12 Regulation of Sulfur Metabolism in Filamentous Fungi

Filamentous fungi provide a useful model for understanding the mechanisms of how organisms adjust to nutrient availability in order to avoid deficiencies of needed macro- and microelements. In particular, sulfur represents an essential low-abundance element that is found in a wide variety of compounds and macromolecules that are necessary for routine cellular functions. A particular focus will be on how filamentous fungi use a complex regulatory network to monitor the cellular sulfur status and respond with appropriate acquisition and/or metabolic remodeling strategies to achieve relatively stable levels. The emphasis here will be on the sulfur regulatory system of Neurospora crassa with included discussion of other fungal species.