Glucose sensing and light regulation: A mutation in the glucose sensor RCO-3 modifies photoadaptation in Neurospora crassa

Light regulates fungal gene transcription transiently leading to photoadaptation. In the ascomycete Neurospora crassa photoadaptation is mediated by interactions between a light-regulated transcription factor complex, the white collar complex, and the small photoreceptor VVD. Other proteins, like the RCO-1/RCM-1 repressor complex participate indirectly in photoadaptation. We show that RCO-3, a protein with high similarity to glucose transporters, is needed for photoadaptation. The mutation in rco-3 modifies the transcriptional response to light of several genes and leads to changes in photoadaptation without significantly changing the amount and regulation of WC-1. The mutation in rco-3, however, does not modify the capacity of the circadian clock to be reset by light. Our results add support to the proposal that there is a connection between glucose sensing and light regulation in Neurospora and that the fungus integrates different environmental signals to regulate transcription. (C) 2017 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.