Interactions between the developmental program and cell cycle regulation of Aspergillus nidulans

Aspergillus nidulans is a multicellular fungus being used to study developmental regulation and cell cycle regulation. Genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying both processes have been characterized. Two types of observations suggest that there is significant interaction between cell cycle and developmental regulatory mechanisms. First, A. nidulans development involves the formation of specialized cell types that contain different, but specific, numbers of nuclei that are differentially regulated for cell cycle progression. Second, mutations directly affecting nuclear division can have major affects on cell differentiation during development. In this essay we describe these interactions and point out potential mechanisms for the cross talk between morphogenesis and the cell cycle that are tractable for future experimental investigation.