Septins in Aspergillus Nidulans: Organization of the Division Site

正确的细胞分裂对生命至关重要，分裂的时间必须仔细调节，这样每个新细胞都有独立生长所需的一切。新分裂的位置也必须仔细调节，这样在分裂过程中没有重要的细胞成分被破坏或留下。从对出芽酵母酿酒酵母的研究中，我们已经了解了很多关于细胞如何分裂的知识。特别是，对酵母的研究表明，一组被称为septin的蛋白质充当了组织分裂位点的支架。为了进一步了解septin在这两种细胞分裂过程中的作用，我们将对丝状真菌芽化曲霉中的septin进行研究。因为真菌细胞通过合成新的细胞壁材料来形成交叉壁，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。本研究的目的是：1)克隆拟南芥的所有septin基因；2)在光镜和超微结构水平定位septin基因产物；3)在营养和生殖发育过程中表征和改变septin基因的表达。

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.