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The Spitzenkörper: a signalling hub for the control of fungal development?
Author(s) -
Harris Steven D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06803.x
Subject(s) - biology , multicellular organism , aspergillus nidulans , morphogenesis , hypha , conidium , spore , microbiology and biotechnology , signalling , botany , genetics , mutant , cell , gene
Summary In Aspergillus nidulans , asexual development culminates in the formation of a multicellular conidiophore that bears spores known as conidia. Although several factors required for conidiophore formation have been characterized, the mechanisms underlying the transition from vegetative growth to development remain obscure. However, the recent characterization of two of these factors, FlbB and FlbE, provides important new insight. Notably, these studies suggest that the Spitzenkörper (i.e. apical body), which is known to regulate hyphal morphogenesis, might also serve as a signalling hub that co‐ordinates development transitions.