A novel dehydrin-like protein from Aspergillus fumigatus regulates freezing tolerance

We recently reported on DprA and DprB, dehydrin-like proteins involved in the protection against oxidative, osmotic and pH stress in Aspergillus fumigatus. A third dehydrin-like gene, DprC, was detected in the genome of the filamentous fungus and repressed during conidial germination. The deletion mutant was impaired in freezing tolerance. The DprC-mediated response was dependent on the SakA MAP kinase pathway, and accordingly, SakA phosphorylation was induced by cold shock. When fused to eGFP, the protein was associated with the vacuoles. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.