Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is the main mechanism allowing proper localization of secretory proteins in cell
membranes. We have isolated an
Aspergillus nidulans homolog of the human PIG-P gene, which encodes a subunit of acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GPI-GnT)—an enzyme involved in
the synthesis of GPI anchors.
A. nidulans pigP mutants have significantly decreased GPI synthesis. On solid media they show strong growth retardation (the “button” phenotype)
while in liquid minimal media they show overall good growth but with hyperbranched and bulbous hyphae with impaired septation.
Furthermore, the
pigP strains, in contrast to the wild-type, abundantly secrete a 33-kDa alkaline serine protease (ALP) into the liquid medium.
Keywords
pigP
- GPI-GlcNAc transferase - GPI anchor - Alkaline protease -
Aspergillus nidulans
Communicated by G. Braus.