Cytoplasmic dynein is involved in nuclear migration in Aspergillus nidulans

Nuclear migration plays an important role in the growth and development of many organisms including the multinuclear fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We have identified four genes, nudA, nudC, nudF, and nudG, in which temperature- sensitive mutations affect nuclear distribution. In this report, we describe the cloning of the nudA gene by complementation of the mutant phenotype by using a chromosome VIII-specific cosmid library. A genomic fragment of nudA hybridized to an mRNA of ≃14 kb. Sequencing analysis of nudA revealed four ATP-binding sites that are characteristic of the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain. The amino acid sequence of the nudA gene product shows 52% overall identity with the rat brain cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain. Our study provides in vivo evidence that dynein, a microtubule motor molecule, plays a role in the nuclear migration process.