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Dr. Stephen J. Free

Professor
Cooke 370
phone: (716) 645-4935
email: free@buffalo.edu
Further research info

Research Summary

Our laboratory is interested in the Molecular Biology of filamentous fungi. We are currently engaged in a research project to identify the various proteins involved in fungal cell-to-cell fusion events. We are characterizing how the cell is able to recognize and adhere to a fusion partner, remodel its cell wall, and fuse its plasma membrane with the plasma membrane of its fusion partner. We are also carrying out research to characterize the biosynthesis of the fungal cell wall.

RIP-based mutational analysis of GPIT-1 and GPIT-2

Selected Publications

• Bowman, S.M., Piwowar, A., Al Dabbous, M., Vierula, J., and Free, S.J. (2006) Mutational Analysis of the Glycosylphosphatidlyinositol (GPI) Anchor Pathway demonstrates that GPI-anchored proteins are required for cell wall biosynthesis and normal hyphal growth in Neurospora crassa. Eukaryotic Cell. 5:587-600.
• Bowman, S.M. and Free, S.J. (2006) The Structure and Synthesis of the Fungal Cell Wall. BioEssays 28:799-808.
• Bowman, S.M., Piwowar, A., Ciocca, M., and Free, S.J. (2005) Mannosyltransferase is required for cell wall biosynthesis, morphology and control of asexual development in Neurospora crassa. Mycologia 97:872-879.
• Gupta, G.D., Free, S.J., Levina, N.N., Keranen, S., and Heath, I.B. (2003) Two divergent plasma membrane syntaxin-like SNAREs, nsyn1 and nsyn2, contribute to hyphal tip growth and other developmental processes in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genetics and Biology 40:271-286.
• Kothe, G.O. and Free, S.J. (1998) The isolation and characterization of nrc-1 and nrc-2, two genes encoding protein kinases that control growth and development in Neurospora crassa. Genetics 149:117-130.