Hyphal differentiation in the exploring mycelium of Aspergillus niger

Summary Mycelial fungi play a central role in element cycling in nature by degrading dead organic material such as wood. Fungal colonization of a substrate starts with the invasion of exploring hyphae. These hyphae secrete enzymes that convert the organic material into small molecules that can be ta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular microbiology 2005-11, Vol.58 (3), p.693-699
Main Authors: Vinck, Arman, Terlou, Maarten, Pestman, Wiebe R., Martens, Edwin P., Ram, Arthur F., van den Hondel, Cees A. M. J. J., Wösten, Han A. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aspergillus niger - cytology
Aspergillus niger - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Cytoplasmic Streaming - physiology
Enzymes
Fluorescence
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungal Proteins - genetics
Fungal Proteins - metabolism
Fungi
Gene expression
Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase - genetics
Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase - metabolism
Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics
Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism
Hyphae - growth & development
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Mycelium - metabolism
Mycology
Nutrition
Promoter Regions, Genetic
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Summary:Summary Mycelial fungi play a central role in element cycling in nature by degrading dead organic material such as wood. Fungal colonization of a substrate starts with the invasion of exploring hyphae. These hyphae secrete enzymes that convert the organic material into small molecules that can be taken up by the fungus to serve as nutrients. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter, we show for the first time that exploring hyphae of Aspergillus niger differentiate with respect to enzyme secretion; some strongly express the glucoamylase gene glaA, while others hardly express it at all. When a cytoplasmic GFP was used, 27% of the exploring hyphae of a 5‐day‐old colony belonged to the low expressing hyphae. By fusing GFP to glucoamylase and by introducing an ER retention signal, this number increased to 50%. This difference is due to cytoplasmic streaming of the reporter in the former case, as was shown by using a photo‐activatable GFP. Our findings indicate that a fungal mycelium is highly differentiated, especially when taking into account that hyphae in the exploration zone were exposed to the same nutritional conditions.
ISSN:0950-382X
1365-2958
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04869.x