Katherine A. Borkovich
Associate Professor, Associate Plant Pathologist

Biochemical Characterization of Signaling Pathways Fungal Cell and Molecular Biology PhD Biochemistry 1985     -- University of California, Los Angeles B.S. Biochemistry 1979     -- University of California, Davis Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, U.T.-Houston Medical School, 2001 Dean's Award for Excellence, U.T.-Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 1995, 1999, 2000 American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award, 1994-1997 Post-doctoral National Research Service Award (NIH), 1986-1989 Genetics and Regulatory Mechanisms Pre-doctoral Training Grant (NIH), 1981-1984 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Chemistry Department, UCLA, 1980 Phi Kappa Phi, U.C. Davis Chapter, 1979 B.S. With Highest Honors, U.C. Davis, 1979 VOICE: 951-827-2753 Office: 3453 Boyce Hall EMAIL: katherine.borkovich@ucr.edu

My research is focused on the signal transduction pathways used by fungi to respond to their environment, using the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa as a model system. One project is investigation of processes regulated by heterotrimeric (alpha-beta-gamma) G proteins. We have characterized three Galpha, one Gbeta and one Ggamma subunit(s) in Neurospora. Our data demonstrate crucial roles for G proteins in regulation of cell proliferation, asexual and sexual differentiation, and stress tolerance, through both cAMP-dependent and independent pathways. In addition, our results are applicable to both agriculture and drug discovery, in that homologues of two Neurospora Galpha genes have been implicated in virulence in several plant and animal fungal pathogens. A second project is study of opsins and opsin-related proteins (ORPs) in fungi. We have cloned and mutated the first opsin gene from a eukaryotic microbe, Neurospora nop-1. NOP-1 is most similar to archaeal opsins and binds all-trans retinal using a Schiff base linkage. We are continuing our analysis of NOP-1, and are also characterizing an ORP from Neurospora, in order to determine the role that opsins and ORPs play in light-sensing in filamentous fungi. A third project is to use genomics-based approaches to study growth and differentiation in Neurospora. We participated in the community annotation project for the recently-completed Neurospora genome sequence. We are also collaborating with laboratories from eight other universities in a large functional genomics project. Our laboratory will participate in the construction of gene replacement mutations for approximately 2/3 of the 10,000 Neurospora genes.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Kays, A.M., P.S. Rowley, R.A. Baasiri, and K.A. Borkovich, 2000. Regulation of conidiation and adenylyl cyclase levels by the Galpha protein GNA-3 in Neurospora crassa, Mol. Cell. Biol. 20: 7693-7705 (Featured on cover of issue No. 21).

Bieszke, J.A., E.L. Braun, S. Kang, L.E. Bean, D.O. Natvig, and K.A. Borkovich, 1999. The nop-1 gene of Neurospora crassa encodes a seven transmembrane helix, retinal-binding protein homologous to archaeal rhodopsins. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 96: 8034-8039.

Yang, Q., Poole, S.I. and Borkovich, K.A. (2002). A G protein beta subunit required for sexual and vegetative development and maintenance of normal Galpha protein levels in Neurospora crassa. Eukaryotic Cell 1:378-390.

Ivey, F.D., Kays, A.M. and Borkovich, K.A. (2002). Shared and independent roles for a Galpha-i protein and adenylyl cyclase in regulating development and stress responses in Neurospora crassa. Eukaryotic Cell 1:378-390.

Galagan, J.E., Calvo, S.E., Borkovich, K.A. et al. (2003). The Genome Sequence of the Filamentous Fungus Neurospora crassa. Nature 422, 859-868.