Mechanisms of Hyphal Tip Growth: Tube Dwelling Amebae Revisited

Authors: Heath I.B.; Steinberg G.

Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology, Volume 28, Number 2, November 1999 , pp. 79-93(15)

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Abstract:

Over 100 years ago, Reinhardt suggested that hyphal tip growth is comparable to ameboid movement inside a tube; the apical cytoplasm being protruded like a pseudopodium with the wall assembled on its surface. There are increasing data from hyphae which are explicable by this model. Fungi produce pseudopodia-like structures and their cytoplasm contains all of the major components implicated in pseudopodium production in animal cells. Most of these components are concentrated in hyphal tips and tip growth involves actin, a major component of pseudopodia. Together these data indicate that the essence of the ameboid model is still tenable. However, detailed mechanisms of tip growth remain too poorly known to provide definitive proof of the model and the behavior of the trailing cytoplasm indicates differences which are probably a response to the walled lifestyle. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

Affiliations: Institut für Genetik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 4700 Keele Street, München, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Germany

Publication date: 1999-11-01