The Aspergillus nidulans sfaD gene encodes a G protein β subunit that is required for normal growth and repression of sporulation

flbA encodes an Aspergillus nidulans RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) domain protein that antagonizes FadA (G(i)alpha-subunit of heterotrimeric G protein)-mediated growth signaling to allow asexual development. We previously defined and characterized five suppressors of flbA (sfa) loss-of-function mutations and showed that one suppressor (sfaB) resulted from a novel dominant-negative allele of fadA. In this report we show that a second suppressor gene (sfaD) is predicted to encode the beta subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein. Deletion of sfaD suppressed all defects resulting from complete loss-of-flbA function mutations, caused a hyperactive sporulation phenotype and severely reduced vegetative growth. However, the sfaD deletion could not suppress the growth activation caused by dominant-activating fadA alleles, indicating that constitutively active FadA can cause proliferative growth in the absence of G beta gamma signaling. We propose that SfaD and FadA are both positive growth regulators with partially overlapping functions and that FIbA has an important role in controlling the activities of both proteins. Inactivation of signaling events stimulated by both components of the heterotrimeric G protein is essential for both sexual and asexual sporulation.