Mysterious Bem46 Gene Function Decoded

The gene bem46 is found in all creatures with cells having a nucleus, including fungi. It is considered as a "known-unknown gene" since its function is still quite unknown despite being a known gene. Now, scientists of Kiel University, Germany show for the first time the link between bem46 and reproduction and growth processes in fungus.

"In the present study, we established a bem46 knock-out strain of Neurospora crassa. This bem46 mutant exhibited ascospore germination lower than wild type, but much higher than the previously characterized bem46-overexpressing and RNAi lines", says Professor Kempken, senior scientist of the current study.

Reinvestigation of the RNAi N. crassa strains revealed the presence of two types of alternative mRNA from bem46. Expression of any of the two of these alternative mRNAs leads to loss of ascospore germination. These results indicate that the low germination in RNAi lines was not due to bem46 downregulation, but was caused by the alternative mRNAs.

The team also investigated the indole production of the three N. crassa strains in different developmental stages. "Our findings suggest that indole biosynthesis gene regulation was influenced by bem46 overexpression", says Professor Kempken.

For more on this story, kindly visit: http://www.uni-kiel.de/pressemeldungen/?pmid=2014-183-pilzgen&lang=en.