Differential effects of anticytoskeletal compounds on the localization and chemical patterns of actin in germinating conidia of Neurospora crassa.

Anti-actin drugs, cytochalasins A and B, inhibited both normal single, and benomyl-induced multiple, germ tube outgrowth from conidia of Neurospora crassa. Actin was cytochemically found to be concentrated in each of the benomyl-induced germ tube tips. No significant quantitative changes either in total actin or its isoforms were measured in the inhibitor-treated germlings. While intact microtubules are required for normal, monopolar axiation of the germ tube, they appear not to be necessary for benomyl-induced multipolar outgrowth which, in contrast, still requires intact actin microfilaments. Microfilaments and microtubules thus play complementary roles in the normal germination of conidia.