Conidial germination in Neurospora crassa was inhibited
by the anticalmodulin (CaM) agents calmidazolium (CaMZ) and
trifluoperazine (TFP), indicating the importance of CaM-dependent events
during vegetative growth. An increase in intracellular CaM
concentration, observed during conidial germination, was associated with
enhanced
incorporation of [3H]phenylalanine into CaM and
increased CaM-dependent protein kinase activity. Phosphorylation of two
proteins (71 and 25 kDa) during conidial germination, and
of four proteins (71, 47, 38 and 32 kDa) during hyphal elongation was noted
to
be CaM-dependent since these phosphorylations
were inhibited in vitro by CaMZ. The possible regulatory functions
of
CaM during conidial germination are discussed in relation to
phosphorylation of specific proteins during vegetative growth in N.
crassa.