Abstract
Psi factor is a substance produced by Aspergillus nidulans that induces premature sexual sporulation. Chromatographic analysis of psi-active extracts showed that psi activity resides in several different forms. Two of the forms, psiA1 and psiB1, have been isolated and have been shown to have closely similar compositions. The most abundant form, psiA1, reacts with alcohols in acidic solution by the addition of one entire molecule of the alcohol. This reaction, which is reversible, suggests that psiA1 may be a lactone whose ring is opened by alcohol addition. At high concentration, psiA1 is antagonistic to the response exhibited by the other forms of psi, but this antagonism is lost by the alcoholic derivatives. At least one unpurified psi species can be converted to psiA1 by acid catalysis. We suggest that psiA1 may be the metabolic precursor of at least some of the other more active psi components and that this conversion during Aspergillus development may be part of the process that triggers sexual sporulation.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Butnick N. Z., Yager L. N., Hermann T. E., Kurtz M. B., Champe S. P. Mutants of Aspergillus nidulans blocked at an early stage of sporulation secrete an unusual metabolite. J Bacteriol. 1984 Nov;160(2):533–540. doi: 10.1128/jb.160.2.533-540.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Butnick N. Z., Yager L. N., Kurtz M. B., Champe S. P. Genetic analysis of mutants of Aspergillus nidulans blocked at an early stage of sporulation. J Bacteriol. 1984 Nov;160(2):541–545. doi: 10.1128/jb.160.2.541-545.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Champe S. P., Rao P., Chang A. An endogenous inducer of sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans. J Gen Microbiol. 1987 May;133(5):1383–1387. doi: 10.1099/00221287-133-5-1383. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kurtz M. B., Champe S. P. Dominant spore color mutants of Aspergillus nidulans defective in germination and sexual development. J Bacteriol. 1981 Nov;148(2):629–638. doi: 10.1128/jb.148.2.629-638.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kwon K. J., Raper K. B. Sexuality and cultural characteristics of Aspergillus heterothallicus. Am J Bot. 1967 Jan;54(1):36–48. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Timberlake W. E. Developmental gene regulation in Aspergillus nidulans. Dev Biol. 1980 Aug;78(2):497–510. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(80)90349-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yager L. N., Kurtz M. B., Champe S. P. Temperature-shift analysis of conidial development in Aspergillus nidulans. Dev Biol. 1982 Sep;93(1):92–103. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(82)90242-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]