• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2003

The null pigmentation mutant (npgA1) of Aspergillus nidulans was previously characterized by its production of no pigment at any stage of its life cycle, its reduction in hyphal branching, and its delay in the asexual spore development. The chemical composition of the cell wall was also altered in npgA1 mutants that became more sensitive to Novozyme 234$\^$TM/, which is possibly due to a structural defect in the cell wall. To investigate the effects of the cell wall structure on these pleiomorphic phenomena, we examined the ultrastructure of the cell wall in the npgA1 mutant (WX17). Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed that after being cultured for six days, the outermost layer of the conidial wall of WX17 peeled off. Although this phenotype suggested that the cell wall structure in WX17 may be modified, examination using TEM of the fine structure of cross-sectioned hyphal wall of WX17 did not show any differences from that of FGSC4. However, staining for carbohydrates of wall layers showed that the electron-translucent layer of the cell wall was missing in WX17. In addition, the outermost layer H1 of the hyphal wall was also absent in WX17. The ultrastructural observation and cytochemical analysis of cell walls suggested that the pigmentation defect in WX17 may be attributed to the lack of a layer in the cell wall.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2004

To investigate the effect of the cell wall on the pigmentation and branching in Aspergillus nidulans, ultrastructure of cell wall in suppressor mutant of the null pigmentation (SU-NPG, SU602) has been examined. Scanning electron microgrphs (SEM) revealed that the most outer layer of conidia wall peeled off in SU-NPG on day 6 from the complete conidiation. They also showed that hyphal growth and branching were not well developed in SU-NPG. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) showed that the plasma membrane was not crenulated and the hyphal wall was thick in SU-NPG. These results indicated that the ultrastructure of cell wall in SU-NPC might be modified. Cytochemical analysis showed that the cell wall in SU-NPG was differentiated into Cl, C3, C2 and C4 layer in conidia and H1, H3, H2 and H4 layer in hyphae. C3 layer and H3 layer existed in SU-NPG. The increment of the diameter in SU-NPG hyphae might be caused by the thickness of H3 layer. These results suggest that SU-NPG may have an immature but the differentiated structure for the pigmentation in cell wall.