A major transcript in the response of Neurospora crassa to protein synthesis inhibition by cycloheximide

In Neurospora crassa grown in minimal medium with 2 μ M cycloheximide, the expression of several genes was shown to be turned on. We have isolated one of those genes coding for a major transcript in this response, which newly appears after addition of cycloheximide and remains present at a high level for a long period. An open coding region for a 70-kDa protein was demonstrated by hybrid-selected translation, in agreement with the in vivo labeling of a protein with the same mobility in cycloheximide-induced cultures. Even 48 h after cycloheximide addition, CI-1-specific mRNA was bound to polysomal fractions. Our results also suggest that DNA sequences analogous to N. crassa CI-1 gene are present in other species. In N. crassa, CI-1 gene would not be induced by heat shock or starvation.