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Nishitani A, Hiramatsu K, Kadooka C, Hiroshima K, Sawada K, Okutsu K, Yoshizaki Y, Takamine K, Goto M, Tamaki H, Futagami T. Overexpression of the DHA1 family, ChlH and ChlK, leads to enhanced dicarboxylic acids production in koji fungi, Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii and Aspergillus oryzae. J Biosci Bioeng 2024; 137:281-289. [PMID: 38331655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
The white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii secretes substantial amounts of citric acid through the expression of the citric acid exporter CexA, a member of the DHA1 family. In this study, we aimed to characterize 11 CexA homologs (Chl proteins) encoded in the genome of A. luchuensis mut. kawachii to identify novel transporters useful for organic acid production. We constructed overexpression strains of chl genes using a cexA disruptant of the A. luchuensis mut. kawachii as the host strain, which prevented excessive secretion of citric acid into the culture supernatant. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of overexpression of chl on producing organic acids by analyzing the culture supernatant. All overexpression strains did not exhibit significant citric acid accumulation in the culture supernatant, indicating that Chl proteins are not responsible for citric acid export. Furthermore, the ChlH overexpression strain displayed an accumulation of 2-oxoglutaric and fumaric acids in the culture supernatant, while the ChlK overexpression strain exhibited the accumulation of 2-oxoglutaric, malic and succinic acids. Notably, the ChlH and ChlK overexpression led to a substantial increase in the production of 2-oxoglutaric acid, reaching approximately 25 mM and 50 mM, respectively. Furthermore, ChlH and ChlK overexpression also significantly increased the secretory production of dicarboxylic acids, including 2-oxoglutaric acid, in the yellow koji fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. Our study demonstrates that overexpression of DHA1 family gene results in enhanced secretion of organic acids in koji fungi of the genus Aspergillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Nishitani
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Center for Advanced Science Research and Promotion, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hiramatsu
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kadooka
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Sojo University, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan
| | - Kyoka Hiroshima
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | | | - Kayu Okutsu
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Yumiko Yoshizaki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kazunori Takamine
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Goto
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan
| | - Hisanori Tamaki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Taiki Futagami
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
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Sun Z, Wu Y, Long S, Feng S, Jia X, Hu Y, Ma M, Liu J, Zeng B. Aspergillus oryzae as a Cell Factory: Research and Applications in Industrial Production. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:248. [PMID: 38667919 PMCID: PMC11051239 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus oryzae, a biosafe strain widely utilized in bioproduction and fermentation technology, exhibits a robust hydrolytic enzyme secretion system. Therefore, it is frequently employed as a cell factory for industrial enzyme production. Moreover, A. oryzae has the ability to synthesize various secondary metabolites, such as kojic acid and L-malic acid. Nevertheless, the complex secretion system and protein expression regulation mechanism of A. oryzae pose challenges for expressing numerous heterologous products. By leveraging synthetic biology and novel genetic engineering techniques, A. oryzae has emerged as an ideal candidate for constructing cell factories. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest advancements in the application of A. oryzae-based cell factories in industrial production. These studies suggest that metabolic engineering and optimization of protein expression regulation are key elements in realizing the widespread industrial application of A. oryzae cell factories. It is anticipated that this review will pave the way for more effective approaches and research avenues in the future implementation of A. oryzae cell factories in industrial production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeao Sun
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China; (Z.S.); (S.F.)
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Yijian Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Shihua Long
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Sai Feng
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China; (Z.S.); (S.F.)
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Xiao Jia
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Yan Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Maomao Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Jingxin Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
| | - Bin Zeng
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.W.); (S.L.); (X.J.); (Y.H.); (M.M.)
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Zhang M, Wei X, Wang P, Chi Z, Liu GL, Chi ZM. Liamocin biosynthesis is induced by an autogenous host acid activation in Aureobasidium melanogenum. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2200440. [PMID: 37740661 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
It has been known that maximal liamocin production must be carried out at low environmental pH (around 3.0). In this study, it was found that the low pH was mainly caused by the secreted citric acid which is one precursor of acetyl-CoA for liamocin biosynthesis. Determination of citric acid in the culture, deletion, complementation and overexpression of the CEXA gene encoding specific citrate exporter demonstrated that the low pH was indeed caused by the secreted citric acid. Deletion, complementation and overexpression of the ACL gene encoding ATP-citric acid lyase and effects of different initial pHs and added citric acid showed that the low pH in the presence of citric acid was suitable for lysis of intracellular citric acid, liamocin production and expression of the PACC gene encoding the pH signaling transcription factor PacC. This meant that the PACC gene was an acid-expression gene. Deletion, complementation and overexpression of the PACC gene indicated that expression of the key gene cluster GAL1-EST1-PKS1 for liamocin biosynthesis was driven by the pH signaling transcription factor PacC and there was weak nitrogen catabolite repression on liamocin biosynthesis at the low pH. That was why liamocin biosynthesis was induced at a low pH in the presence of citric acid. The mechanisms of the enhanced liamocin biosynthesis by the autogenous host acid activation, together with the pH signaling pathway, were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Wei
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhe Chi
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Guang-Lei Liu
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhen-Ming Chi
- College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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Wang T, Hanashiro I, Yoshizaki Y, Kobashi Y, Noda S, Okutsu K, Futagami T, Tamaki H, Takamine K. Shochu Koji Microstructure and Starch Structure during Preparation. J Appl Glycosci (1999) 2023; 70:109-117. [PMID: 38239766 PMCID: PMC10792221 DOI: 10.5458/jag.jag.jag-2023_0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the changes in composition, microstructure, and starch molecular structure of shochu koji during preparation. We observed that the gelatinized and outer part of starch was decomposed in priority during the early and middle preparation stages. The gap between the starch granules increased with the delayed time. Finally, the koji microstructure became spongy. Shochu koji mold produced two α-amylases in different expression manners. Acid-labile α-amylase was produced in the early and middle preparation stages. Acid-stable α-amylase and saccharification power were produced in the middle and late stages. Throughout the koji preparation, reducing sugars content reached approximately 13-20 % of the total sugar content, with glucose representing over 70 % of the reducing sugars. α-Glucan fragments with C chains of degree of polymerization (DP) 4-73 were observed in the early and middle stages (<23 h), indicating the degradation of amylopectin at long B chains. In the latter stage, the amount of C chains of DP 6-30 decreased, while the longer C chains (DP 30<) did not change. These results showed that acid-labile α-amylase, acid-stable α-amylase, and saccharification enzymes including glucoamylase and α-glucosidase work preferentially on the amorphous regions of starch granules, and cooperative action of these enzymes during koji preparation contributes to the formation of the observed microstructure. Our study is the first report on the decomposition schemes of starch and the microstructure forming process in shochu koji.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wang
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
| | - Isao Hanashiro
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
- Research Field in Agriculture, Agriculture Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area, Kagoshima University
| | - Yumiko Yoshizaki
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Yuki Kobashi
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Suzuka Noda
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Kayu Okutsu
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
| | - Taiki Futagami
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Hisanori Tamaki
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
| | - Kazunori Takamine
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University
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Nishitani A, Hiramatsu K, Kadooka C, Mori K, Okutsu K, Yoshizaki Y, Takamine K, Tashiro K, Goto M, Tamaki H, Futagami T. Expression of heterochromatin protein 1 affects citric acid production in Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. J Biosci Bioeng 2023; 136:443-451. [PMID: 37775438 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
A putative methyltransferase, LaeA, controls citric acid production through epigenetic regulation of the citrate exporter gene, cexA, in the white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. In this study, we investigated the role of another epigenetic regulator, heterochromatin protein 1, HepA, in citric acid production. The ΔhepA strain exhibited reduced citric acid production in liquid culture, although to a lesser extent compared to the ΔlaeA strain. In addition, the ΔlaeA ΔhepA strain showed citric acid production similar to the ΔlaeA strain, indicating that HepA plays a role in citric acid production, albeit with a less-significant regulatory effect than LaeA. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the transcriptomic profiles of the ΔhepA and ΔlaeA strains were similar, and the expression level of cexA was reduced in both strains. These findings suggest that the genes regulated by HepA are similar to those regulated by LaeA in A. luchuensis mut. kawachii. However, the reductions in citric acid production and cexA expression observed in the disruptants were mitigated in rice koji, a solid-state culture. Thus, the mechanism by which citric acid production is regulated differs between liquid and solid cultivation. Further investigation is thus needed to understand the regulatory mechanism in koji.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Nishitani
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Center for Advanced Science Research and Promotion, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hiramatsu
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kadooka
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Sojo University, Kumamoto 860-0082, Japan
| | - Kazuki Mori
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kayu Okutsu
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Yumiko Yoshizaki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kazunori Takamine
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Kosuke Tashiro
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Goto
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan
| | - Hisanori Tamaki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Taiki Futagami
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan; Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
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Wu T, Li J, Tian C. Fungal carboxylate transporters: recent manipulations and applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5909-5922. [PMID: 37561180 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12720-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Carboxylic acids containing acidic groups with additional keto/hydroxyl-groups or unsaturated bond have displayed great applicability in the food, agricultural, cosmetic, textile, and pharmaceutical industries. The traditional approach for carboxylate production through chemical synthesis is based on petroleum derivatives, resulting in concerns for the environmental complication and energy crisis, and increasing attention has been attracted to the eco-friendly and renewable bio-based synthesis for carboxylate production. The efficient and specific export of target carboxylic acids through the microbial membrane is essential for high productivity, yield, and titer of bio-based carboxylates. Therefore, understanding the characteristics, regulations, and efflux mechanisms of carboxylate transporters will efficiently increase industrial biotechnological production of carboxylic acids. Several transporters from fungi have been reported and used for improved synthesis of target products. The transport activity and substrate specificity are two key issues that need further improvement in the application of carboxylate transporters. This review presents developments in the structural and functional diversity of carboxylate transporters, focusing on the modification and regulation of carboxylate transporters to alter the transport activity and substrate specificity, providing new strategy for transporter engineering in constructing microbial cell factory for carboxylate production. KEY POINTS: • Structures of multiple carboxylate transporters have been predicted. • Carboxylate transporters can efficiently improve production. • Modification engineering of carboxylate transporters will be more popular in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taju Wu
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Jingen Li
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Chaoguang Tian
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
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Alves J, Sousa-Silva M, Soares P, Sauer M, Casal M, Soares-Silva I. Structural characterization of the Aspergillus niger citrate transporter CexA uncovers the role of key residues S75, R192 and Q196. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2884-2898. [PMID: 37216016 PMCID: PMC10196274 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The Aspergillus niger CexA transporter belongs to the DHA1 (Drug-H+ antiporter) family. CexA homologs are exclusively found in eukaryotic genomes, and CexA is the sole citrate exporter to have been functionally characterized in this family so far. In the present work, we expressed CexA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, demonstrating its ability to bind isocitric acid, and import citrate at pH 5.5 with low affinity. Citrate uptake was independent of the proton motive force and compatible with a facilitated diffusion mechanism. To unravel the structural features of this transporter, we then targeted 21 CexA residues for site-directed mutagenesis. Residues were identified by a combination of amino acid residue conservation among the DHA1 family, 3D structure prediction, and substrate molecular docking analysis. S. cerevisiae cells expressing this library of CexA mutant alleles were evaluated for their capacity to grow on carboxylic acid-containing media and transport of radiolabeled citrate. We also determined protein subcellular localization by GFP tagging, with seven amino acid substitutions affecting CexA protein expression at the plasma membrane. The substitutions P200A, Y307A, S315A, and R461A displayed loss-of-function phenotypes. The majority of the substitutions affected citrate binding and translocation. The S75 residue had no impact on citrate export but affected its import, as the substitution for alanine increased the affinity of the transporter for citrate. Conversely, expression of CexA mutant alleles in the Yarrowia lipolytica cex1Δ strain revealed the involvement of R192 and Q196 residues in citrate export. Globally, we uncovered a set of relevant amino acid residues involved in CexA expression, export capacity and import affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Alves
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - M. Sousa-Silva
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - P. Soares
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - M. Sauer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB GmbH), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - M. Casal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - I. Soares-Silva
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Liu J, Zhang S, Li W, Wang G, Xie Z, Cao W, Gao W, Liu H. Engineering a Phosphoketolase Pathway to Supplement Cytosolic Acetyl-CoA in Aspergillus niger Enables a Significant Increase in Citric Acid Production. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050504. [PMID: 37233215 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Citric acid is widely used in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Aspergillus niger is the workhorse used for citric acid production in industry. A canonical citrate biosynthesis that occurred in mitochondria was well established; however, some research suggested that the cytosolic citrate biosynthesis pathway may play a role in this chemical production. Here, the roles of cytosolic phosphoketolase (PK), acetate kinase (ACK) and acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) in citrate biosynthesis were investigated by gene deletion and complementation in A. niger. The results indicated that PK, ACK and ACS were important for cytosolic acetyl-CoA accumulation and had significant effects on citric acid biosynthesis. Subsequently, the functions of variant PKs and phosphotransacetylase (PTA) were evaluated, and their efficiencies were determined. Finally, an efficient PK-PTA pathway was reconstructed in A. niger S469 with Ca-PK from Clostridium acetobutylicum and Ts-PTA from Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum. The resultant strain showed an increase of 96.4% and 88% in the citrate titer and yield, respectively, compared with the parent strain in the bioreactor fermentation. These findings indicate that the cytosolic citrate biosynthesis pathway is important for citric acid biosynthesis, and increasing the cytosolic acetyl-CoA level can significantly enhance citric acid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Wenhao Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Guanyi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Zhoujie Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Wei Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Weixia Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Hao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
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Liu Z, Fu B, Wang J, Li W, Hu Y, Liu Z, Fu C, Li D, Wang C, Xu N. Transcriptomics Reveals the Effect of Strain Interactions on the Growth of A. Oryzae and Z. Rouxii. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:5525-5534. [PMID: 36989392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The microbial community structure in traditional fermented foods is quite complex, making the relationship between strains unclear. In this regard, the co-culture system can simulate microbial interactions during food fermentation and reveal the morphological changes, metabolic processes, and gene expression of microbial communities. The present study sought to investigate the effects of microbial interactions on the growth of Aspergillus oryzae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii through omics. After co-cultivation, the pH value and dry weight were consistent with the pure culture of Z. rouxii. Additionally, the consumption of reducing sugar decreased, and the enzymatic activity increased compared with the pure culture of fungus. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and transcriptomics showed that co-culture significantly promoted the effect on Z. rouxii. A total of 6 different VOCs and 2202 differentially expressed genes were identified in the pure and co-culture of Z. rouxii. The differentially expressed genes were mainly related to the endonucleolytic cleavage of rRNA, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, and RNA polymerase metabolic pathways. The study results will provide insights into the effect of microbial interactions on the growth of A. oryzae and Z. rouxii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeping Liu
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Bin Fu
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Wei Li
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Yong Hu
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Zhijie Liu
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Caixia Fu
- Hubei Tulaohan Flavouring and Food Co., Ltd., Yichang, Hubei 443000, China
| | - Dongsheng Li
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Ning Xu
- Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
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10
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Tovar-Sánchez E, Concepción-Acosta CM, Sánchez-Reyes A, Sánchez-Cruz R, Folch-Mallol JL, Mussali-Galante P. Aspergillus luchuensis, an Endophyte Fungus from the Metal Hyperaccumulator Plant Prosopis laevigata, Promotes Its Growth and Increases Metal Translocation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1338. [PMID: 36987025 PMCID: PMC10053625 DOI: 10.3390/plants12061338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution is a worldwide environmental and human health problem. Prosopis laevigata is a hyperaccumulator legume that bioaccumulates Pb, Cu and Zn. With interest in designing phytoremediation strategies for sites contaminated with heavy metals, we isolated and characterized endophytic fungi from the roots of P. laevigata growing on mine tailings located in Morelos, Mexico. Ten endophytic isolates were selected by morphological discrimination and a preliminary minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for zinc, lead and copper. A novel strain of Aspergillus closest to Aspergillus luchuensis was determined to be a metallophile and presented a marked tolerance to high concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb, so it was further investigated for removal of metals and promotion of plant growth under greenhouse conditions. The control substrate with fungi promoted larger size characters in P. laevigata individuals in comparison with the other treatments, demonstrating that A. luchuensis strain C7 is a growth-promoting agent for P. laevigata individuals. The fungus favors the translocation of metals from roots to leaves in P. laevigata, promoting an increased Cu translocation. This new A. luchuensis strain showed endophytic character and plant growth-promotion activity, high metal tolerance, and an ability to increase copper translocation. We propose it as a novel, effective and sustainable bioremediation strategy for copper-polluted soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efraín Tovar-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, CP, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Cynthia Margarita Concepción-Acosta
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, CP, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes
- Investigador por México, CONACyT, Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Sánchez-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, CP, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jorge Luis Folch-Mallol
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, CP, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mussali-Galante
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, CP, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
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11
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Cao W, Zhang L, Wu L, Zhang M, Liu J, Xie Z, Liu H. Identification and genetic characterization of mitochondrial citrate transporters in Aspergillus niger. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1009491. [PMID: 36177470 PMCID: PMC9512666 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1009491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus niger is a major cell factory for citric acid production, and the process of citrate export from mitochondria to cytoplasm is predicted to be one of rate-limiting steps in citric acid accumulation. Currently, the mitochondrial citrate transporters (Ctps) in A. niger are not fully characterized. Here, six putative Ctp encoding genes (ctpA to ctpF) were identified based on their homology with a mitochondrial citrate transporter ScCtp1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Disruption of individual ctpA to ctpF caused varying degrees of decline in citric acid accumulation at different fermentation stages, whereas a mutant strain S1696 with disruption of all six ctps showed complete loss of citiric acid production. S1696 also exhibited delayed growth, reduced conidia formation, and decreased pigmentogenesis. Exogenous addition of citrate partially restored the conidia formation and pigmentogenesis in S1696 mutant. Reintroduction of individual ctps (ctpA to ctpF) into S1696 at the amyA locus showed that ctpA, ctpB, and ctpD restored the citric acid titers to 88.5, 93.8, and 94.6% of the parent strain, respectively. Additionally, the formation of conidia and pigment production was partially restored after reintroduction of ctpA, ctpB, or ctpD. Overexpression of respective ctpA, ctpB, and ctpD in the parent strain resulted in increases in citric acid accumulation by 32.8, 19.3, and 24.2%, respectively. These results demonstrate that CtpA, CtpB, and CtpD play important roles in citric acid transport across the mitochondrial membrane and function in a redundant manner. Enhancement of citric acid transport process can serve as a target for boosting citric acid accumulation in A. niger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Licheng Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Liu Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Mingyi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhoujie Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Liu,
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12
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Zhang L, Bryan SJ, Selão TT. Sustainable citric acid production from CO2 in an engineered cyanobacterium. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:973244. [PMID: 36060744 PMCID: PMC9428468 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.973244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Citric acid is one of the most widely used organic acids in the world, with applications ranging from acidity regulation in food and beverages to metal chelation in hydrometallurgical processes. Most of its production is currently derived from fermentative processes, using plant-derived carbon feedstocks. While these are currently dominant, there is an increasing need to develop closed-loop production systems that reduce process carbon footprint. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that an engineered marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 can be used as a sustainable chassis for the photosynthetic conversion of CO2 to citric acid. Decreased citric acid cycle flux, through the use of a theophylline-responsive riboswitch, was combined with improved flux through citrate synthase and enhanced citric acid excretion, resulting in a significant improvement to citric acid production. While allowing citrate production, this strategy induces a growth defect which can be overcome by glutamate supplementation or by fine-tuning aconitase levels, resulting in an increase in production relative to WT of over 100-fold. This work represents a first step toward sustainable production of a commodity organic acid from CO2.
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13
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Futagami T. The white koji fungus Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2022; 86:574-584. [PMID: 35238900 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The white koji fungus, Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii, is used in the production of shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit. White koji fungus plays an important role in the shochu production process by supplying amylolytic enzymes such as α-amylase and glucoamylase. These enzymes convert starch contained in primary ingredients such as rice, barley, buckwheat, and sweet potato into glucose, which is subsequently utilized by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce ethanol. White koji fungus also secretes large amounts of citric acid, which lowers the pH of the shochu mash, thereby preventing the growth of undesired microbes and enabling stable production of shochu in relatively warm regions of Japan. This review describes the historical background, research tools, and recent advances in studies of the mechanism of citric acid production by white koji fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiki Futagami
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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14
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Williams T, Parker D, Taubman B. Characterization of Unmalted Barley Treated with Aspergillus oryzae. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF BREWING CHEMISTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03610470.2021.1978045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Williams
- A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Parker
- A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, U.S.A
| | - Brett Taubman
- A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, U.S.A
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15
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Higuchi Y. Membrane Traffic in Aspergillus oryzae and Related Filamentous Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7070534. [PMID: 34356913 PMCID: PMC8303533 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The industrially important filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae, known as the yellow Koji mold and also designated the Japanese National fungus, has been investigated for understanding the intracellular membrane trafficking machinery due to the great ability of valuable enzyme production. The underlying molecular mechanisms of the secretory pathway delineate the main secretion route from the hyphal tip via the vesicle cluster Spitzenkörper, but also there is a growing body of evidence that septum-directed and unconventional secretion occurs in A. oryzae hyphal cells. Moreover, not only the secretory pathway but also the endocytic pathway is crucial for protein secretion, especially having a role in apical endocytic recycling. As a hallmark of multicellular filamentous fungal cells, endocytic organelles early endosome and vacuole are quite dynamic: the former exhibits constant long-range motility through the hyphal cells and the latter displays pleiomorphic structures in each hyphal region. These characteristics are thought to have physiological roles, such as supporting protein secretion and transporting nutrients. This review summarizes molecular and physiological mechanisms of membrane traffic, i.e., secretory and endocytic pathways, in A. oryzae and related filamentous fungi and describes the further potential for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiro Higuchi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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16
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Hayashi K, Kajiwara Y, Futagami T, Goto M, Takashita H. Making Traditional Japanese Distilled Liquor, Shochu and Awamori, and the Contribution of White and Black Koji Fungi. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:517. [PMID: 34203379 PMCID: PMC8306306 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The traditional Japanese single distilled liquor, which uses koji and yeast with designated ingredients, is called "honkaku shochu." It is made using local agricultural products and has several types, including barley shochu, sweet potato shochu, rice shochu, and buckwheat shochu. In the case of honkaku shochu, black koji fungus (Aspergillus luchuensis) or white koji fungus (Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii) is used to (1) saccharify the starch contained in the ingredients, (2) produce citric acid to prevent microbial spoilage, and (3) give the liquor its unique flavor. In order to make delicious shochu, when cultivating koji fungus during the shochu production process, we use a unique temperature control method to ensure that these three important elements, which greatly affect the taste of the produced liquor, are balanced without any excess or deficiency. This review describes in detail the production method of honkaku shochu, a distilled spirit unique to Japan and whose market is expected to expand worldwide, with special attention paid to the koji fungi cultivation step. Furthermore, we describe the history of the koji fungi used today in the production of shochu, and we provide a thorough explanation of the characteristics of each koji fungi. We also report the latest research progress on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Hayashi
- Sanwa Research Institute, Sanwa Shurui Co., Ltd., Usa 879-0495, Japan; (Y.K.); (H.T.)
| | - Yasuhiro Kajiwara
- Sanwa Research Institute, Sanwa Shurui Co., Ltd., Usa 879-0495, Japan; (Y.K.); (H.T.)
| | - Taiki Futagami
- Education and Research Center for Fermentation Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
| | - Masatoshi Goto
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
- Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga 840-8502, Japan
| | - Hideharu Takashita
- Sanwa Research Institute, Sanwa Shurui Co., Ltd., Usa 879-0495, Japan; (Y.K.); (H.T.)
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Expression profiles of amylolytic genes in AmyR and CreA transcription factor deletion mutants of the black koji mold Aspergillus luchuensis. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 132:321-326. [PMID: 34176737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The black koji mold, Aspergillus luchuensis, which belongs to Aspergillus section Nigri, is used for the production of traditional Japanese spirits (shochu) mainly in the southern districts of Japan. This mold is known to produce amylolytic enzymes essential for shochu production; however, mechanisms regulating amylolytic gene expression in A. luchuensis have not been studied in as much detail as those in the yellow koji mold, Aspergillus oryzae. Here, we examined the gene expression profiles of deletion mutants of transcription factors orthologous to A. oryzae AmyR and CreA in A. luchuensis. A. luchuensis produces acid-unstable (AmyA) and acid-stable (AsaA) α-amylases. AmyA production and amyA gene expression were not influenced by amyR or creA deletion, indicating that amyA was constitutively expressed. In contrast, asaA gene expression was significantly down- and upregulated upon deletion of amyR and creA, respectively. Furthermore, the glaA and agdA genes (encoding glucoamylase and α-glucosidase, respectively) showed expression profiles similar to those of asaA. Thus, genes that play pivotal roles in starch saccharification, asaA, glaA, and agdA, were found to be regulated by AmyR and CreA. Moreover, despite previous reports on AsaA being only produced in solid-state culture, deletion of the ortholog of A. oryzae flbC, which is involved in the expression of the solid-state culture-specific genes, did not affect AsaA α-amylase activity, suggesting that FlbC was not associated with asaA expression.
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Laothanachareon T, Bruinsma L, Nijsse B, Schonewille T, Suarez-Diez M, Tamayo-Ramos JA, Martins dos Santos VAP, Schaap PJ. Global Transcriptional Response of Aspergillus niger to Blocked Active Citrate Export through Deletion of the Exporter Gene. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060409. [PMID: 34071072 PMCID: PMC8224569 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus niger is the major industrial citrate producer worldwide. Export as well as uptake of citric acid are believed to occur by active, proton-dependent, symport systems. Both are major bottlenecks for industrial citrate production. Therefore, we assessed the consequences of deleting the citT gene encoding the A. niger citrate exporter, effectively blocking active citrate export. We followed the consumption of glucose and citrate as carbon sources, monitored the secretion of organic acids and carried out a thorough transcriptome pathway enrichment analysis. Under controlled cultivation conditions that normally promote citrate secretion, the knock-out strain secreted negligible amounts of citrate. Blocking active citrate export in this way led to a reduced glucose uptake and a reduced expression of high-affinity glucose transporter genes, mstG and mstH. The glyoxylate shunt was strongly activated and an increased expression of the OAH gene was observed, resulting in a more than two-fold higher concentration of oxalate in the medium. Deletion of citT did not affect citrate uptake suggesting that citrate export and citrate uptake are uncoupled from the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanaporn Laothanachareon
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
- Enzyme Technology Laboratory, Biorefinery and Bioproduct Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 113 Thailand Science Park, Khlong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
- Correspondence: (T.L.); (V.A.P.M.d.S.)
| | - Lyon Bruinsma
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Bart Nijsse
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Tom Schonewille
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Maria Suarez-Diez
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Juan Antonio Tamayo-Ramos
- International Research Center in Critical Raw Materials-ICCRAM, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain;
| | - Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
- LifeGlimmer GmbH, 12163 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: (T.L.); (V.A.P.M.d.S.)
| | - Peter J. Schaap
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (L.B.); (B.N.); (T.S.); (M.S.-D.); (P.J.S.)
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Burgstaller W. Overflow Metabolism in Penicillium ochrochloron and Causation in Organisms. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:682062. [PMID: 37744154 PMCID: PMC10512369 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.682062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
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