Correlation between reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate levels and morphological changes in Neurospora crassa

J Bacteriol. 1970 Mar;101(3):802-7. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.3.802-807.1970.

Abstract

A colonial mutant of Neurospora crassa, previously shown to be altered in the structure of glucose-6-P dehydrogenase [a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) producing reaction], contained only 40% as much NADPH in extracts as did the wild type. A partial revertant strain, when grown at 23 C, had the same total NADPH content as the wild type, but, at 34 C, had lower levels of NADPH as well as a colonial morphology. A revertant with complete wild-type morphology had wild-type levels of NADPH. Two different colonial mutants, which have also been reported to be altered in NADPH-generating reactions, were found to have a lower content of NADPH, whereas other colonial mutants had wild-type levels. The wild-type strain, when grown under conditions in which it contained a lower total content of NADPH, had a morphology similar to that of a colonial mutant. The evidence indicates that lowered NADPH content leads to a dramatic alteration in the morphology of Neurospora, but not necessarily vice versa. The possible pleiotropic effects of the NADPH deficiency are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Genetics, Microbial
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Mutation*
  • NAD / analysis
  • NAD / metabolism
  • NADP / analysis
  • NADP / metabolism*
  • Neurospora / growth & development*
  • Neurospora / metabolism
  • Spectrophotometry

Substances

  • NAD
  • NADP
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase