Role of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase PtkA in the Morphogenetic Cycle of Aspergillus Nidulans

• Antragstellerin: Dr. Friederike Bathe
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Zellbiologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2011
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 57730436

Asexual development of Aspergillus nidulans requires dramatic adaptations in cell morphology and cell cycle regulation. The cyclin PclA is essential for the late stages of sporulation and interacts with the Cdc2-like kinases NimXcdc2 and PtkA. NimX is the main cell cycle regulator in A. nidulans, but the functional role of PtkA is unknown so far. Its Candida albicans homologue was found to be essential for the initiation of the filamentous growth mode, indicating a role of this kinase in the coordination of the cell cycle and polar growth. Aim of this project is the investigation of the functional role of PtkA in the morphogenetic cycle of A. nidulans. The effects of ptkA-deletion and overexpression on asexual development, hyphal morphology, cell cycle progression and organization of the cytoskeleton will be characterized. Using fluorescently tagged constructs, I will study the cell cycle dependent localization of PtkA and test for interactions with the cytoskeleton and polarity marker proteins. Additionally, ptkA expression levels and the occurrence of different splice variants as well as PtkA phosphorylation states during asexual development will be examined.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Gastgeber: Professor Dr. Reinhard Fischer