Calcium- and Calmodulin-mediated Protein Synthesis and Protein Phosphorylation During Germination, Growth and Protease Production by Metarhizium Anisopliae
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of General Microbiology
Volume
135
Issue
8
Publication Date
5-22-1989
First Page
2141
Last Page
2154
Abstract
Protein synthesis and phosphorylation were studied in Metarhizium anisopliae. Calmodulin (CaM) and CaM-target proteins were found in conidia and germlings of M. anisopliae. Conidial uptake of [35S]methionineand [32P]orthophosphateand their incorporation into protein was massively reduced by known antagonists of CaM, depletion of intracellular Ca2+ by ionophoresis or antagonism of Ca2+with La3+,agents which prevented nuclear division and germination. Inhibitors of C-kinase (H-7) and cyclic-nucleotide-dependentkinase (H-8) selectively repressed phosphorylation of a 27 kDa protein but did not affect the profile of protein synthesis nor change germination frequency and mode of growth. By contrast, inhibitor and ionophoresis studies on mycelia showed that extracellular secretion of proteins but not protein synthesis was Ca2+-dependent.Protein phosphorylation in mycelia was also Ca2+-dependent/ CaM-independent. CaM antagonists stimulated phosphorylation of 17 and 33kDa poly- peptides. Most proteins in mycelia were phosphorylated at serine and threonine residues. However, immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine serum revealed prominent bands at 34.5 and 38 kDa. The 38 kDa protein was detectable on isolated plasma membranes. Our results suggest that M. anisopliae possesses stimulus transduction pathways similar to those known in plant and animal systems.
Recommended Citation
St. Leger, R.J., D.W. Roberts and R.C. Staples. 1989. Calcium- and calmodulin-mediated protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation during germination, growth and protease production by Metarhizium anisopliae. J. Gen. Microbiology 135: 2141-2154.