Catalase activity is necessary for heat-shock recovery in Aspergillus nidulans germlings

• Published in: Microbiology (Society for General Microbiology) Vol. 145; no. 11; pp. 3229 - 3234
• Main Authors: Noventa-Jordao, M.A, Couto, R.M, Goldman, M.H.S, Aguirre, J, Iyer, S, Caplan, A, Terenzi, H.F, Goldman, G.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01-11-1999; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Action of physical and chemical agents; Aspergillus nidulans; Aspergillus nidulans - drug effects; Aspergillus nidulans - enzymology; Aspergillus nidulans - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; catA gene; Catalase - genetics; Catalase - metabolism; Chromatography, Gas; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Gene Deletion; Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; mannitol; Mannitol - metabolism; Microbiology; Mycology; plant biochemistry; plant physiology; RNA, Fungal - analysis; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Time Factors; Trehalose - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Trehalose; Enzyme; Gene expression; Hydrogen Peroxides; Fungi; Resistance; Peroxidases; Catalase; Aspergillus nidulans; Thermal shock; Mannitol; Fungi Imperfecti; Oxidoreductases; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 1350-0872; 1465-2080
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-145-11-3229

To understand the molecular mechanisms induced by stress that contribute to the development of tolerance in eukaryotic cells, the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has been chosen as a model system. Here, the response of A. nidulans germlings to heat shock is reported. The heat treatment dramatically increased the concentration of trehalose and induced the accumulation of mannitol and mRNA from the catalase gene catA. Both mannitol and catalase function to protect cells from different reactive oxygen species. Treatment with hydrogen peroxide increased A. nidulans germling viability after heat shock whilst mutants deficient in catalase were more sensitive to a 50 degrees C heat exposure. It is concluded that the defence against the lethal effects of heat exposure can be correlated with the activity of the defence system against oxidative stress.