Characterization of PRD-1 Mutation in Neurospora crassa

In Neurospora crassa, rhythmic conidiation is controlled by several oscillators such as FRQ/WCC and FLO. The frequency (frq) gene and white collar genes (WC-1 and WC-2) are the most important components of the FRQ/WCC oscillator and prd-1 and prd-2 genes could be important components of the FLO. This project aims to characterize the prd-1 mutation. This involved mapping the mutation using PCR analyses based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. After determining a minimal interval, candidate genes were sequenced, and knockout mutants were screened in this interval for prd-1 phenotype. A candidate gene was found to have a mutation that affects the splicing of the mRNA. The identity of the gene was confirmed by complementing the prd-1 mutant with a wild type copy of the identified candidate gene. The prd-1 gene is identified as an RNA helicase.