Molecular cloning and functional characterization ofavaB, a gene encoding Vam6p/Vps39p-like protein inAspergillus nidulans

Authors:
  • JMJun-Ichi Maruyama
    Jun-Ichi Maruyama
  • MAManabu Arioka
    Manabu Arioka
  • HNHarushi Nakajima
    Harushi Nakajima
  • KKKatsuhiko Kitamoto
    Katsuhiko Kitamoto
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Vam6p/Vps39p plays a critical role in the tethering steps of vacuolar membrane fusion by facilitating guanine nucleotide exchange on small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Vam4p/Ypt7p. We report here the identification and characterization of a novel protein in Aspergillus nidulans, AvaB, that exhibits similarity to Vam6p/Vps39p and plays a critical role in vacuolar morphogenesis in A. nidulans. AvaB is comprised of 1058 amino acids with amino-terminal citron homology (CNH) and central clathrin homology (CLH) domains, as observed for other Vam6p/Vps39p family proteins. Disruption of avaB in A. nidulans resulted in the fragmentation of vacuoles and reduced growth rate under various growth conditions, implying its importance in maintaining vacuolar morphology and function. Yeast two-hybrid analysis demonstrated the interaction of AvaB with AvaA, a Vam4p/Ypt7p homolog in A. nidulans, as well as the homooligomer formation of AvaB, suggesting that AvaB performs its function through hetero- or homophilic protein-protein interactions.

This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit: