Fig. 4.

The conserved GATA factor NsdD is required for mating. (A) Deletion of nsdD and Southern analysis after EcoRV (E) digestion; recognition sites are schematically indicated together with calculated fragment sizes, and the black bar corresponds to the hybridization probe position. (B) Growth phenotypes of an nsdDΔ strain on minimal medium, characterized by reduced hyphal extension (top view) and darkening of mycelium (bottom view), which is reversed after reconstitution (nsdD^rc). (C) Mating capacities of the nsdDΔ deletant. Neither aerial hyphae nor fruiting bodies were formed in the barrage zone (top close-up image) between the deletant AfS14 (nsdDΔ; MAT1-1) and the MAT1-2 strain Af293. For comparison, the barrage zone of the reconstituted strain AfS69 with a MAT1-2 mating-type partner is shown (bottom close-up image), in which aerial hyphae as early indicators of the mating process are formed.