Cell-to-cell communication in the tip growth of mycelial fungi

Abstract

The capacity of fungi to explore solid substrate, invade tissues and secrete digestive enzymes are all linked to their particular mode of growth, extension of a tip. The high rate of tip growth provide by the coordinated activity dozens of cells having the septal pores allowing ions, molecules and organelles move along the hyphae. Young apical cells are deficient to generate a potential difference across the plasma membrane. For this reason, in the apical area of about 300 μm a significant electric field (100 V/m) appears and strong intercellular current flows (some nanoA). Perhaps this electrical heterogeneity plays an important role in the self-organization of interactions between cells and intracellular structures in the tip growth.