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G‐protein coupled receptor‐mediated nutrient sensing and developmental control in A spergillus nidulans
Author(s) -
Brown Neil Andrew,
dos Reis Thaila Fernanda,
Ries Laure Nicolas Annick,
Caldana Camila,
Mah JaeHyung,
Yu JaeHyuk,
Macdonald Jeffrey M.,
Goldman Gustavo Henrique
Publication year - 2015
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/mmi.13135
Subject(s) - biology , aspergillus nidulans , nutrient sensing , g protein coupled receptor , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , nutrient , biochemistry , transmembrane protein , hypha , signal transduction , gene , botany , ecology , mutant
Summary Nutrient sensing and utilisation are fundamental for all life forms. As heterotrophs, fungi have evolved a diverse range of mechanisms for sensing and taking up various nutrients. Despite its importance, only a limited number of nutrient receptors and their corresponding ligands have been identified in fungi. G ‐protein coupled receptors ( GPCRs ) are the largest family of transmembrane receptors. The A spergillus nidulans genome encodes 16 putative GPCRs , but only a few have been functionally characterised. Our previous study showed the increased expression of an uncharacterised putative GPCR , gpr H , during carbon starvation. GprH appears conserved throughout numerous filamentous fungi. Here, we reveal that GprH is a putative receptor involved in glucose and tryptophan sensing. The absence of GprH results in a reduction in c AMP levels and PKA activity upon adding glucose or tryptophan to starved cells. GprH is pre‐formed in conidia and is increasingly active during carbon starvation, where it plays a role in glucose uptake and the recovery of hyphal growth. GprH also represses sexual development under conditions favouring sexual fruiting and during carbon starvation in submerged cultures. In summary, the GprH nutrient‐sensing system functions upstream of the c AMP ‐ PKA pathway, influences primary metabolism and hyphal growth, while represses sexual development in A . nidulans .