Characterization of the pH signal transduction pathway gene palA of Aspergillus nidulans and identification of possible homologs.

We have cloned the palA gene of Aspergillus nidulans, one of six genes participating in ambient pH signal transduction in a regulatory circuit mediating pH regulation of gene expression. The derived 798-residue PalA protein is 29.4% identical over its entire length to a hypothetical protein from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and also has possible yeast homologs.