Differential effects of anticytoskeletal compounds on the localization and chemical patterns of actin in germinating conidia of Neurospora crassa

Abstract

Anti-actin drugs, cytochalasins A and B, inhibited both normal single, and benomyl-induced multiple, germ tube outgrowth from conidia of Neurospora crassa. Actin was cytochemically found to be concentrated in each of the benomyl-induced germ tube tips. No significant quantitative changes either in total actin or its isoforms were measured in the inhibitor-treated germlings. While intact microtubules are required for normal, monopolar axiation of the germ tube, they appear not to be necessary for benomyl-induced multipolar outgrowth which, in contrast, still requires intact actin microfilaments. Microfilaments and microtubules thus play complementary roles in the normal germination of conidia.

Actin, Cytoskeletal inhibitors, Multiple germ tubes, Neurospora crassa