How Fungi Survive by Recycling the Dead
When the fungus Ustilago maydis feeds on nutrients released from dead cells, it can also be exposed to DNA-damaging substances. This means that growth and reproduction after extreme stress, when microbes rely on recycling material from dead cells, are risky processes that must be tightly controlled to protect genetic material. To cope with this challenge, the fungus uses specialized systems that regulate the cell cycle, repair DNA and enable growth under stress. The study identified several key genes involved in this balance, including a newly discovered molecule called Rdf1.
The research was conducted within the project GENOVA funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia through the IDEAS program and it was conducted with help from colleagues at the Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”.