The ability to form a hyphal network is a hallmark of filamentous fungi. In filamentous ascomycete species such as Neurospora crassa, an individual hypha (a multinucleate, multicellular filament with incomplete crosswalls) grows by hyphal tip extension and branching. Behind the growing colony margin, fusions between hyphae are continuously formed, yielding a network of interconnected hyphae, which make up the fungal individual. Although the capacity to form a network is ubiquitous in filamentous fungi, little is known about how they form and function. Our studies have revealed a complex and carefully regulated biological process.
Self/nonself discrimination is a ubiquitous and essential function of both multicellular and microbial species. In filamentous fungi, nonself recognition is important during vegetative growth. Our work has shown that hyphal fusion between genetically dissimilar individuals results in rejection of heterokaryon formation and programmed cell death of the fusion compartment. Heterokaryon incompatibility in filamentous fungi has been shown to reduce the risk of transmission of pathogenic elements, such as infectious virus-like dsRNAs.
Bioenergy: Plant Cell Wall Degradation In order to significantly improve plant cell wall degradation and the processing of plant biomass by fungi, we must first understand the principles of these pathways. We are using genetics, genomics and biochemical tools to address these questions, focusing on two related areas: the fungal enzyme secretion pathway and the plant biomass degradation pathway. We are using the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa as a model cellulolytic fungus to address these questions, and subsequently we will extend these results to other cellulolytic fungi, such as Trichoderma reesei (soft-rot), Phanerochaete chrysosporium (white-rot), and Postia placenta (Brown-rot).
