BASIS OF HYPHAL GROWTH AND MORPHOGENESIS IN FUNGI

这个合作项目涉及加州大学的实验室 普渡大学的目标是解释最基本的生长过程 在真菌中--通过顶端生长形成和发展管状菌丝。 菌丝的伸长是通过一种复杂的机制实现的， 在顶端形成囊泡在高等真菌中，囊泡和其他 细胞成分在菌丝顶端聚集，形成独特的动态 叫做Spitzenkorper。Spitzenkorper只发生在生长中 细胞，虽然它被怀疑在根尖细胞中发挥核心作用， 增长的确切功能和控制其行动的机制 仍然未知。这项研究将提供关键的实验测试， 菌丝生长和形态发生的新数学/计算机模型， 确定其有效性和实用性，并确定是否 Spitzenkorper的行为作为由模型预测的囊泡供应中心。 因此，用于线性地推进Spitzenkorper的机构将 产生菌丝。通过关联视频增强光学显微镜， 用电子显微镜和细胞化学方法培养细胞， 免疫细胞化学测试，该研究将表征结构， 内容和Spitzenkorper的动态行为。实验 环境应力和环境应力对Spitzenkorper的体内扰动 机械和电气扰动将测试其功能， 理论模型的有效性。基因突变体将被用来揭示 Spitzenkorper行为的改变，导致 极性和生长;由突变引起的生化病变将 提供了关于Spitzenkorper行为控制的线索。隔离 和顶端囊泡的表征将允许确定 它们在细胞生长中的生化作用。该项目将探索和 整合细胞学，生理学和生物化学的关键方面， 真菌来解决发育生物学中的一个主要突出问题。

This collaborative project involving laboratories at University California and Purdue University aims to explain the most fundamental growth process in fungi -- formation and development of tubular hyphae by apical growth. Hyphae elongate by a complex mechanism involving massive movement of wall- building vesicles to the apex. In higher fungi, the vesicles and other cell components assemble in the hyphal tip to form a unique and dynamic complex called the Spitzenkorper. The Spitzenkorper occurs only in growing cells, and although it is suspected of playing a central role in apical growth its exact function and the mechanisms that control its action remain unknown. The research will provide crucial experimental tests of a new mathematical/computer model of hyphal growth and morphogenesis, to establish its validity and utility and to determine whether the Spitzenkorper behaves as the vesicle supply center predicted by the model. Accordingly, a mechanism for advancing the Spitzenkorper linearly would generate a hypha. By correlating video-enhanced light microscopy of growing cells with electron microscopy, and cytochemical and immunocytochemical tests, the study will characterize the structure, contents, and dynamic behavior of the Spitzenkorper. Experimental perturbation of the Spitzenkorper in vivo by environmental stresses and by mechanical and electrical perturbation will test its function and the validity of the theoretical model. Genetic mutants will be used to reveal alterations of Spitzenkorper behavior that result in altered patterns of polarity and growth; the biochemical lesions caused by the mutations will provide clues concerning the control of Spitzenkorper behavior. Isolation and characterization of the apical vesicles will allow determination of their biochemical roles in cell growth. The project will explore and integrate key aspects of the cytology, physiology, and biochemistry of fungi to resolve a major outstanding problem in developmental biology.