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.

[www.uni-kiel.de]