Involvement of the alternative oxidase in cellular energy production in the wheat ‘take all’ fungus,Gaeumannomyces graminisvartritici

This summary describes a functional role for the alternative respiratory pathway of the wheat ‘take-all’ fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici (Ggt), which utilises the alternative oxidase as its terminal oxidase. Unlike other plant and fungal alternative oxidases, the alternative oxidase of Ggt is both constitutively expressed and active. We have demonstrated that for cellular respiration, and therefore for ATP synthesis, to occur both the cytochrome and alternative pathways must remain active.