IRENI permits major advances in FTIR imaging of fungal hyphae

Ref ID: 18361

Author:

Kaminskyj S (a), Nasse M (b, c), Rak M (c), Gough K (d), Hirschmugl C

Author address:

C (b,
c) a) Dept Biology, Univ Saskatchewan, Canada; b) Univ Wisconsin Milwaukee; c) Synchrotron Radiation Center, Madison WI; d) Dept Chemistry, UnivManitoba, Canada. Susan.Kaminskyj@usask.ca

Full conference title:

Asperfest 8

Abstract:

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy can characterize organic compounds including complex mixtures such as cytoplasm. Studies on rapidly
frozen and dried fungal hyphae, using brilliant synchrotron IR sources, showed that fungal tips have lower content than subapical regions in the same
cells, and that hyphal composition changes in response to environmental perturbation. Recently (in conjunction with other methods) we used an FTIR
microscope with improved sensitivity, a globar IR source, and a 64 x 64 focal plane array (FPA) detector to document hyphal mannitol distribution. These
studies were limited to ~ 6:m pixel size. Now, a unique synchrotron IR source called IRENI with 12 IR beamlines illuminating a single FPA detector
permits diffraction-limited resolution. With IRENI, we can 1) collect data at 0.5:m x 0.5:m pixel definition, 2) characterize hyphal cytoplasm and
exudate, 3) analyze hyphae as they grow in a moist chamber. Here, we compare wild type and single gene deletion strains of Aspergillus nidulans: A4
(used for the genome sequencing project), AAE1 (an nkuA? strain with wild type hyphal morphology), and nkuA? strains further deleted for ugmA or
ugeA, key members of the galactofuranose biosynthesis pathway that have abnormal hyphal morphology and wall architecture. With this technology and
these strains we are beginning to unpack the biochemical complexity of fungal tip growth.

Abstract Number: 39)

Conference Year: 2011

Link to conference website: NULL

New link: NULL

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