Septins in Aspergillus Nidulans: Organization of the Division Site

适当的细胞分裂对生命至关重要，分裂的时机必须仔细调节，以便每个新细胞都有独立生长所需的一切。新的分裂部位也必须仔细管理，以免在分裂过程中损坏或遗漏任何重要的细胞成分。通过对萌芽酵母酿酒酵母的研究，人们已经了解到了许多关于细胞如何分裂的知识。特别是，在酵母中的研究表明，一组名为Septins的蛋白质充当了组织分裂部位的支架。为了更多地了解间隔蛋白在这两种细胞分裂中的作用，将在丝状真菌nidulans中研究间隔蛋白，这种真菌既使用萌芽分裂又使用非萌芽分裂。由于真菌细胞通过合成新的细胞壁材料形成交叉壁进行分裂，这项研究应该告诉我们更多关于在细胞的特定区域组装真菌细胞壁所需的步骤。本研究的目标是：1)克隆结球拟青霉的全部Septin基因；2)在光学显微镜和超微结构水平上定位Septin基因产物；3)鉴定和改变Septin基因在营养和生殖发育过程中的表达。

Proper cell division is critical for life and the timing of division must be carefully regulated such that each new cell has everything it needs for independent growth. The site of the new division must also be carefully regulated so that no important cell components are damaged or left behind during the division process. Much has been learned about how cells divide from studies of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In particular, studies in yeast have shown that a group of proteins called the septins act as a scaffold to organize the division site. Septins will be investigated in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans that use both budding and nonbudding divisions in order to learn more about the role of septins during both kinds of cell division. Because fungal cells divide by synthesis of new cell wall material to form crosswalls, this research should tell us more about the steps needed to assemble fungal cell walls in a specific area of the cell. The goals of this research are: 1) to clone all septin genes from A. nidulans; 2) to localize septin gene products at the light microscope and ultrastructural levels, and 3) to characterize and alter septin gene expression during vegetative and reproductive development.