ABSTRACT
The yeast S. cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe are excellent genetic systems that have helped to defi ne the evolutionarily conserved MAPK signaling pathways of fungi and the key biochemical events of these pathways [4,6]. While there is considerable conservation of these MAPK signal transduction pathways among the yeast and fi lamentous fungi, there are signifi cant differences that refl ect the variable lifestyles of this diverse group of organisms [11,12]. Because of this diversity it is important to also investigate how MAPK signaling pathways contribute to fi lamentous fungal growth and biology. This is where studies of MAPK pathways in the aspergilli may contribute essential information on the role of these signal transduction pathways in fi lamentous fungal cell biology. Since the aspergilli include species that are human pathogens, colonizers of plants, and a model genetic species, there is the opportunity to explore considerable areas of biology that is not represented in the model yeast systems.
