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. 1994 Aug 15;13(16):3917–3924. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06703.x

The calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase catalytic subunit (calcineurin A) is an essential gene in Aspergillus nidulans.

C Rasmussen 1, C Garen 1, S Brining 1, R L Kincaid 1, R L Means 1, A R Means 1
PMCID: PMC395305  PMID: 8070419

Abstract

The gene encoding the homologue of the catalytic subunit of the Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin A) has been isolated from Aspergillus nidulans. This gene, cnaA+, is essential in this fungal system. Analysis of growth-arrested cells following gene disruption by homologous recombination reveals that they are blocked early in the cell cycle. The cnaA+ gene encodes a 2.5 kb mRNA and the deduced protein sequence is highly homologous to the calcineurin A subunit of other species. The mRNA varies in a cell cycle-dependent manner with maximal levels found early in G1 and considerably before the G1/S boundary. As calmodulin is also essential for A. nidulans cell cycle progression and levels rise before the G1/S boundary, our data suggest that calcineurin may represent a primary target for calmodulin at this cell cycle transition point.

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Selected References

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