flbD encodes a Myb-like DNA-binding protein that coordinates initiation of Aspergillus nidulans conidiophore development

Abstract

The timing of asexual fruiting body formation during Aspergillus nidulans colony development is precisely regulated so that conidiophores are typically produced 1-2 mm behind the growing edge of the colony. Mutations in any of four A. nidulans genes, flbB, flbC, flbD, or flbE, result in colonies that are delayed at least 24 hr in their ability to initiate conidiophore development resulting in fluffy colonies with conidiophores forming in the center, at least 12-15 mm behind the growing edge. The requirement for each of these four genes in determining the timing of developmental initiation precedes transcriptional activation of the primary developmental regulatory gene brlA, indicating a possible role for each gene in developmentally regulated activation of brlA expression. The wild-type flbD gene was isolated and shown to encode an approximately 1.6-kb mRNA that is present throughout the A. nidulans life cycle. The deduced FlbD protein sequence predicts a 314-amino-acid polypeptide with significant identity at its amino terminus to the DNA-binding domain of the Myb family of transcription factors indicating that FlbD probably functions as a sequence-specific transcriptional activator. Although conidiophore development does not normally occur in submerged culture, forced overexpression of flbD in submerged hyphae caused inappropriate activation of brlA expression and resulted in production of complex conidiophores that produced all of the distinct cell types observed in wild-type conidiophores including viable spores. This ability of flbD overexpression to activate conidiation requires brlA, flbB, and flbA (another early developmental regulator) but does not require flbC or flbE. We propose that FlbD functions during normal development by activating transcription of other genes required for development (such as brlA) and that FlbD activity is normally controlled post-transcriptionally by an unknown mechanism.