Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

CDC-42 and RAC-1 regulate opposite chemotropisms in Neurospora crassa

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Boguslaw ObaraORCiD

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Cell polarization and fusion are crucial developmental processes that occur in response to intracellular and extracellular signals. Asexual spores (conidia) of the mold Neurospora crassa differentiate two types of polarized cell protrusions, germ tubes and conidial anastomosis tubes (CATs), which exhibit negative and positive chemotropism, respectively. We provide the first evidence that shared and separate functions of the Rho-type GTPases CDC- 42 and RAC-1 regulate these opposite chemotropisms. We demonstrate that RAC-1 is essential for CAT formation and cell fusion, whereas CDC-42 is necessary and sufficient for normal germ tube development. Cdc42-Rac-interactive-binding (CRIB) reporters were constructed to exclusively label locally activated GTP-bound GTPases. Time course analyses showed that repositioning of these activated GTPase clusters within germ tube and CAT tip apices controls directional growth in the absence of a tip-localized vesicle supply center (Spitzenkö rper). We propose a model in which the local assembly of a plasma-membraneassociated GTPase-PAK-MAPK signaling platform regulates chemoattractant perception and secretion in order to synchronize oscillatory cell-cell communication and directional CAT tip growth. © 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Lichius A, Goryachev AB, Fricker MD, Obara B, Castro-Longoria E, Read ND

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Cell Science

Year: 2014

Volume: 127

Issue: 9

Pages: 1953-1965

Print publication date: 01/04/2014

Acceptance date: 13/01/2014

ISSN (print): 0021-9533

ISSN (electronic): 1477-9137

Publisher: Company of Biologists Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.141630

DOI: 10.1242/jcs.141630

PubMed id: 24790223


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share