Expression of atrC - encoding a novel member of the ATP binding cassette transporter family in Aspergillus nidulans - is sensitive to cycloheximide

A new member of the ABC superfamily of transmembrane proteins in Aspergillu s nidulans has been cloned and characterized. The topology of conserved mot ifs subgroups AtrC in the P-glycoprotein cluster of ABC permeases, the memb ers of this subfamily, are known to participate in multidrug resistance (MD R) in diverse organisms. Alignment results display significant amino acid s imilarity to AfuMDR1 and AflMDR1 from Aspergillus fumigatus and flavus, res pectively. Northern analysis reveals that atrC mRNA levels are 10-fold incr eased in response to cycloheximide. Evidence for the existence of eight add itional hitherto unpublished ABC transporter proteins in A. nidulans is pro vided. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.