Characterization of Neurospora crassa mutants isolated following repeat-induced point mutation of the beta subunit of fatty acid synthase

Neurospora crassa cel-2 mutants were isolated following repeat-induced point mutation using part of the gene encoding beta-fatty acid synthase. These mutants are phenotypically less leaky than cel-1, which has a defective alpha-fatty acid synthase. The cel-2 mutant had a strict fatty acid (16:0) req...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current genetics 1999-09, Vol.36 (3), p.147-152
Main Authors: Goodrich-Tanrikulu, M, Stafford, A.E, Lin, J.T, McKeon, T.A, Jacobson, D.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Fatty Acid Synthases - genetics
Fatty Acids - metabolism
fatty-acid synthase
lipogenesis
long chain fatty acids
Mutagenesis
mutants
Neurospora crassa
Neurospora crassa - genetics
nutrient requirements
palmitic acid
Phenotype
Point Mutation
polyunsaturated fatty acids
Transformation, Genetic
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Summary:Neurospora crassa cel-2 mutants were isolated following repeat-induced point mutation using part of the gene encoding beta-fatty acid synthase. These mutants are phenotypically less leaky than cel-1, which has a defective alpha-fatty acid synthase. The cel-2 mutant had a strict fatty acid (16:0) requirement for growth, and synthesized less fatty acid de novo than cel-1. Unlike cel-1, cel-2 has impaired fertility, and homozygous crosses are infertile, suggesting a low but strict requirement for fatty acid synthesis during sexual development. Like cel-1, cel-2 synthesized unusually high levels of the polyunsaturate 18:3(Delta9,12,15), and elongated 18:2(Delta9,12 )and 18:3(Delta9,12,15 )to 20:2(Delta11,14) and 20:3(Delta11,14,17), respectively. These fatty acids are not synthesized by wild-type, except following treatment with cerulenin (a fatty acid synthase inhibitor), demonstrating that inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis results in a relative increase in both fatty acid desaturation and elongation activity.
ISSN:0172-8083
1432-0983
DOI:10.1007/s002940050484