The Heterotrimeric G-Protein GanB(α)-SfaD(β)-GpgA(γ) Is a Carbon Source Sensor Involved in Early cAMP-Dependent Germination in Aspergillus nidulans

The role of heterotrimeric G-proteins in cAMP-dependent germination of conidia was investigated in the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans. We demonstrate that the Gα-subunit GanB mediates a rapid and transient activation of cAMP synthesis in response to glucose during the early period of germination. Moreover, deletion of individual G-protein subunits resulted in defective trehalose mobilization and altered germination kinetics, indicating that GanB(α)-SfaD(β)-GpgA(γ) constitutes a functional heterotrimer and controls cAMP/PKA signaling in response to glucose as well as conidial germination. Further genetic analyses suggest that GanB plays a primary role in cAMP/PKA signaling, whereas the SfaD-GpgA (Gβγ) heterodimer is crucial for proper activation of GanB signaling sensitized by glucose. In addition, the RGS protein RgsA is also involved in regulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway and germination via attenuation of GanB signaling. Genetic epistatic analyses led us to conclude that all controls exerted by GanB(α)-SfaD(β)-GpgA(γ) on conidial germination are mediated through the cAMP/PKA pathway. Furthermore, GanB may function in sensing various carbon sources and subsequent activation of downstream signaling for germination.

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