1887

Abstract

The response of Fusarium graminearum to choline, acetylcholine and a number of related analogues was investigated and their ability to induce a morphological response quantified. A number of mutants resistant to the alkylating agent nitrogen mustard (nim strains) were generated and found to have lost the ability to transport choline. These mutants were found to be insensitive to choline and acetylcholine but not to betaine, ethanolamine and other analogues. In addition, the non-competitive inhibitor hemicholinium-3 was also found to reduce the morphological effect of choline, proving that transport of choline into the hypha is essential for the morphological response. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors blocked the morphological response to acetylcholine but had no effect on the response to choline, suggesting the presence of a membrane- or wall-bound acetylcholinesterase that hydrolyses acetylcholine to choline which subsequently induces the morphological response. Studies on the chitin synthase activity revealed that addition of choline caused a transient 75% increase in chitin synthase activity within 30 s, the rate rapidly returning to that observed before the addition of choline. No such effect was observed with the mutants.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journal/micro/10.1099/13500872-141-6-1309
1995-06-01
2024-03-29
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/micro/141/6/mic-141-6-1309.html?itemId=/content/journal/micro/10.1099/13500872-141-6-1309&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Binks P.R., Robson G.D., Goosey M.W., Humphreys A., Trinci A.P.J. 1990; Chitin synthesis inFusarium graminearum and its inhibition by edifenphos.. Gen Microbiol 137:615–620
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Kinney A.J., Moore T.S. 1988; Phosphatidylcholine synthesis in castor bean endosperm. I. Metabolism of L-serine.. Plant Physiol 84:78–81
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Li Z., Haase E., Brendel M. 1991; Hyper-resistance to nitrogen mustard inSaccharomyces cerevisiae is caused by defective choline transport.. Curr Genet 19:423–427
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Richardson M., Speed D.J. 1969; Utilisation of betaine aldehyde by choline (chol-) mutants ofNeurospora crassa. . Arch Mikrohiol 66:199–202
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Robson G.D., Wiebe M.G., Trinci A.P.J. 1991; Exogenous cAMP and cGMP modulate branching inFusarium graminearum. . J Gen Microbiol 137:963–969
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Robson G.D., Best L.C., Wiebe M.G., Trinci A.P.J. 1992; Choline transport inFusarium graminearum A3/5.. FEMS Microbiol Eett 92:247–252
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Robson G.D., Wiebe M.G., Trinci A.P.J. 1994; Betaine transport inFusarium graminearum. . Mycol Res 98:176–178
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Strange R.S., Smith H. 1971; A fungal growth stimulant in anthers which predisposes wheat to attack byFusarium graminearum in vitro. . Physiol Plant Pathol 1:141–150
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Strange R.S., Smith H. 1978; Effect of choline, betaine and wheat-germ extract on growth of cereal pathogens.. Frans Br Mycol Soc 70:193–199
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Strange R.S., Majer J.R., Smith H. 1974; The isolation and identification of choline and betaine as the two major components in anthers and wheat germ that stimulateFusarium graminearum in vitro. . Physiol Plant Pathol 4:277–290
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Trinci A.P.J. 1971; Influence of the peripheral growth zone on the radial growth rate of fungal colonies.. J Gen Microbiol 67:325–344
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Vogel H.J. 1956; A convenient growth medium forNeurospora(medium N).. Microb Genet Bull 13:42–44
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Wiebe M.G., Robson G.D., Trinci A.P.J. 1989; Effect of choline on the morphology, growth and phospholipid composition ofFusarium graminearum. . J Gen Microbiol 135:2155–2162
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Wiebe M.G., Robson G.D., Trinci A.P.J. 1992; Evidence for the independent regulation of hyphal extension and branch initiation inFusarium graminearum AFfS. . FEMS Microbiol Eett 90:179–184
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journal/micro/10.1099/13500872-141-6-1309
Loading
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/13500872-141-6-1309
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error