The polo like kinase PLKA in Aspergillus nidulans is not essential, but plays important roles in vegetative growth and negatively regulates sexual development.

Ref ID: 15857

Author:

Klarita Mogilevsky, Amandeep Glory, and Catherine Bachewich.

Author address:

Department of Biology,Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke
St. West, Montreal,

Full conference title:

26th Fungal Genetics Conference

Date: 15 March 2014

Abstract:

The Polo-like kinases (Plks) are conserved, multi-functional cell cycle regulators that play additional roles in metazoan development. We previously
identified plkA in Aspergillus nidulans, the only Plk investigated in filamentous fungi to date, and partially characterized its function through
overexpression. We now report the plkA null phenotype. Surprisingly, plkA was not essential, unlike other fungal Plks. A subset of )plkA cells contained
defects in spindle and chromosome organization, supporting some conservation in cell cycle function. However, septa were present, suggesting that PLKA
is not a central regulator of septation like other Plks. The )plkA colonies were compact with multi-branched hyphae, implying a novel role for PLKA
in hyphal morphogenesis. These defects were suppressed by high temperature or low benomyl concentrations, suggesting that PLKA functions in part
through influencing microtubule dynamics. However, )plkA colonies also demonstrated benomyl and temperature-insensitive decreases in conidiation
and precocious formation of Hulle cells. This represents the first example of a link between a Plk and development in fungi, and suggests that PLKA
negatively regulates sexual reproduction through distinct mechanisms. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that PLKA and filamentous fungal Plks are related
to the divergent metazoan PLK4, whereas yeast Plks group with metazoan PLK1-3. Thus, PLKA has some conserved functions, but may play additional
novel roles in influencing morphogenesis and negatively regulating sexual development.

Abstract Number: NULL

Conference Year: 2011

Link to conference website: NULL

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