Cloning, Sequencing, and Transgenic Expression ofPodospora curvicollaandSordaria macrosporaeEF1A Genes: Relationship between Cytosolic Translation and Longevity in Filamentous Fungi

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the translation elongation factor eEF1A from two filamentous fungi,Podospora curvicollaandSordaria macrospora.These fungi are close relatives ofPodospora anserinaand also show senescence syndromes. Comparison of the sequences of the deduced proteins with that ofP. anserinareveals that the three proteins differ in several positions. Replacement of theP. anserinagene by either of the two exogenous genes does not entail any modification inP. anserinaphysiology; the longevity of the fungus is not affected. No alteration ofin vivotranslational accuracy was detected; however, the exogenous proteins nonetheless promoted a modification of the resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin. These data suggest that optimization of life span between these closely related fungi has likely not been performed during evolution through modifications of eEF1A activity, despite the fact that mutations in this factor can drastically affect longevity.