Identification of conidial-enriched transcripts in Aspergillus nidulans using suppression subtractive hybridization

We have isolated and sequence-identified 12 genes whose transcripts are significantly enriched in Aspergillus nidulans conidia. To identify these genes, we used the method of suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH). One of the 12 genes is similar to plant thaumatin-like proteins that have antifungal properties. Four genes encode metabolic enzymes crucial in the synthesis of glucose, carbohydrates, nucleic acid, and amino acid precursors. The rest are of unknown function. We have analyzed the pattern of expression of the 12 conidial-enriched transcripts in wild-type and mutant strains of A. nidulans blocked at different stages of conidial development. Our results indicate that the conidial-enriched transcripts can be divided into four classes based on their expression pattern in the wild-type and mutant strains. Study of the genes identified in this report may enhance our understanding of the process of conidial formation and germination.