Meeting Abstract

P3.129  Monday, Jan. 6 15:30   Evidence for Conserved Roles of Actin and Endocytosis in Filamentous Growth SCHULTZHAUS, ZS*; SHAW, BD; JOHNSON, TB; Texas A&M University schultzz@neo.tamu.edu

Filamentous fungi grow chiefly as hyphae, cells characterized by their extreme polarity. In these cells, new membrane and cell wall material is deposited primarily at the cell tip. Members of some fungal phyla are marked by a collection of vesicles oriented at the tip called the Spitzenkörper that directs growth, but to date no subcellular structure or process has been identified that is required for the maintenance of this distinct type of cellular polarity across all tip-growing organisms. Here, we recount the evidence for the role of a subapical zone of endocytosis in hyphal growth. Additionally, we document the presence of endocytosis in three basal fungi,show that it is likely mediated by actin, providing evidence for an evolutionarily conserved relationship between endocytosis and filamentous growth.