INTRAHYPHAL COMMUNICATION IN SEGMENTED MYCELIUM

Belozerskaya, T. A., and Potapova, T. V. 1993. Intrahyphal communication in segmented mycelium. Experimental Mycology 17, 157-169. Intercellular interactions are characterized in the living hyphae of Neurospora crassa under controlled environmental conditions. The intercellular diffusion between the adjacent hyphal compartments appears to be genetically determined. It appears to be regulated by blue light and by the membrane potential gradient between the adjacent cells. Different mechanisms of growth in the hyphal apices and intercalary compartments have been revealed using the microelectrode technique. Experimental data demonstrate the possibility of energy transfer in the electrically coupled cells via ionic fluxes, which might promote local metabolic specialization of individual hyphal segments and favor their functional heterogeneity. On the basis of this hypothesis, a possibility of temporary reversible specialization of hyphal cells in the processes of growth and development has been proposed. Thus, the fungal mycelium appears to be composed of communication compartments which are an ensemble of cells with local metabolic specialization. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.