The PAC-3 transcription factor critically regulates phenotype-associated genes in Neurospora crassa

Author(s)

Maíra Pompeu Martins ^[1] ; Nilce Maria Martinez-Rossi ^[2] ; Pablo Rodrigo Sanches ^[3] ; Antonio Rossi ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Genética - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Genética - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Genética - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Genética - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; v. 43, n. 3 2020-06-22.

Abstract

Abstract Transcription factors play an important role in fungal environmental adaptive process by promoting adjustment to challenging stimuli via gene modulation and activation of signaling networks. The transcription factor encoded by the pac-3/rim101/pacC gene is involved in pH regulation and is associated with a wide variety of cellular functions. The deletion of pac-3 affects fungal development. In Neurospora crassa, the Δpac-3 strain presents diminished aerial growth and reduced conidiation. However, the PAC-3-regulated genes associated with this altered phenotype have not been elucidated. In this study, we used RNA-seq to analyze the phenotypic plasticity induced after pac-3 deletion in the filamentous fungus N. crassa cultivated in media supplemented with sufficient or limited inorganic phosphate. Genes related to morphology, hyphal development, and conidiation were of particular interest in this study. Our results suggest a pac-3 dependency in gene regulation in a Pi-dependent manner. Furthermore, our analysis suggested that the fungus attempts to overcome the deletion effects in a Δpac-3 mutant through a complex combined regulatory mechanism. Finally, the modulatory responses observed in the Δpac-3 strain, a double mutant generated based on the Δmus-52 mutant strain, is strain-specific, highlighting that the phenotypic impact may be attributed to pac-3 absence despite the combined mus-52 deletion. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/03847-7 - Molecular characterization of mechanisms involved in pathogenicity and cell signaling in fungi
• Grantee: Nilce Maria Martinez-Rossi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/11319-1 - Transcription factors and cell signaling.
• Grantee: Maíra Pompeu Martins
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral