Abstract
Transport assays allow the direct kinetic analysis of a specific transporter by measuring apparent Km and Vmax values, and permit the characterization of substrate specificity profiles through competition assays. In this protocol, we describe a rapid and easy method for performing uptake assays in the model filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans. These assays make use of A. nidulans germinating conidiospores, thus avoiding technical difficulties associated with the use of mycelia. The ease of construction genetic null mutants in this model fungus permits the rigorous characterization of any transporter in the absence of similar transporters with overlapping specificities, a common problem in relevant studies.
Keywords: Ascomycetes, Fungi, Kinetics, Specifcity, Transporter
Materials and Reagents
Equipment
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Procedure
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Acknowledgments
This protocol was adapted from the following publications: Diallinas et al. (1995); Koukaki et al. (2005); Meintanis et al. (2000); Tazebay et al. (1997). E.K. works in the laboratory of G.D, and is co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) - Research Funding Program: Thales, Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.
References
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