The band mutation in Neurospora crassa is a dominant allele of ras-1 implicating RAS signaling in circadian output

Genes Dev. 2007 Jun 15;21(12):1494-505. doi: 10.1101/gad.1551707.

Abstract

band, an allele enabling clear visualization of circadianly regulated spore formation (conidial banding), has remained an integral tool in the study of circadian rhythms for 40 years. bd was mapped using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), cloned, and determined to be a T79I point mutation in ras-1. Alterations in light-regulated gene expression in the ras-1(bd) mutant suggests that the Neurospora photoreceptor WHITE COLLAR-1 is a target of RAS signaling, and increases in transcription of both wc-1 and fluffy show that regulators of conidiation are elevated in ras-1(bd). Comparison of ras-1(bd) with dominant active and dominant-negative ras-1 mutants and biochemical assays of RAS function indicate that RAS-1(bd) displays a modest enhancement of GDP/GTP exchange and no change in GTPase activity. Because the circadian clock in ras-1(bd) appears to be normal, ras-1(bd) apparently acts to amplify a subtle endogenous clock output signal under standard assay conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can affect and be affected by RAS signaling, increase conidiation, suggesting a link between generation of ROS and RAS-1 signaling; surprisingly, however, ROS levels are not elevated in ras-1(bd). The data suggest that interconnected RAS- and ROS-responsive signaling pathways regulate the amplitude of circadian- and light-regulated gene expression in Neurospora.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Circadian Rhythm / genetics
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurospora crassa / genetics*
  • Neurospora crassa / physiology*
  • Point Mutation
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / chemistry
  • ras Proteins / genetics*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Transcription Factors
  • wc-1 protein, Neurospora crassa
  • ras Proteins