Functional characterization of FLBC-like protein from Neurospora crassa, a protein participating in the fungus development

• Grant number: 12/04246-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Celia Bertolini
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Boni
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to characterize the transcription factor FLBC from Neurospora crassa previously identified as a regulator protein in glycogen metabolism. The knockedout strain flbCKO showed differences in glycogen accumulation and expression of the gene encoding glycogen synthase (gsn) when compared to the wild-type strain. These results suggested a role of the protein in such processes. More recent results showed that the knockedout strain presented severe morphological defects and that the protein regulates conidiation, therefore controls the fungus development. The knockedout strain presented reduced conidiation, low production and morphology changes in the aerial hyphae, and high production of the brown pigment known as melanin. The transcription factor missing in the mutant strain is the Aspergillus nidulans FlbC homologous protein, a protein also produced by other fungi but not yet well characterized. As the protein was identified as a regulator in glycogen metabolism and involved in the fungus development as well we propose in this project a deeper investigation about its functional role in N. crassa.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BONI, Ana Carolina. Caracterização funcional do produto da ORF NCU03043 de Neurospora crassa homólogo ao fator de transcrição FlbC de Aspergillus nidulans. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Química. Araraquara Araraquara.