2 NEW GENES INVOLVED IN SIGNALING AMBIENT PH IN ASPERGILLUS-NIDULANS

Two new genes, palH and palI, where mutations mimic the effects of acidic growth pH have been identified in Aspergillus nidulans. A palH mutation is phenotypically indistinguishable from mutations in the palA, palB, palC, and palF genes, whereas palI mutations differ only in that they allow some growth at pH 8. Mutations in palA, B, C, F, and H are epistatic to a palI mutation and the significance of this epistasis is discussed. Additionally, palE and palB mutations have been shown to be allelic. Thus, a total of six genes where mutations mimic acidic growth conditions has been identified.