutation in a his-2ts bradytrophic background. Genomic and cDNA sequence analysis indicated a 1636 bp long open reading frame interrupted by four introns. The deduced 316 amino acid polypeptide reveals 70% positional identity over its full length with G-protein beta-subunit-related polypeptides found in humans, rat (RACK1), chicken, tobacco and Chlamydomonas. With the exception of RACK1 the function of these proteins is obscure. All are entirely made up of seven WD-repeats. Expression studies of cpc-2 revealed one abundant transcript in the wild type; in the mutant its level is drastically reduced. In mutant cells transformed with the complementing sequence, the transcript level, enzyme regulation and female fertility are restored. In the wild type the cpc-2 transcript is down-regulated under conditions of amino acid limitation. With cpc-2 a new element involved in general amino acid control has been identified, indicating a function for a WD-repeat protein that belongs to a class that is conserved throughout the evolution of eukaryotes.

Transcriptional activation of a cycloheximide-inducible gene encoding laccase is mediated by cpc-1, the cross-pathway control gene, in Neurospora crassa

Expression of the laccase gene (lacc) of Neurospora crassa is transcriptionally inducible by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. A lni-1 mutation, conferring the laccase non-inducible phenotype, was found to be a cpc-1 allele. Northern blots probed with plasmid pLA1, which carries the lacc gene revealed that the cpc-1 mutation abolishes the induced transcription of the lacc gene, indicating requirement of the cpc-1 gene for transcriptional activation of the lacc gene. In Northern blots probed with plasmid pAB1, which bears arg-2 a gene whose transcription is under the control of CPC1, the level of the arg-2 transcript was shown to increase several-fold in wild-type mycelia but remained low in cpc-1 mycelia, after treatment with cycloheximide. This suggests that inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide, as well as amino acid limitation, elicits the CPC1-mediated cross-pathway control. Characterization of the lacc upstream region using a series of 5'-deletion plasmids led to the identification of a 170 bp DNA region required for the induced lacc expression. Sequence analysis of this DNA region demonstrated that it includes a 9 bp sequence with dyad symmetry, ATGAATCAT, which differs only by a central base pair from ATGA(C/G)TCAT, the recognition sequence characteristic of CPC1 and GCN4 binding sites. Possible mechanisms by which CPC1 mediates transcriptional activation of the lacc gene are discussed.

The leu-1 gene of Neurospora crassa: nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence comparisons

The Neurospora crassa leu-1 gene encodes beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH; EC 1.1.1.85), an enzyme in the leucine biosynthetic pathway. We determined the nucleotide sequence of the entire leu-1 gene and of four independent cDNA clones. By comparing the genomic and cDNA sequences, four introns were identified in the 5' portion of the gene and a single open reading frame was established. One of the introns is located within the 5'-noncoding region of the transcript. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by leu-1 was aligned with that of the homologous yeast enzyme and extensive sequence identity was uncovered. The lesion present in a conventional leu-1 mutant was identified as the insertion of a single base pair.

Isolation and characterization of mutants defective in production of laccase in Neurospora crassa

A protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, induces excretion of laccase in Neurospora crassa. The lah-1 mutation results in excretion of a large amount of laccase even in the absence of cycloheximide. Ten mutations were induced that suppress derepressed excretion of laccase in the lah-1 mutant. Of these, seven second-site mutations were found to confer a laccase-noninducible phenotype, and were classified into two different complementation groups. Four mutations define a locus designated lni-1, found to be closely linked to ylo-1 on linkage group VI. The other three mutations were mapped to second locus, designated lni-2, that lies between nic-3 and thi-3 on linkage group VII. The lni-2 locus was shown to encode laccase by RFLP mapping of the DNA fragment encoding laccase and by transformation of the lni-2 mutant with plasmid pBL1 carrying the laccase gene (the locus encoding laccas is hereafter described as lacc). All lacc mutants examined (whether mutagen-induced or inactivated by repeat-induced point mutation) appeared to exhibit no phenotypic deficiency during both asexual and sexual cycles, suggesting that the laccase gene is dispensable in N. crassa. Northern analysis of total cellular RNA from the four lni-1 mutants demonstrated that the lni-1 mutations abolish increased transcription of the laccase gene under inducing conditions. Consequently, the lni-1 locus is inferred to encode a trans-acting positive regulator required for transcriptional activation of the laccase gene in response to cycloheximide. Possible functions of the lah-1 gene are also described.

Characterization of the formate (for) locus, which encodes the cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase of Neurospora crassa

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) occupies a central position in one-carbon (C1) metabolism, catalyzing the reaction of serine and tetrahydrofolate to yield glycine and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. Methylenetetrahydrofolate serves as a donor of C1 units for the synthesis of numerous compounds, including purines, thymidylate, lipids, and methionine. We provide evidence that the formate (for) locus of Neurospora crassa encodes cytosolic SHMT. The for+ gene was localized to a 2.8-kb BglII fragment by complementation (restoration to formate-independent growth) of a strain carrying a recessive for allele, which confers a growth requirement for formate. The for+ gene encodes a polypeptide of 479 amino acids which shows significant similarity to amino acid sequences of SHMT from bacterial and mammalian sources (47 and 60% amino acid identity, respectively). The for+ mRNA has several different start and stop sites. The abundance of for+ mRNA increased in response to amino acid imbalance induced by glycine supplementation, suggesting regulation by the N. crassa cross-pathway control system, which is analogous to general amino acid control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This was confirmed by documenting that for+ expression increased in response to histidine limitation (induced by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) and that this response was dependent on the presence of a functional cross-pathway control-1 (cpc-1) gene, which encodes CPC1, a positively acting transcription factor. There are at least five potential CPC1 binding sites upstream of the for+ transcriptional start, as well as one that exactly matches the consensus CPC1 binding site in the first intron of the for+ gene.

Characterization of the formate (for) locus, which encodes the cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase of Neurospora crassa

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) occupies a central position in one-carbon (C1) metabolism, catalyzing the reaction of serine and tetrahydrofolate to yield glycine and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. Methylenetetrahydrofolate serves as a donor of C1 units for the synthesis of numerous compounds, including purines, thymidylate, lipids, and methionine. We provide evidence that the formate (for) locus of Neurospora crassa encodes cytosolic SHMT. The for+ gene was localized to a 2.8-kb BglII fragment by complementation (restoration to formate-independent growth) of a strain carrying a recessive for allele, which confers a growth requirement for formate. The for+ gene encodes a polypeptide of 479 amino acids which shows significant similarity to amino acid sequences of SHMT from bacterial and mammalian sources (47 and 60% amino acid identity, respectively). The for+ mRNA has several different start and stop sites. The abundance of for+ mRNA increased in response to amino acid imbalance induced by glycine supplementation, suggesting regulation by the N. crassa cross-pathway control system, which is analogous to general amino acid control in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This was confirmed by documenting that for+ expression increased in response to histidine limitation (induced by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) and that this response was dependent on the presence of a functional cross-pathway control-1 (cpc-1) gene, which encodes CPC1, a positively acting transcription factor. There are at least five potential CPC1 binding sites upstream of the for+ transcriptional start, as well as one that exactly matches the consensus CPC1 binding site in the first intron of the for+ gene.

Developmental expression of genes involved in conidiation and amino acid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa

The levels of transcripts for Neurospora crassa genes concerned with cellular and metabolic functions changed dramatically at different stages of asexual development. Transcripts for some conidiation-related (con) genes were present at high levels in conidiating cultures and in dormant conidia, but were absent or reduced during mycelial growth. Levels of some con transcripts increased transiently during conidial germination, while others disappeared. Transcripts for amino acid biosynthetic enzymes, ribosomal proteins, cytochrome oxidase subunits, histones, and other polypeptides important for cell growth were detected in newly formed conidia and were present at reduced levels in dormant conidia. Levels of these transcripts increased upon germination of wild-type conidia in minimal medium, reaching their highest levels during this stage or during the early phase of exponential growth. The increased transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes observed during germination in minimal medium was not dependent on a functional cpc-1 gene. However, cpc-1, which encodes a DNA binding protein presumed to function as a transcriptional activator, was essential for increased expression of amino acid biosynthetic genes when amino acid starvation was imposed during germination or at any subsequent stage of mycelial growth.

cpc-1, the general regulatory gene for genes of amino acid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa, is differentially expressed during the asexual life cycle

CPCI, the principal regulatory protein required for cross-pathway control of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Neurospora crassa, contains a domain similar to the DNA-binding domain of GCN4, the corresponding general regulator in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We examined binding by CPC1 synthesized in vitro and by CPC1 present in N. crassa whole-cell extracts. CPCI from both sources was shown to bind to the DNA sequence 5'-ATGACTCAT-3', which is also the preferred recognition sequence of GCN4, CPC1 was confirmed as the source of DNA-binding activity in extracts by immunoblotting. Slightly mobility differences between DNA complexes containing CPCI synthesized in vitro and CPC1 in mycelial extracts were observed. Analyses of N. crassa extracts from different stages of asexual development revealed that CPC1 was abundant immediately following spore germination and through early mycelial growth but was scarce subsequently. CPC1 levels could be increased at any time by imposing amino acid starvation. Copies of the CPC1 response element are located upstream of several genes regulated by cross-pathway control, including cpc-1 itself.

Characterization of Neurospora CPC1, a bZIP DNA-binding protein that does not require aligned heptad leucines for dimerization

CPC1 is the transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes of Neurospora crassa. CPC1 function in vivo was abolished upon deletion of segments of cpc-1 corresponding to the presumed transcription activation domain, the DNA-binding and dimerization domains, or a 52-residue connector segment of CPC1. A truncated CPC1 polypeptide containing only the carboxy-terminal 57-residue segment of CPC1 was sufficient to form homodimers that bound DNA. However, deletion of the segment of cpc-1 corresponding to the connector segment in the full-length CPC1 polypeptide abolished DNA binding. Removal of a segment of cpc-1 corresponding to the GIn-rich region of CPC1 reduced in vivo function only slightly. The homologous transcription activator of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GCN4, did not substitute for CPC1 in N. crassa. Chimeric CPC1-GCN4 polypeptides that contained the GCN4 transcriptional activation domain or the domain of GCN4 that corresponds to the essential 52-residue connector segment of CPC1, functioned with reduced efficiency. However, a chimeric polypeptide containing the GCN4 DNA-binding and dimerization domains in place of those of CPC1 functioned essentially as well as wild-type CPC1. The basic and dimerization domains of CPC1 were characterized by introducing deletions or site-directed amino acid replacements. The basic region was required for DNA binding but not for dimerization. CPC1 has a short dimerization domain containing heptad residues Leu-1, Leu-2, Trp-3, and His-4. When Val was substituted for Leu-1 or Leu-2, CPC1 was fully active, but when Val replaced Trp-3, dimerization and DNA binding were prevented. DNA band shift analyses with CPC1 heterodimers demonstrated that CPC1 does not require aligned heptad leucine residues for dimerization. Replacement of two charged residues located between Leu-1 and Leu-2 of CPC1 abolished dimerization and DNA binding.

Characterization of Neurospora CPC1, a bZIP DNA-binding protein that does not require aligned heptad leucines for dimerization

CPC1 is the transcriptional activator of amino acid biosynthetic genes of Neurospora crassa. CPC1 function in vivo was abolished upon deletion of segments of cpc-1 corresponding to the presumed transcription activation domain, the DNA-binding and dimerization domains, or a 52-residue connector segment of CPC1. A truncated CPC1 polypeptide containing only the carboxy-terminal 57-residue segment of CPC1 was sufficient to form homodimers that bound DNA. However, deletion of the segment of cpc-1 corresponding to the connector segment in the full-length CPC1 polypeptide abolished DNA binding. Removal of a segment of cpc-1 corresponding to the GIn-rich region of CPC1 reduced in vivo function only slightly. The homologous transcription activator of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GCN4, did not substitute for CPC1 in N. crassa. Chimeric CPC1-GCN4 polypeptides that contained the GCN4 transcriptional activation domain or the domain of GCN4 that corresponds to the essential 52-residue connector segment of CPC1, functioned with reduced efficiency. However, a chimeric polypeptide containing the GCN4 DNA-binding and dimerization domains in place of those of CPC1 functioned essentially as well as wild-type CPC1. The basic and dimerization domains of CPC1 were characterized by introducing deletions or site-directed amino acid replacements. The basic region was required for DNA binding but not for dimerization. CPC1 has a short dimerization domain containing heptad residues Leu-1, Leu-2, Trp-3, and His-4. When Val was substituted for Leu-1 or Leu-2, CPC1 was fully active, but when Val replaced Trp-3, dimerization and DNA binding were prevented. DNA band shift analyses with CPC1 heterodimers demonstrated that CPC1 does not require aligned heptad leucine residues for dimerization. Replacement of two charged residues located between Leu-1 and Leu-2 of CPC1 abolished dimerization and DNA binding.

cpc-1, the general regulatory gene for genes of amino acid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa, is differentially expressed during the asexual life cycle

CPCI, the principal regulatory protein required for cross-pathway control of amino acid biosynthetic genes in Neurospora crassa, contains a domain similar to the DNA-binding domain of GCN4, the corresponding general regulator in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We examined binding by CPC1 synthesized in vitro and by CPC1 present in N. crassa whole-cell extracts. CPCI from both sources was shown to bind to the DNA sequence 5'-ATGACTCAT-3', which is also the preferred recognition sequence of GCN4, CPC1 was confirmed as the source of DNA-binding activity in extracts by immunoblotting. Slightly mobility differences between DNA complexes containing CPCI synthesized in vitro and CPC1 in mycelial extracts were observed. Analyses of N. crassa extracts from different stages of asexual development revealed that CPC1 was abundant immediately following spore germination and through early mycelial growth but was scarce subsequently. CPC1 levels could be increased at any time by imposing amino acid starvation. Copies of the CPC1 response element are located upstream of several genes regulated by cross-pathway control, including cpc-1 itself.

Molecular analysis of nuc-1+, a gene controlling phosphorus acquisition in Neurospora crassa

In response to phosphorus starvation, Neurospora crassa makes several enzymes that are undetectable or barely detectable in phosphate-sufficient cultures. The nuc-1+ gene, whose product regulates the synthesis of these enzymes, was cloned and sequenced. The nuc-1+ gene encodes a protein of 824 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 87,429. The amino acid sequence shows homology with two yeast proteins whose functions are analogous to that of the NUC-1 protein. Two nuc-1+ transcripts of 3.2 and 3.0 kilobases were detected; they were present in similar amounts during growth at low or high phosphate concentrations. The nuc-2+ gene encodes a product normally required for NUC-1 function, and yet a nuc-2 mutation can be complemented by overexpression of the nuc-1+ gene. This implies physical interactions between NUC-1 protein and the negative regulatory factor(s) PREG and/or PGOV. Analysis of nuc-2 and nuc-1; nuc-2 strains transformed by the nuc-1+ gene suggests that phosphate directly affects the level or activity of the negative regulatory factor(s) controlling phosphorus acquisition.

Regulation of branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis in Neurospora crassa: cloning and characterization of the leu-1 and ilv-3 genes

The genes coding for the branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic enzymes comprise an integrated regulatory system. The expression of the several structural genes coding for enzymes of the isoleucine-valine and leucine pathways is controlled in parallel by the positive-acting regulatory gene, leu-3. The leu-1 and ilv-3 genes, coding for beta-isopropyl-malate dehydrogenase and aceto-hydroxyacid synthase, respectively, were cloned from a cosmid library. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed that the two cloned fragments indeed mapped to the genomic locations of the leu-1 and ilv-3 genes, respectively. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the leu-1 gene is transcribed to give an mRNA of approximately 1.5 kb, whereas the ilv-3 transcript size is 2.6 kb. The expression of both genes appears to be regulated at the transcriptional level. One leu-3 regulatory mutant was greatly deficient in both leu-1 and ilv-3 mRNAs, whereas another leu-3 allele showed an unusual antiparallel pattern of regulation.

Molecular analysis of nuc-1+, a gene controlling phosphorus acquisition in Neurospora crassa

In response to phosphorus starvation, Neurospora crassa makes several enzymes that are undetectable or barely detectable in phosphate-sufficient cultures. The nuc-1+ gene, whose product regulates the synthesis of these enzymes, was cloned and sequenced. The nuc-1+ gene encodes a protein of 824 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 87,429. The amino acid sequence shows homology with two yeast proteins whose functions are analogous to that of the NUC-1 protein. Two nuc-1+ transcripts of 3.2 and 3.0 kilobases were detected; they were present in similar amounts during growth at low or high phosphate concentrations. The nuc-2+ gene encodes a product normally required for NUC-1 function, and yet a nuc-2 mutation can be complemented by overexpression of the nuc-1+ gene. This implies physical interactions between NUC-1 protein and the negative regulatory factor(s) PREG and/or PGOV. Analysis of nuc-2 and nuc-1; nuc-2 strains transformed by the nuc-1+ gene suggests that phosphate directly affects the level or activity of the negative regulatory factor(s) controlling phosphorus acquisition.

cpc-2, a new locus involved in general control of amino acid synthetic enzymes in Neurospora crassa

In Neurospora crassa starvation for single amino acids leads to derepression of enzymes in many amino acid synthetic pathways. Regulation occurs at the level of transcription via "general amino acid (or cross-pathway) control". In this paper a new regulatory gene, cpc-2, is described that specifies a positive, trans-acting effector involved in this control. This gene, located on linkage group VII, was identified by a recessive mutation, U142, which results in sensitivity for two amino acid analogues and a lack of enzyme derepression in response to amino acid limitation. It was shown that cpc-2 (U142) impairs the activation of transcription of amino acid structural genes in several biosyntheses. The only other known regulatory gene involved in general amino acid control of Neurospora is cpc-1. Transcription of the cpc-1 gene, however, is increased in response to amino acid starvation irrespective of the presence of the mutation U142.

Restricted activation of general amino acid control under conditions of glutamine limitation in Neurospora crassa

In Neurospora crassa limitation for single amino acids normally results in increased formation of enzymes required for amino acid synthesis via 'general amino acid control'. Glutamine limitation, however, led to comparatively low and delayed derepression of enzyme synthesis. Nitrate reductase activity increased steeply under these conditions confirming that de novo protein synthesis could occur. Derepression levels were unaffected by addition of glutamine-derived metabolites. Only small and delayed increases in mRNA levels occurred for the anabolic enzyme genes arg-12, his-3 and trp-1 under conditions of glutamine limitation in contrast to the immediate and far larger increase found on histidine limitation. The trans-acting regulatory gene of general amino acid control in Neurospora, cpc-1, responded with a significant increase in mRNA level to histidine and to glutamine limitation. The restricted response of the amino acid synthesis genes could imply a post-transcriptional block to the positive regulatory function of cpc-1 under condition of glutamine limitation. The results suggest that the expression of general amino acid control is restricted under conditions of inadequate nitrogen supply.

Two complex regions, including a TATA sequence, are required for transcription by RNA polymerase I in Neurospora crassa

In order to define the RNA polymerase I transcriptional apparatus and how it might interact with regulatory signals, the DNA sequences necessary for 40S rRNA transcription in Neurospora crassa were determined. A systematic set of deletion, substitution and insertion mutations were assayed in a homologous in vitro system. The sequences required for transcription of the gene consist of two large domains (I and II) from -113 to -37, and -29 to +4, respectively. Complete deletion of either domain abolished transcription. Upstream sequences confer a small stimulation of transcription. Domain II includes a TATA sequence at -5 which is sensitive to a small (2 bp) substitution and which is conserved among the large rRNA genes of many organisms. Domain I includes a sequence, termed the 'Ribo box', which is also required for transcription of the Neurospora 5S rRNA genes (1), and which occurs in the 5' region of a Neurospora ribosomal protein gene. The 5S and 40S Ribo boxes are shown to be functionally interchangeable.

Nucleotide sequence and nuclear protein binding of the two regulatory sequences upstream of the am (GDH) gene in Neurospora

We have constructed a series of deletions in the 5' non-coding sequences of the cloned Neurospora crassa am gene which specifies NADP specific glutamate dehydrogenase. All of the deletions begin at -4.4 kb with respect to the am transcription start site and extend for various distances toward the am gene. Using vectors with a truncated fragment of the am gene, we introduced these deletions into the chromosome upstream of am by transformation. Analysis of glutamate dehydrogenase expression in strains with the deletion mutations confirmed that there are two upstream regulatory sequences (URS) that control the expression of the am gene. The more distal of these elements (URSam beta) has been limited to the 157 bp between -1924 and -2081 with respect to the start of am transcription. The proximal element (URSam alpha) was limited to the 97 bp between -1296 and -1393. The DNA sequence of the entire region was determined. Within the sequences that contain the URS elements several regions of homology with yeast UAS sequences were found. Gel mobility assays with DNA fragments containing the URS elements indicated that sequences in both elements are bound by nuclear proteins from Neurospora. The interaction of these proteins and the DNA fragments was found to be specific.

The range of amino acids whose limitation activates general amino-acid control in Neurospora crassa

Several amino-acid synthetic enzymes, belonging to arginine, glutamine, leucine, lysine and phenylalanine biosynthesis, respectively, were investigated under conditions of reduced availability of any one of 16 out of the 20 amino acids represented in proteins. The enzymes showed simultaneous derepression under each condition, albeit to different degrees. Derepression was abolished and the remaining basal enzyme levels reduced by mutations at the cpc-1 locus which governs general amino-acid control in Neurospora. Glutamine synthetase was shown to be under cpc-1 and additional controls. The evidence emphasizes the global nature of general amino-acid control.

The response time of transcription and translation of the leu-2 gene of Neurospora to its inducer, alpha-isopropylmalate, approaches the permissible minimum

The rate of transcription and translation of the leu-2 gene of Neurospora crassa was measured after induction by alpha-isopropylmalate. Little message of enzyme was found before inducer addition but transcription in the lower eukaryote was found well underway within five minutes after inducer addition, followed in a minute or two by the appearance of functional enzyme. The timing was close to the limit set by RNA synthesis and ribosome procession. As a consequence, it seems unlikely that traversal of the cell and/or nuclear membranes by the inducer and message involves intermediate synthetic reactions and that the leu-3 positive regulatory element is fully available for participation in the induction process before the inducer is added. A significant overshoot in message synthesis was found early in the induction process. This is discussed with respect to previously observed effects of the inducer on general RNA synthesis.

The cross-pathway control gene of Neurospora crassa, cpc-1, encodes a protein similar to GCN4 of yeast and the DNA-binding domain of the oncogene v-jun-encoded protein

Expression of the gene cpc-1 is required for cross-pathway-mediated regulation of amino acid-biosynthetic genes in Neurospora crassa. We have cloned cpc-1 and present an analysis of its structure and regulation. The cpc-1-encoded transcript contains three open reading frames, two of which are located in the 720-nucleotide leader segment preceding the cpc-1 coding region. The two leader open reading frames, if translated, would produce peptides 20 and 41 residues in length. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cpc-1 polypeptide, CPC1, contains segments similar to the DNA-binding and transcriptional activation domains of GCN4, the major cross-pathway regulatory protein of yeast. The structural and functional similarities of CPC1 and GCN4 proteins suggest that cpc-1 encodes the analogous transcriptional activator of N. crassa. Messenger RNA measurements indicate that cpc-1 is transcriptionally regulated in response to amino acid starvation. The segment of CPC1 similar to the DNA-binding domain of GCN4 also is similar to the DNA-binding domains of the avian sarcoma virus oncogene-encoded v-JUN protein and human c-JUN protein.

Regulation of amino acid synthetic enzymes in Neurospora crassa in the presence of high concentrations of amino acids

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase and leucine aminotransferase of Neurospora crassa represent two of many amino acid synthetic enzymes which are regulated through cross-pathway (or general) amino acid control. In the wild-type strain both enzymes display derepressed activities if the growth medium is supplemented with high (mM range) concentrations of L-amino acids derived from branched pathways, i.e. the aspartate, pyruvate, glycerophosphate and aromatic families of amino acids. A cpc-1 mutant strain, impaired in cross-pathway regulation i.e. lacking the ability to derepress, shows delayed growth under such conditions. In the presence of glycine, homoserine and isoleucine various cpc-1 isolates do not grow at all. Derepression of the wild-type enzymes and the retarded growth of the mutant strain can be reversed if certain amino acids are present in the medium in addition to the inhibitory amino acids.

Identification and characterization of four new GCD genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutant strains, resistant against the amino acid analogues 5-methyltryptophan, 5-fluorotryptophan and canavanine were isolated, starting with a trp2 leaky auxotrophic strain. Of 10 such strains, only four turned out to be of the "general control derepressed" (gcd) mutant type. Three other isolates were shown to be defective in the general amino acid permease system, while the remaining three strains displayed low spore viability and were not further investigated. Complementation tests amongst the four new gcd-mutant strains, including strain RH558 gcd2-1 isolated earlier, yielded five complementation groups: GCD2, GCD3, GCD4, GCD5, and GCD6. All mutant strains showed a dual phenotype, which was not separable by wild type backcrosses: "constitutive derepression" and "slow growth". Epistasis of all gcd mutations over gcn1-1, gcn2-1 and gcn3-1 was found with respect to both phenotypes, except for gcd5-1, which was lethal in these combinations. On the other hand gcn4-101 was found to be epistatic over all gcd mutations, but only with respect to the "constitutive derepression" phenotype, and not to "slow growth"; again the combination with gcd5-1 was lethal. Mutation gcd2-1 was mapped on chromosome VII, 50 cM from leu1 and 22 cM from ade6. A new model is discussed, in which GCD-genes are involved in the amino acid uptake into the vacuoles.

Effect of chloramphenicol and ethidium bromide on the level of ornithine carbamoyltransferase in Neurospora crassa

The specific activity of the nuclear-gene-encoded, mitochondrial arginine biosynthetic enzyme ornithine carbamoyltransferase (EC 2.1.3.3) in Neurospora crassa was elevated in mycelia treated with chloramphenicol or ethidium bromide. The increase in specific activity was caused by an increase in the number of mature enzyme molecules rather than by the activation of a preexisting enzyme. Chloramphenicol and ethidium bromide appeared to act indirectly via arginine-mediated derepression. However, derepression did not appear to result from a drug-mediated decrease in the arginine pool.

Cloning of the arg-12 gene of Neurospora crassa and regulation of its transcript via cross-pathway amino acid control

The arg-12 locus of Neurospora crassa encodes ornithine carbamoyl transferase, which is one of many amino acid synthetic enzymes whose activity is regulated through cross-pathway (or general) amino acid control. We report here the use of probes derived from the functionally equivalent arg-B gene of Aspergillus nidulans to identify and clone a 10 kb Neurospora DNA fragment carrying the arg-12 gene. Short Neurospora DNA probes derived from this fragment were used to identify a 1.5 kb polyA+ transcript of the arg-12 region. Arg-12 transcript levels increased approximately 20 fold under conditions of arginine or histidine limitation in strains having normal cross-pathway regulation (cpc-1+) but showed no such response in a cpc-1 mutant strain impaired in this regulation. Time course studies in cpc-1+ strains revealed a rapid response (within 10 m) of arg-12 transcript levels following inhibition of histidine synthesis by 3 amino 1,2,4 triazole, but a delayed response following arginine deprivation of an arginine requiring strain. In contrast to the behaviour of arg-12 mRNA, the level of the Neurospora am gene transcript (specifying NADP dependent glutamate dehydrogenase) was unaffected either by amino acid limitation or by the cpc-1 mutation. A possible role for the cpc-1+ product as a positive regulator of transcription of genes subject to cross-pathway control is discussed.

The general control of amino acid biosynthetic genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Enzymes in diverse amino acid biosynthetic pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are subject to a general amino acid control in which starvation for any amino acid leads to increased levels of the mRNAs encoding these enzymes. The short nucleotide sequence TGACTC, found nontandemly repeated upstream from the coregulated structural genes, serves as a cis-acting site for positive regulation of transcription. Multiple trans-acting repressors and activators have been identified. Most of these factors act indirectly by regulating the level of an activator encoded by the GCN4 gene. This regulation occurs at the level of GCN4 translation and is mediated by sequences in the long 5' leader of GCN4 mRNA. The GCN4 protein is the most likely candidate for the transcriptional activator that interacts with the TGACTC sequences at the structural genes.

Effect of alpha-isopropylmalate on the synthesis of RNA and protein in Neurospora

The leu-3/alpha-IPM (alpha-isopropylmalate) regulatory system, previously shown to control several genes of leucine, isoleucine, valine, and histidine biosynthesis, appears likely to be involved also in the regulation of overall RNA and protein synthesis in Neurospora. Upon addition of alpha-IPM the synthesis of all major species of stable RNA was found to be transiently inhibited by approximately 50%. A similar reduction was observed in overall protein synthesis. The inhibition was dependent in both cases on a functional leu-3 gene product, in conformance with previously established patterns of alpha-IPM dependent gene regulation. The overt resemblance of the phenomenon described here to the 'stringent response' of bacteria is noted but neither the mechanism of inhibition nor the precise role of alpha-IPM in the process has been established.

Changes in gene expression elicited by amino acid limitation in Neurospora crassa strains having normal or mutant cross-pathway amino acid control

The effects of amino acid limitation on gene expression have been investigated in Neurospora crassa strains carrying normal (cpc-1+) or mutant (cpc-1) alleles at a locus implicated in cross-pathway amino acid control. Electrophoresis and fluorography were used to reveal the patterns of label incorporation into polypeptides in vivo, or after in vitro translation of extracted mRNAs. In a cpc-1+ strain at least 20% of detectable in vitro translation products showed relative increases in incorporation when RNA was obtained from mycelium grown under conditions of arginine limitation, by comparison with conditions of arginine sufficiency. A cpc-1 mutation, which impairs derepression of a variety of amino acid synthetic enzymes following amino acid limitation, had little detectable effect on in vivo polypeptide synthesis during amino acid sufficient growth or following pyrimidine limitation. However the mutation substantially altered the response to arginine or histidine limitation. The majority of in vitro translation products that showed increased expression in arginine limited cpc-1+ failed to increase in cpc-1 strains, but arginine limitation of cpc-1 also resulted in increases that did not occur in cpc-1+ strains. This may reflect both direct and indirect consequences of the impairment of cross-pathway control.

Specific regulatory interconnection between the leucine and histidine pathways of Neurospora crassa

Leucine auxotrophs of Neurospora fall into two discrete categories with respect to sensitivity to the herbicide, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The pattern of resistance corresponds exactly to the ability to produce the leucine pathway control elements, alpha-isopropylmalate and the leu-3 product. An analysis of the regulatory response of the production of enzymes of histidine biosynthesis to alpha-isopropylmalate implicates the control elements of the leucine pathway as important components of the mechanism governing the production of the target enzyme of aminotriazole inhibition, imidazoleglycerol-phosphate dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.19). The evidence suggests that the regulatory interconnection between the two pathways is direct and is independent of other general integrating regulatory mechanisms which appear to be operative in both pathways. A general method for isolating leu-1 and leu-2, as well as other regulatory mutants, is described, which takes advantage of the specificity of the resistance to the inhibitor. Use of analogous systems is prescribed for the analysis of other regulatory interconnections which, like this one, might not be anticipated directly from structural or biosynthetic considerations.

[General control of amino acid biosynthesis in mutants of Candida spec. EH 15/D]

The general control of amino acid biosynthesis was investigated in Candida spec. EH 15/D, using single and double mutant auxotrophic strains and prototrophic revertants starved for their required amino acids. These experiments show that starvation for lysine, histidine, arginine, leucine, threonine, proline, serine, methionine, homoserine, asparagine, glutamic acid or aspartic acid can result in derepression of enzymes. A correlation was found between the degree of derepression, growth of strains, and concentration of required amino acids. The amino acids pool pattern of mutants and revertants is different from that in the wild type strain.