wetA is the late-acting regulator of the brlA -> abaA -> wetA central regulatory pathway controlling asexual sporulation (conidiation) in Aspergillus nidulans. Activated during conidiogenesis by the sequential expression of brlA and abaA, WetA is required for synthesis of the conidial cell-wall layers that make spores impermeable and for the final maturation stages of the conidium. In wetA mutants, conidia form normally but fail to mature (Stages II and III), take up water and autolyse (the "wet-white" phenotype). WetA activates spore-specific gene expression, driving conidial wall assembly and pigment deposition; its own molecular mechanism is that of a developmental regulator of gene expression rather than a characterized sequence-specific DNA-binding factor.
| GO Term | Evidence | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| GO:0006357 regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II | IBA GO_REF:0000033 | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA regulates transcription of spore-specific genes. Reason: WetA activates spore-specific gene expression during conidial maturation; IBA is concordant with experimental evidence (PMID:1986246). Supporting Evidence: PMID:1986246 It did not lead to activation of brlA or abaA but did cause accumulation of transcripts from genes that are normally expressed specifically during the late stages of conidiation and whose mRNAs are stored in mature spores. PMID:1986246 The Aspergillus nidulans wetA gene is required for synthesis of cell wall layers that make asexual spores (conidia) impermeable. |
| GO:0048315 conidium formation | IMP PMID:20966095 AbaA and WetA govern distinct stages of Aspergillus fumigatu... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA is required for conidium formation/maturation. Reason: Cross-species and A. nidulans evidence place WetA as the late regulator required to complete conidium maturation. |
| GO:0048315 conidium formation | IMP PMID:2180753 Conidium differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans wild-type a... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA is required for conidium maturation. Reason: wetA mutant conidia form but fail to mature during Stages II and III. Supporting Evidence: PMID:2180753 Conidia of the wetA6 mutant strain formed normally but failed to mature during Stages II and III |
| GO:0048315 conidium formation | IMP PMID:2823119 Isolation and physical characterization of three essential c... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process (duplicate). Essential conidiation gene. Reason: wetA is one of the essential conidiation genes required for conidium formation. |
| GO:0048315 conidium formation | IMP PMID:5366214 A mutational analysis of conidial development in Aspergillus... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process (duplicate). Mutational analysis of conidial development. Reason: Classic mutational analysis supports wetA's requirement for conidium formation. |
| GO:0042243 asexual spore wall assembly | IMP PMID:2180753 Conidium differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans wild-type a... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA is required for asexual spore-wall assembly. Reason: wetA is required for synthesis of the conidial cell-wall layers that make spores impermeable; wetA mutants fail to condense inner wall layers. Supporting Evidence: PMID:1986246 The Aspergillus nidulans wetA gene is required for synthesis of cell wall layers that make asexual spores (conidia) impermeable PMID:2180753 Conidia of the wetA6 mutant strain formed normally but failed to mature during Stages II and III |
| GO:0046148 pigment biosynthetic process | IMP PMID:2088177 Molecular genetics of Aspergillus development. | KEEP AS NON CORE | Summary: Keep as non-core. WetA acts upstream of conidial pigment biosynthesis via gene regulation. Reason: WetA activates spore-specific genes including those for conidial wall/pigment; its effect on pigment biosynthesis is an indirect, downstream regulatory consequence rather than a core enzymatic role. |
| GO:0075307 positive regulation of conidium formation | IMP PMID:2180753 Conidium differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans wild-type a... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA positively regulates conidium formation/maturation. Reason: Loss of wetA blocks conidial maturation, establishing a positive-regulatory role. Supporting Evidence: PMID:2180753 Conidia of the wetA6 mutant strain formed normally but failed to mature during Stages II and III |
| GO:0006357 regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II | IMP PMID:2823119 Isolation and physical characterization of three essential c... | ACCEPT | Summary: Accept. WetA regulates Pol II transcription of spore-specific genes. Reason: Consistent with wetA activating spore-specific gene expression within the dependent pathway. |
| GO:0075307 positive regulation of conidium formation | IEP PMID:2823119 Isolation and physical characterization of three essential c... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process (duplicate). Expression pattern consistent with positive regulation of conidiation. Reason: IEP evidence consistent with WetA as a positive regulator of conidium formation. |
| GO:0045944 positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II | IMP PMID:1986246 Aspergillus nidulans wetA activates spore-specific gene expr... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process. WetA positively regulates transcription of spore-specific genes. Reason: Forced wetA expression causes accumulation of spore-specific gene transcripts, demonstrating positive regulation of transcription. Supporting Evidence: PMID:1986246 It did not lead to activation of brlA or abaA but did cause accumulation of transcripts from genes that are normally expressed specifically during the late stages of conidiation and whose mRNAs are stored in mature spores. PMID:1986246 The Aspergillus nidulans wetA gene is required for synthesis of cell wall layers that make asexual spores (conidia) impermeable. |
| GO:0075307 positive regulation of conidium formation | IMP PMID:5366214 A mutational analysis of conidial development in Aspergillus... | ACCEPT | Summary: Core process (duplicate). Positive regulation of conidium formation. Reason: Mutational analysis supports WetA's positive-regulatory role in conidium formation. |
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