@article{GarciaMartinezBrunkAvalosetal.2015,
  author    = {Garc{\´i}a-Mart{\´i}nez, Jorge and Brunk, Michael and Avalos, Javier and Terpitz, Ulrich},
  title     = {The CarO rhodopsin of the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi is a light-driven proton pump that retards spore germination},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  number    = {7798},
  doi       = {10.1038/srep07798},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149049},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Rhodopsins are membrane-embedded photoreceptors found in all major taxonomic kingdoms using retinal as their chromophore. They play well-known functions in different biological systems, but their roles in fungi remain unknown. The filamentous fungus Fusarium fujikuroi contains two putative rhodopsins, CarO and OpsA. The gene carO is light-regulated, and the predicted polypeptide contains all conserved residues required for proton pumping. We aimed to elucidate the expression and cellular location of the fungal rhodopsin CarO, its presumed proton-pumping activity and the possible effect of such function on F. fujikuroi growth. In electrophysiology experiments we confirmed that CarO is a green-light driven proton pump. Visualization of fluorescent CarO-YFP expressed in F. fujikuroi under control of its native promoter revealed higher accumulation in spores (conidia) produced by light-exposed mycelia. Germination analyses of conidia from carO\(^{-}\) mutant and carO\(^{+}\) control strains showed a faster development of light-exposed carO-germlings. In conclusion, CarO is an active proton pump, abundant in light-formed conidia, whose activity slows down early hyphal development under light. Interestingly, CarO-related rhodopsins are typically found in plant-associated fungi, where green light dominates the phyllosphere. Our data provide the first reliable clue on a possible biological role of a fungal rhodopsin.},
  language  = {en}
}