A novel dehydrin-like protein from Aspergillus fumigatus regulates freezing tolerance.

We recently reported on DprA and DprB, dehydrin-like proteins involved in the protection against oxidative, osmotic and pH stress in Aspergillus fumigatus. A third dehydrin-like gene, DprC, was detected in the genome of the filamentous fungus and repressed during conidial germination. The deletion mutant was impaired in freezing tolerance. The DprC-mediated response was dependent on the SakA MAP kinase pathway, and accordingly, SakA phosphorylation was induced by cold shock. When fused to eGFP, the protein was associated with the vacuoles.