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A third gene affecting GABA transaminase levels in Aspergillans nidulus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

Christopher R. Bailey
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, England
Herbert N. Arst Jr
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, England Department of Genetics, Ridley Building, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England
Hugh A. Penfold
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, England
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Mutations in the gatB gene as well as mutations in the putative structural gene gatA and the positive acting regulatory gene intA can affect γ-amino-n-butyrate (GABA) transaminase (EC 2.6.1.19) levels in the ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Partial or complete loss of function mutations in gatA, gatB and ssuA, which specifies succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, can lead to accumulation of ω-amino acids resulting in pseudo-constitutivity and elevated expression of (retained) activities under intA control. These regulatory effects underlie selective methods for gatB, ssuA and leaky gatA mutations. However, all three gatB alleles which have been selected lead only to partial loss of GABA transaminase activity as judged by both in vivo and in vitro criteria. It has not been established whether the leakiness of these three gatB mutations is an allele-specific or a locus-specific effect and whether or not the GABA transaminase present in gatB strains differs from the wild type enzyme. Thus the role of the gatB product remains to be elucidated. The gatB gene is not closely linked to any other gene involved in ω-amino metabolism or related pathways.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

References

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