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Miki S, Sakai K, Nakagawa T, Tanaka T, Liu L, Yamashita H, Kusumoto KI. Analysis of nitrogen source assimilation in industrial strains of Aspergillus oryzae. J Biosci Bioeng 2024; 137:231-238. [PMID: 38346913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2024.01.003] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen source assimilation is important for the biological functions of fungi, and its pathway has been deeply studied. Aspergillus oryzae mutants defective in nitrogen source assimilation are known to grow poorly on Czapek-Dox (CD) medium. In this study, we found an industrial strain of A. oryzae that grew very poorly on a CD medium containing sodium nitrate as a nitrogen source. We used media with various nitrogen components to examine the steps affecting the nitrogen source assimilation pathway of this strain. The strain grew well on the CD medium supplied with nitrite salt or ammonium salt, suggesting that the strain was defective in nitrate assimilation step. To ascertain the gene causing the defect of nitrate assimilation, a gene expression vector harboring either niaD or crnA of A. oryzae RIB40 was introduced into the industrial strain. The industrial strain containing the crnA vector recovered its growth. This is the first report that a mutation of crnA causes poor growth on CD medium in an industrial strain of A. oryzae, and crnA can be used as a transformation marker for crnA deficient strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouhei Miki
- Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd., 1-14-2 Harimacho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 545-0022, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kanae Sakai
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takuro Nakagawa
- Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd., 1-14-2 Harimacho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 545-0022, Japan
| | - Takumi Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Liyun Liu
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Yamashita
- Higuchi Matsunosuke Shoten Co., Ltd., 1-14-2 Harimacho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 545-0022, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Kusumoto
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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2
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Yang H, Song C, Liu C, Wang P. Synthetic Biology Tools for Engineering Aspergillus oryzae. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:34. [PMID: 38248944 PMCID: PMC10817548 DOI: 10.3390/jof10010034] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
For more than a thousand years, Aspergillus oryzae has been used in traditional culinary industries, including for food fermentation, brewing, and flavoring. In recent years, A. oryzae has been extensively used in deciphering the pathways of natural product synthesis and value-added compound bioproduction. Moreover, it is increasingly being used in modern biotechnology industries, such as for the production of enzymes and recombinant proteins. The investigation of A. oryzae has been significantly accelerated through the successive application of a diverse array of synthetic biology techniques and methodologies. In this review, the advancements in biological tools for the synthesis of A. oryzae, including DNA assembly technologies, gene expression regulatory elements, and genome editing systems, are discussed. Additionally, the challenges associated with the heterologous expression of A. oryzae are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme-Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chaonan Song
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme-Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Chengwei Liu
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme-Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Pengchao Wang
- School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme-Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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3
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Deng S, Kim J, Pomraning KR, Gao Y, Evans JE, Hofstad BA, Dai Z, Webb-Robertson BJ, Powell SM, Novikova IV, Munoz N, Kim YM, Swita M, Robles AL, Lemmon T, Duong RD, Nicora C, Burnum-Johnson KE, Magnuson J. Identification of a specific exporter that enables high production of aconitic acid in Aspergillus pseudoterreus. Metab Eng 2023; 80:163-172. [PMID: 37778408 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.09.011] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Aconitic acid is an unsaturated tricarboxylic acid that is attractive for its potential use in manufacturing biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, plasticizers, and surfactants. Previously Aspergillus pseudoterreus was engineered as a platform to produce aconitic acid by deleting the cadA (cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase) gene in the itaconic acid biosynthetic pathway. In this study, the aconitic acid transporter gene (aexA) was identified using comparative global discovery proteomics analysis between the wild-type and cadA deletion strains. The protein AexA belongs to the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS). Deletion of aexA almost abolished aconitic acid secretion, while its overexpression led to a significant increase in aconitic acid production. Transportation of aconitic acid across the plasma membrane is a key limiting step in its production. In vitro, proteoliposome transport assay further validated AexA's function and substrate specificity. This research provides new approaches to efficiently pinpoint and characterize exporters of fungal organic acids and accelerate metabolic engineering to improve secretion capability and lower the cost of bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Deng
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Joonhoon Kim
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Kyle R Pomraning
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Yuqian Gao
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - James E Evans
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Beth A Hofstad
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Ziyu Dai
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Bobbie-Jo Webb-Robertson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Samantha M Powell
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Irina V Novikova
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Nathalie Munoz
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Young-Mo Kim
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Marie Swita
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Ana L Robles
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Teresa Lemmon
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Rylan D Duong
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Carrie Nicora
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Kristin E Burnum-Johnson
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
| | - Jon Magnuson
- DOE Agile Biofoundry, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
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Baldin C, Kühbacher A, Merschak P, Wagener J, Gsaller F. Modular Inducible Multigene Expression System for Filamentous Fungi. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0367022. [PMID: 36350143 PMCID: PMC9769661 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03670-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducible promoters are indispensable elements when considering the possibility to modulate gene expression on demand. Desirable traits of conditional expression systems include their capacity for tight downregulation, high overexpression, and in some instances for fine-tuning, to achieve a desired product's stoichiometry. Although the number of inducible systems is slowly increasing, suitable promoters comprising these features are rare. To date, the concomitant use of multiple regulatable promoter platforms for controlled multigene expression has been poorly explored. This work provides pioneer work in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, wherein we investigated different inducible systems, elucidated three candidate promoters, and proved for the first time that up to three systems can be used simultaneously without interfering with each other. Proof of concept was obtained by conditionally expressing three antifungal drug targets within the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway under the control of the xylose-inducible PxylP system, the tetracycline-dependent Tet-On system, and the thiamine-repressible PthiA system. IMPORTANCE In recent years, inducible promoters have gained increasing interest for industrial or laboratory use and have become key instruments for protein expression, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering. Constitutive, high-expressing promoters can be used to achieve high expression yields; however, the continuous overexpression of specific proteins can lead to an unpredictable metabolic burden. To prevent undesirable effects on the expression host's metabolism, the utilization of tunable systems that allow expression of a gene product on demand is indispensable. Here, we elucidated several excellent tunable promoter systems and verified that each can be independently induced in a single strain to ultimately develop a unique conditional multigene expression system. This highly efficient, modular toolbox has the potential to significantly advance applications in fundamental as well as applied research in which regulatable expression of several genes is a key requirement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Baldin
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexander Kühbacher
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Petra Merschak
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes Wagener
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Xu R, Lou Y, Tidu A, Bulet P, Heinekamp T, Martin F, Brakhage A, Li Z, Liégeois S, Ferrandon D. The Toll pathway mediates Drosophila resilience to Aspergillus mycotoxins through specific Bomanins. EMBO Rep 2022; 24:e56036. [PMID: 36322050 PMCID: PMC9827548 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense against infections encompasses both resistance, which targets microorganisms for neutralization or elimination, and resilience/disease tolerance, which allows the host to withstand/tolerate pathogens and repair damages. In Drosophila, the Toll signaling pathway is thought to mediate resistance against fungal infections by regulating the secretion of antimicrobial peptides, potentially including Bomanins. We find that Aspergillus fumigatus kills Drosophila Toll pathway mutants without invasion because its dissemination is blocked by melanization, suggesting a role for Toll in host defense distinct from resistance. We report that mutants affecting the Toll pathway or the 55C Bomanin locus are susceptible to the injection of two Aspergillus mycotoxins, restrictocin and verruculogen. The vulnerability of 55C deletion mutants to these mycotoxins is rescued by the overexpression of Bomanins specific to each challenge. Mechanistically, flies in which BomS6 is expressed in the nervous system exhibit an enhanced recovery from the tremors induced by injected verruculogen and display improved survival. Thus, innate immunity also protects the host against the action of microbial toxins through secreted peptides and thereby increases its resilience to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xu
- Sino‐French Hoffmann InstituteGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina,Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité InnéeUPR 9022 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
| | - Yanyan Lou
- Sino‐French Hoffmann InstituteGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina,Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité InnéeUPR 9022 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
| | - Antonin Tidu
- Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARNUPR 9002 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
| | - Philippe Bulet
- CR Université Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Inserm U1209CNRS UMR 5309GrenobleFrance,Platform BioPark ArchampsArchampsFrance
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied MicrobiologyLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology ‐ Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz‐HKI)JenaGermany
| | - Franck Martin
- Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARNUPR 9002 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
| | - Axel Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied MicrobiologyLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology ‐ Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz‐HKI)JenaGermany,Institute of MicrobiologyFriedrich Schiller University JenaJenaGermany
| | - Zi Li
- Sino‐French Hoffmann InstituteGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Samuel Liégeois
- Sino‐French Hoffmann InstituteGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina,Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité InnéeUPR 9022 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
| | - Dominique Ferrandon
- Sino‐French Hoffmann InstituteGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina,Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance,Modèles Insectes de l'Immunité InnéeUPR 9022 du CNRSStrasbourgFrance
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6
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Peres da Silva R, Brock M. NIH4215: A mutation-prone thiamine auxotrophic clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolate. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:908343. [PMID: 37746208 PMCID: PMC10512395 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.908343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the main cause of life-threatening invasive aspergillosis. Despite the availability of various antifungals, therapy remains challenging and requires further studies. Accordingly, the clinical A. fumigatus isolate NIH4215 deriving from a fatal case of human pulmonary aspergillosis has frequently been used in drug efficacy studies. Unexpectedly, our initial attempts to generate a bioluminescent reporter of strain NIH4215 for in vivo drug efficacy studies failed, as NIH4215 was unable to grow on defined minimal medium. Subsequent analyses discovered a previously undescribed thiamine auxotrophy of strain NIH4215 and transformation with thiamine biosynthesis genes from A. fumigatus strain Af293 identified the nmt1 gene as cause of the thiamine auxotrophy. Sequencing of the defective nmt1 gene revealed the loss of a cysteine codon within an essential iron-binding motif. Subsequently, the wild-type nmt1 gene was successfully used to generate a bioluminescent reporter strain in NIH4215 by simultaneously deleting the akuB locus. The resulting bioluminescent ΔakuB strains showed a high frequency of homologous integration as confirmed by generation of pyrG and niaD deletion mutants. When tested in a Galleria mellonella infection model, neither thiamine auxotrophy nor the deletion of the akuB locus had a significant effect on virulence. However, besides thiamine auxotrophy, sectors with altered morphology and albino mutants frequently arose on colony edges of strain NIH4215 and its derivatives, and stable albino mutants were successfully isolated. A proposed increased mutation rate of NIH4215 was confirmed by screening for spontaneous occurrence of fluoorotic acid resistant mutants. Independent mutations in the pyrG and pyrE gene were identified in the fluoroorotic acid resistant NIH4215 isolates and the frequency of mutation was by at least one order of magnitude higher than that observed for the clinical A. fumigatus isolate CBS144.89. In summary, despite its virulence in animal models, strain NIH4215 is a thiamine auxotroph and prone to accumulate mutations. Our results suggest that thiamine biosynthesis is dispensable for host infection and mutation-prone strains such as NIH4215 could potentially facilitate the evolution of azole resistant strains as increasingly observed in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthias Brock
- University of Nottingham, School of Life Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Genome Mining of α-Pyrone Natural Products from Ascidian-Derived Fungus Amphichordafelina SYSU-MS7908. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20050294. [PMID: 35621945 PMCID: PMC9146101 DOI: 10.3390/md20050294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Culturing ascidian-derived fungus Amphichorda felina SYSU-MS7908 under standard laboratory conditions mainly yielded meroterpenoid, and nonribosomal peptide-type natural products. We sequenced the genome of Amphichorda felina SYSU-MS7908 and found 56 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) after bioinformatics analysis, suggesting that the majority of those BGCSs are silent. Here we report our genome mining effort on one cryptic BGC by heterologous expression in Aspergillus oryzae NSAR1, and the identification of two new α-pyrone derivatives, amphichopyrone A (1) and B (2), along with a known compound, udagawanone A (3). Anti-inflammatory activities were performed, and amphichopyrone A (1) and B (2) displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values 18.09 ± 4.83 and 7.18 ± 0.93 μM, respectively.
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Tamano K. Concomitant knockout of target and transporter genes in filamentous fungi by genome co-editing. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1280. [PMID: 35478291 PMCID: PMC9059231 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In most countries, genetically modified microorganisms are not approved for use for fermentation in the food industry. Therefore, random mutagenesis and subsequent screening are performed to improve the productivities of valuable metabolites and enzymes as well as other specific functions in an industrial microbial strain. In addition, targeted gene knockout is performed by genetic recombination using its enzyme genes as selectable markers to maintain self-cloning status. However, random mutagenesis has a drawback as it does not guarantee improvement of the targeted function. Conversely, self-cloning is rarely used to breed an industrial microbial strain. This is probably because a self-cloning strain is similar to a genetically modified strain, as both undergo homologous recombination, although exogenous genes are not introduced. In this article, I discuss the usefulness of genome editing technology as a substitute for conventional techniques to breed filamentous fungal strains. This article particularly focusses on "genome co-editing," a genome editing technology used for knocking out two genes concomitantly, as reported in Magnaporthe grisea and Aspergillus oryzae. Especially, when genome co-editing is applied to a target gene and a membrane transporter gene that aid the entry of toxic compounds into cells, the resulting clone can be categorized as an autotrophic and non-genetically modified clone. Such a clone should easily apply to industrial fermentation without being restricted by a genetically modified status. Genome co-editing will also be used to construct mutant strains with multiple target gene knockouts by eliminating multiple membrane transporter genes. This could substantially improve the productivities of valuable metabolites and enzymes in a stepwise manner. Thus, genome co-editing is considered a potentially powerful method to knock out single or multiple target genes that can contribute to the breeding of filamentous fungal strains in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Tamano
- Bioproduction Research InstituteNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)SapporoHokkaidoJapan
- AIST‐Waseda University Computational Bio Big‐Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD‐OIL), AISTWaseda UniversityTokyoJapan
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9
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The sat1 Gene Is Required for the Growth and Virulence of the Human Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0155821. [PMID: 35107385 PMCID: PMC8809347 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01558-21] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important opportunistic pathogenic fungus that causes invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised humans. Regulated fungal growth is essential for disease development and progression. Thus, screening for genes that regulate fungal growth may lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets for invasive aspergillosis (IA). Screening of the transfer DNA (T-DNA) random-insertion A. fumigatus mutants identified a severe growth deficiency mutant AFM2954 and featured sat1 as the mutated gene described as a putative intracellular protein transporter of unknown function. The deletion of sat1 exhibited severe growth defects and significantly increased the nematode and mouse survival rates and decreased the fungal loads and histopathological damages in mouse lungs. Transcriptomic analyses revealed expression changes associated with the cell wall synthesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation genes in the sat1 mutant. Deletion of the gene resulted in resistance to cell wall-perturbing agents and thickened cell wall as well as reduced ATP contents and mitochondrial membrane potential, suggested that sat1 affected the cell wall synthesis and mitochondrial function of A. fumigatus. All together, our study uncovered novel functions of sat1 in growth and virulence of A. fumigatus and provided a theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic target for treating IA patients. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts, with up to 90% lethality. Nevertheless, the fungal factors that regulate the pathogenesis of A. fumigatus remain largely unknown. Better understanding of the mechanisms controlling growth of A. fumigatus may provide novel therapeutic targets. In the present study, we characterized sat1 in the opportunistic pathogen A. fumigatus. The function of sat1 remains unknown. We proved its important role in growth and virulence, likely because of its effects on cell wall synthesis and mitochondrial functions.
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10
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The Gβ-like Protein AfCpcB Affects Sexual Development, Response to Oxidative Stress and Phagocytosis by Alveolar Macrophages in Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8010056. [PMID: 35049996 PMCID: PMC8777951 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein signaling is important for signal transduction, allowing various stimuli that are external to a cell to affect its internal molecules. In Aspergillus fumigatus, the roles of Gβ-like protein CpcB on growth, asexual development, drug sensitivity, and virulence in a mouse model have been previously reported. To gain a deeper insight into Aspergillus fumigatus sexual development, the ΔAfcpcB strain was generated using the supermater AFB62 strain and crossed with AFIR928. This cross yields a decreased number of cleistothecia, including few ascospores. The sexual reproductive organ-specific transcriptional analysis using RNAs from the cleistothecia (sexual fruiting bodies) indicated that the CpcB is essential for the completion of sexual development by regulating the transcription of sexual genes, such as veA, steA, and vosA. The ΔAfcpcB strain revealed increased resistance to oxidative stress by regulating genes for catalase, peroxiredoxin, and ergosterol biosynthesis. The ΔAfcpcB strain showed decreased uptake by alveolar macrophages in vitro, decreased sensitivity to Congo red, decreased expression of cell wall genes, and increased expression of the hydrophobin genes. Taken together, these findings indicate that AfCpcB plays important roles in sexual development, phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages, biosynthesis of the cell wall, and oxidative stress response.
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11
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Tamano K, Yoshimi A. Metabolic Engineering Techniques to Increase the Productivity of Primary and Secondary Metabolites Within Filamentous Fungi. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:743070. [PMID: 37744120 PMCID: PMC10512283 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.743070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Tamano
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Sapporo, Japan
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Yoshimi
- Laboratory of Environmental Interface Technology of Filamentous Fungi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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12
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Lim JY, Kim YJ, Woo SA, Jeong JW, Lee YR, Kim CH, Park HM. The LAMMER Kinase, LkhA, Affects Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenicity by Modulating Reproduction and Biosynthesis of Cell Wall PAMPs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:756206. [PMID: 34722342 PMCID: PMC8548842 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.756206] [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: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The LAMMER kinase in eukaryotes is a well-conserved dual-specificity kinase. Aspergillus species cause a wide spectrum of diseases called aspergillosis in humans, depending on the underlying immune status of the host, such as allergy, aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes invasive aspergillosis. Although LAMMER kinase has various functions in morphology, development, and cell cycle regulation in yeast and filamentous fungi, its function in A. fumigatus is not known. We performed molecular studies on the function of the A. fumigatus LAMMER kinase, AfLkhA, and reported its involvement in multiple cellular processes, including development and virulence. Deletion of AflkhA resulted in defects in colonial growth, production of conidia, and sexual development. Transcription and genetic analyses indicated that AfLkhA modulates the expression of key developmental regulatory genes. The AflkhA-deletion strain showed increased production of gliotoxins and protease activity. When conidia were challenged with alveolar macrophages, enodocytosis of conidia by macrophages was increased in the AflkhA-deletion strain, resulting from changes in expression of the cell wall genes and thus content of cell wall pathogen-associated molecular patterns, including β-1,3-glucan and GM. While T cell-deficient zebrafish larvae were significantly susceptible to wild-type A. fumigatus infection, AflkhA-deletion conidia infection reduced host mortality. A. fumigatus AfLkhA is required for the establishment of virulence factors, including conidial production, mycotoxin synthesis, protease activity, and interaction with macrophages, which ultimately affect pathogenicity at the organismal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yeon Lim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea.,Institute of Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yeon Ju Kim
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seul Ah Woo
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jae Wan Jeong
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yu-Ri Lee
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hee-Moon Park
- Laboratory of Cellular Differentiation, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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13
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Baldin C, Kühbacher A, Merschak P, Sastré-Velásquez LE, Abt B, Dietl AM, Haas H, Gsaller F. Inducible Selectable Marker Genes to Improve Aspergillus fumigatus Genetic Manipulation. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:506. [PMID: 34202756 PMCID: PMC8305790 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene from Escherichia coli and the pyrithiamine resistance gene from Aspergillus oryzae are two dominant selectable marker genes widely used to genetically manipulate several fungal species. Despite the recent development of CRISPR/Cas9 and marker-free systems, in vitro molecular tools to study Aspergillus fumigatus, which is a saprophytic fungus causing life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised hosts, still rely extensively on the use of dominant selectable markers. The limited number of drug selectable markers is already a critical aspect, but the possibility that their introduction into a microorganism could induce enhanced virulence or undesired effects on metabolic behavior constitutes another problem. In this context, here, we demonstrate that the use of ptrA in A. fumigatus leads to the secretion of a compound that allows the recovery of thiamine auxotrophy. In this study, we developed a simple modification of the two commonly used dominant markers in which the development of resistance can be controlled by the xylose-inducible promoter PxylP from Penicillium chrysogenum. This strategy provides an easy solution to avoid undesired side effects, since the marker expression can be readily silenced when not required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (C.B.); (A.K.); (P.M.); (L.E.S.-V.); (B.A.); (A.-M.D.)
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (C.B.); (A.K.); (P.M.); (L.E.S.-V.); (B.A.); (A.-M.D.)
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14
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Daba GM, Mostafa FA, Elkhateeb WA. The ancient koji mold (Aspergillus oryzae) as a modern biotechnological tool. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2021; 8:52. [PMID: 38650252 PMCID: PMC10992763 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-021-00408-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae) is a filamentous micro-fungus that is used from centuries in fermentation of different foods in many countries all over the world. This valuable fungus is also a rich source of many bioactive secondary metabolites. Moreover, A. oryzae has a prestigious secretory system that allows it to secrete high concentrations of proteins into its culturing medium, which support its use as biotechnological tool in veterinary, food, pharmaceutical, and industrial fields. This review aims to highlight the significance of this valuable fungus in food industry, showing its generosity in production of nutritional and bioactive metabolites that enrich food fermented by it. Also, using A. oryzae as a biotechnological tool in the field of enzymes production was described. Furthermore, domestication, functional genomics, and contributions of A. oryzae in functional production of human pharmaceutical proteins were presented. Finally, future prospects in order to get more benefits from A. oryzae were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghoson M Daba
- Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Researches Division, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt.
| | - Faten A Mostafa
- Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Researches Division, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt.
| | - Waill A Elkhateeb
- Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Products Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Researches Division, National Research Centre, El Buhouth Street, Dokki, Giza, 12311, Egypt
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15
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Awakawa T, Abe I. Reconstitution of Polyketide-Derived Meroterpenoid Biosynthetic Pathway in Aspergillus oryzae. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060486. [PMID: 34208768 PMCID: PMC8235479 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterologous gene expression system with Aspergillus oryzae as the host is an effective method to investigate fungal secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways for reconstruction to produce un-natural molecules due to its high productivity and genetic tractability. In this review, we focus on biosynthetic studies of fungal polyketide-derived meroterpenoids, a group of bioactive natural products, by means of the A. oryzae heterologous expression system. The heterologous expression methods and the biosynthetic reactions are described in detail for future prospects to create un-natural molecules via biosynthetic re-design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayoshi Awakawa
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.A.); (I.A.)
| | - Ikuro Abe
- Laboratory of Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.A.); (I.A.)
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16
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Jin FJ, Hu S, Wang BT, Jin L. Advances in Genetic Engineering Technology and Its Application in the Industrial Fungus Aspergillus oryzae. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:644404. [PMID: 33708187 PMCID: PMC7940364 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.644404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae is an important strain in the traditional fermentation and food processing industries and is often used in the production of soy sauce, soybean paste, and liquor-making. In addition, A. oryzae has a strong capacity to secrete large amounts of hydrolytic enzymes; therefore, it has also been used in the enzyme industry as a cell factory for the production of numerous native and heterologous enzymes. However, the production and secretion of foreign proteins by A. oryzae are often limited by numerous bottlenecks that occur during transcription, translation, protein folding, translocation, degradation, transport, secretion, etc. The existence of these problems makes it difficult to achieve the desired target in the production of foreign proteins by A. oryzae. In recent years, with the decipherment of the whole genome sequence, basic research and genetic engineering technologies related to the production and utilization of A. oryzae have been well developed, such as the improvement of homologous recombination efficiency, application of selectable marker genes, development of large chromosome deletion technology, utilization of hyphal fusion techniques, and application of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems. The development and establishment of these genetic engineering technologies provided a great deal of technical support for the industrial production and application of A. oryzae. This paper reviews the advances in basic research and genetic engineering technologies of the fermentation strain A. oryzae mentioned above to open up more effective ways and research space for the breeding of A. oryzae production strains in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Jie Jin
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuang Hu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bao-Teng Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Long Jin
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
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17
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Yu Y, Wolf AK, Thusek S, Heinekamp T, Bromley M, Krappmann S, Terpitz U, Voigt K, Brakhage AA, Beilhack A. Direct Visualization of Fungal Burden in Filamentous Fungus-Infected Silkworms. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020136. [PMID: 33668495 PMCID: PMC7918154 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are difficult to diagnose and to treat and, despite several available antifungal drugs, cause high mortality rates. In the past decades, the incidence of IFIs has continuously increased. More recently, SARS-CoV-2-associated lethal IFIs have been reported worldwide in critically ill patients. Combating IFIs requires a more profound understanding of fungal pathogenicity to facilitate the development of novel antifungal strategies. Animal models are indispensable for studying fungal infections and to develop new antifungals. However, using mammalian animal models faces various hurdles including ethical issues and high costs, which makes large-scale infection experiments extremely challenging. To overcome these limitations, we optimized an invertebrate model and introduced a simple calcofluor white (CW) staining protocol to macroscopically and microscopically monitor disease progression in silkworms (Bombyx mori) infected with the human pathogenic filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Lichtheimia corymbifera. This advanced silkworm A. fumigatus infection model could validate knockout mutants with either attenuated, strongly attenuated or unchanged virulence. Finally, CW staining allowed us to efficiently visualize antifungal treatment outcomes in infected silkworms. Conclusively, we here present a powerful animal model combined with a straightforward staining protocol to expedite large-scale in vivo research of fungal pathogenicity and to investigate novel antifungal candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Yu
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine II, Würzburg University Hospital, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (A.-K.W.); (S.T.)
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (A.B.)
| | - Ann-Katrin Wolf
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine II, Würzburg University Hospital, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (A.-K.W.); (S.T.)
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sina Thusek
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine II, Würzburg University Hospital, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (A.-K.W.); (S.T.)
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knöll Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (T.H.); (A.A.B.)
| | - Michael Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Institute for Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Erlangen University Hospital, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
- Erlangen Center of Infection Research, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrich Terpitz
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knöll Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany;
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knöll Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany; (T.H.); (A.A.B.)
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Beilhack
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine II, Würzburg University Hospital, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (A.-K.W.); (S.T.)
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (A.B.)
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18
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Tsumura R, Sawada K, Kunitake E, Sumitani JI, Kawaguchi T, Tani S. A component of the septation initiation network complex, AaSepM, is involved in multiple cellulose-responsive signaling pathways in Aspergillus aculeatus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:1535-1546. [PMID: 33481069 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Various carbohydrate-active enzymes in Aspergillus are produced in response to physiological inducers, which is regulated at the transcriptional level. To elucidate the induction mechanisms in Aspergillus, we screened for new regulators involved in cellulose-responsive induction from approximately 10,000 Aspergillus aculeatus T-DNA-inserted mutants. We constructed the T-DNA-inserted mutant library using the host strain harboring the orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase gene (pyrG) under the control of the FIII-avicelase gene (cbhI) promoter. Thus, candidate mutants deficient in cellulose-responsive induction were positively screened via counter selection against 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA). Among less than two hundred 5-FOA-resistant mutants, one mutant that the T-DNA inserted into the AasepM locus reduced the cbhI expression in response to cellulose. Since AaSepM is similar to Schizosaccharomyces pombe Cdc14p (E-value, 2e-20; identities, 33%), which is a component of the septation initiation network (SIN)-complex, we constructed an AasepM deletion mutant (ΔAasepM). We analyzed the expression of cellulase and xylanase genes in response to cellulose, septation, and conidiation in ΔAasepM. The AasepM deletion leads to delayed septation and decreased formation of the conidium chain in A. aculeatus but does not affect hyphal growth on minimal media. We also confirmed AaSepM's involvement in multiple cellulose-responsive signaling pathways of cellulase and xylanase genes under the control of the ManR-dependent, XlnR-dependent, and ManR- and XlnR-independent signaling pathways. KEY POINTS : • A new regulator for cellulolytic gene expression has been identified. • AaSepM is involved in septation and conidiation in A. aculeatus. • AasepM is involved in multiple cellulose-responsive signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Tsumura
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Kazumi Sawada
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Emi Kunitake
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan.,Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya-cho, Tsu, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Sumitani
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Takashi Kawaguchi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan
| | - Shuji Tani
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai, 599-8531, Japan.
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19
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Bertuzzi M, van Rhijn N, Krappmann S, Bowyer P, Bromley MJ, Bignell EM. On the lineage of Aspergillus fumigatus isolates in common laboratory use. Med Mycol 2021; 59:7-13. [PMID: 32944768 PMCID: PMC7779236 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin of isolates routinely used by the community of Aspergillus fumigatus researchers is periodically a matter of intense discussion at our centre, as the construction of recombinant isolates have sometimes followed convoluted routes, the documentation describing their lineages is fragmented, and the nomenclature is confusing. As an aide memoir, not least for our own benefit, we submit the following account and tabulated list of strains (Table 1) in an effort to collate all of the relevant information in a single, easily accessible document. To maximise the accuracy of this record we have consulted widely amongst the community of Medical Mycologists using these strains. All the strains described are currently available from one of these organisations, namely the Fungal Genetics Stock Centre (FGSC), FungiDB, Ensembl Fungi and The National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi (NCPF) at Public Health England. Display items from this manuscript are also featured on FungiDB. LAY ABSTRACT We present a concise overview on the definition, origin and unique genetic makeup of the Aspergillus fumigatus isolates routinely in use by the fungal research community, to aid researchers to describe past and new strains and the experimental differences observed more accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Norman van Rhijn
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Michael J Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Elaine M Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, UK
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Biology, Medicine and Health. The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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20
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Dikkala PK, Usmani Z, Kumar S, Gupta VK, Bhargava A, Sharma M. Fungal Production of Vitamins and Their Food Industrial Applications. Fungal Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-85603-8_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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21
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Aspergillus fumigatus G-Protein Coupled Receptors GprM and GprJ Are Important for the Regulation of the Cell Wall Integrity Pathway, Secondary Metabolite Production, and Virulence. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.02458-20. [PMID: 33051372 PMCID: PMC7554674 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02458-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A. fumigatus is the main etiological agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, a life-threatening fungal disease that occurs in severely immunocompromised humans. Withstanding the host environment is essential for A. fumigatus virulence, and sensing of extracellular cues occurs primarily through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate signal transduction pathways, which, in turn, regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The A. fumigatus genome encodes 15 putative classical GPCRs, with only three having been functionally characterized to date. In this work, we show that the two GPCRs GprM and GprJ regulate the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase MpkA and thus control the regulation of the cell wall integrity pathway. GprM and GprJ are also involved in the regulation of the production of the secondary metabolites fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, melanin, and fumitremorgin, and this regulation partially occurs through the activation of MpkA. Furthermore, GprM and GprJ are important for virulence in the insect model Galleria mellonella. This work therefore functionally characterizes two GPCRs and shows how they regulate several intracellular pathways that have been shown to be crucial for A. fumigatus virulence. G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are extracellular signaling receptors that sense environmental cues. Fungi sense their environment primarily through GPCR-mediated signaling pathways, which, in turn, regulate fungal development, metabolism, virulence, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. Aspergillus fumigatus is an important human pathogen that causes aspergillosis, a heterogeneous group of diseases that present a wide range of clinical manifestations. Here, we investigate in detail the role of the GPCRs GprM and GprJ in growth and gene expression. GprM and GprJ are important for melanin production and the regulation of the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway. Overexpression of gprM and gprJ causes a 20 and 50% reduction in growth rate compared to the wild-type (WT) strain and increases sensitivity to cell wall-damaging agents. Phosphorylation of the CWI protein kinase MpkA is increased in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains and decreased in the overexpression mutants compared to the WT strain. Furthermore, differences in cell wall polysaccharide concentrations and organization were observed in these strains. Transcriptome sequencing suggests that GprM and GprJ negatively regulate genes encoding secondary metabolites (SMs). Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the production of fumagillin, pyripyropene, fumigaclavine C, fumiquinazoline, and fumitremorgin is reduced in the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ strains, at least partially through the activation of MpkA. Overexpression of grpM also resulted in the regulation of many transcription factors, with AsgA predicted to function downstream of GprM and MpkA signaling. Finally, we show that the ΔgprM and ΔgprJ mutants are reduced in virulence in the Galleria mellonella insect model of invasive aspergillosis.
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22
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Yamauchi T, Kubodera T, Miyoshi D, Sugimoto N, Hirohata S. Artificial turn-on riboswitch to control target gene expression using a wild-type riboswitch splicing mechanism. J Biosci Bioeng 2020; 131:115-123. [PMID: 33051157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.09.010] [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: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The thiamine pyrophospate (TPP)-dependent thiA riboswitch in Aspergillus oryzae regulates alternative mRNA splicing via TPP-riboswitch binding to reduce protein production. Based on the sequences involved in alternative splicing found in Neurospora crassa, we identified unique sequences that are thought to play a role in the alternative splicing of the thiA riboswitch. Based on the mechanism of alternative splicing regulated by the thiA riboswitch, we constructed a new TPP-dependent artificial riboswitch, which unlike the wild-type riboswitch, promotes, rather than inhibits, gene expression. We found that a target gene controlled by this turn-on artificial riboswitch can be sufficiently expressed for practical use in A. oryzae. The artificial riboswitch upregulates the target genes via TPP and can be applied as a practical tool for gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Yamauchi
- Research and Development Department, Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co. Ltd., 4-5-5 Sumiyoshiminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0041, Japan.
| | - Takafumi Kubodera
- Research and Development Department, Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co. Ltd., 4-5-5 Sumiyoshiminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0041, Japan
| | - Daisuke Miyoshi
- Graduate School of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Naoki Sugimoto
- Graduate School of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan; Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Shuji Hirohata
- Research and Development Department, Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co. Ltd., 4-5-5 Sumiyoshiminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0041, Japan
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23
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Zeng H, Cai J, Hatabayashi H, Nakagawa H, Nakajima H, Yabe K. verA Gene is Involved in the Step to Make the Xanthone Structure of Demethylsterigmatocystin in Aflatoxin Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176389. [PMID: 32887494 PMCID: PMC7503927 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the biosynthesis of aflatoxin, verA, ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes of the aflatoxin gene cluster are involved in the pathway from versicolorin A (VA) to demethylsterigmatocystin (DMST). We herein isolated each disruptant of these four genes to determine their functions in more detail. Disruptants of ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes commonly accumulated VA in their mycelia. In contrast, the verA gene disruptant accumulated a novel yellow fluorescent substance (which we named HAMA) in the mycelia as well as culture medium. Feeding HAMA to the other disruptants commonly caused the production of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and G1 (AFG1). These results indicate that HAMA pigment is a novel aflatoxin precursor which is involved at a certain step after those of ver-1, ordB, and hypA genes between VA and DMST. HAMA was found to be an unstable substance to easily convert to DMST and sterigmatin. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed that the molecular mass of HAMA was 374, and HAMA gave two close major peaks in the LC chromatogram in some LC conditions. We suggest that these peaks correspond to the two conformers of HAMA; one of them would be selectively bound on the substrate binding site of VerA enzyme and then converted to DMST. VerA enzyme may work as a key enzyme in the creation of the xanthone structure of DMST from HAMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zeng
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jingjing Cai
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hidemi Hatabayashi
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
| | - Hiroyuki Nakagawa
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
| | - Hiromitsu Nakajima
- Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Koyama, Tottori 680-8553, Japan;
| | - Kimiko Yabe
- Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 2-1-12 Kannon-dai, Tsukuba-shi 305-8642, Ibaraki, Japan; (H.Z.); (J.C.); (H.H.); (H.N.)
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Food Science, Faculty of Environmental and Information Sciences, Fukui University of Technology, 3-6-1 Gakuen, Fukui-shi, Fukui 910-8505, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-776-29-2408
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Binder J, Shadkchan Y, Osherov N, Krappmann S. The Essential Thioredoxin Reductase of the Human Pathogenic Mold Aspergillus fumigatus Is a Promising Antifungal Target. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1383. [PMID: 32670238 PMCID: PMC7330004 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of cellular targets for antifungal compounds is a cornerstone for the development of novel antimycotics, for which a significant need exists due to increasing numbers of susceptible patients, emerging pathogens, and evolving resistance. For the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus, the causative agent of the opportunistic disease aspergillosis, only a limited number of established targets and corresponding drugs are available. Among several targets that were postulated from a variety of experimental approaches, the conserved thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity encoded by the trxR gene was assessed in this study. Its essentiality could be confirmed following a conditional TetOFF promoter replacement strategy. Relevance of the trxR gene product for oxidative stress resistance was revealed and, most importantly, its requirement for full virulence of A. fumigatus in two different models of infection resembling invasive aspergillosis. Our findings complement the idea of targeting the reductase component of the fungal thioredoxin system for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Binder
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Nir Osherov
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Erlangen Center of Infection Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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25
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Todokoro T, Bando H, Kotaka A, Tsutsumi H, Hata Y, Ishida H. Identification of a novel pyrithiamine resistance marker gene thiI for genome co-editing in Aspergillus oryzae. J Biosci Bioeng 2020; 130:227-232. [PMID: 32487497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Marker genes are essential for gene modification and genome editing of microorganisms. In Aspergillus oryzae, a widely used host for enzyme production, only a few marker genes can be used for positive selection. One of these genes, the pyrithiamine (PT) resistance marker gene thiA, is not useful for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing because of its unique resistance-conferring mechanism. In this study, a novel PT resistance marker was investigated considering its potential applications in genome editing. A mutant resistant to PT was selected from UV-mutagenized A. oryzae RIB40. Whole genome analysis was conducted on the mutants, and a novel candidate gene for PT resistance was identified. This candidate gene exhibited similarity to the thiamine transporter gene thi9 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and was designated as thiI. A thiI loss-of-function mutant was generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to investigate its effect on PT resistance. This mutant showed PT resistance and exhibited no growth defect or auxotrophy. The thiI gene was further investigated for its use as a selection marker in genome co-editing. Ribonucleoprotein complex comprising recombinant Cas9 nuclease and sgRNA targeting thiI or another target gene (wA or sreA) was prepared and simultaneously introduced into A. oryzae RIB40. thiI and target gene double loss-of-function mutants were efficiently selected on PT-containing medium. thiI was shown to be a useful marker gene in A. oryzae for use in genome editing. This study is expected to provide insights, which will promote basic research and industrial applications of A. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiko Todokoro
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Bando
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kotaka
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan
| | - Hiroko Tsutsumi
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan
| | - Yoji Hata
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ishida
- Research Institute, Gekkeikan Sake Co., Ltd., 101 Shimotoba-koyanagi-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8385, Japan
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26
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Umemura M, Kuriiwa K, Dao LV, Okuda T, Terai G. Promoter tools for further development of Aspergillus oryzae as a platform for fungal secondary metabolite production. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2020; 7:3. [PMID: 32211196 PMCID: PMC7092444 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-020-00093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae is widely used for secondary metabolite production by heterologous expression; thus, a wide variety of promoter tools is necessary to broaden the application of this species. Here we built a procedure to survey A. flavus genes constitutively highly expressed in 83 transcriptome datasets obtained under various conditions affecting secondary metabolite production, to find promoters useful for heterologous expression of genes in A. oryzae. Results To test the ability of the promoters of the top 6 genes to induce production of a fungal secondary metabolite, ustiloxin B, we inserted the promoters before the start codon of ustR, which encodes the transcription factor of the gene cluster responsible for ustiloxin B biosynthesis, in A. oryzae. Four of the 6 promoters induced ustiloxin B production in all tested media (solid maize, liquid V8 and PDB media), and also ustR expression. Two of the 4 promoters were those of tef1 and gpdA, which are well characterized in A. oryzae and A. nidulans, respectively, whereas the other two, those of AFLA_030930 and AFLA_113120, are newly reported here and show activities comparable to that of the gpdA promoter with respect to induction of gene expression and ustiloxin B production. Conclusion We newly reported two sequences as promoter tools for secondary metabolite production in A. oryzae. Our results demonstrate that our simple strategy of surveying for constitutively highly expressed genes in large-scale transcriptome datasets is useful for finding promoter sequences that can be used as heterologous expression tools in A. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Umemura
- 1Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan.,2Computational Bio Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory, AIST, Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan
| | - Kaoru Kuriiwa
- 1Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan.,3Department of Zoology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Ibaraki, 305-0005 Japan
| | - Linh Viet Dao
- 1Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan.,5Present Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117583 Singapore
| | - Tetsuya Okuda
- 1Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki, 305-8566 Japan
| | - Goro Terai
- 4Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba, 277-8561 Japan
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27
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Lichius A, Ruiz DM, Zeilinger S. Genetic Transformation of Filamentous Fungi: Achievements and Challenges. GRAND CHALLENGES IN FUNGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29541-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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28
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Bauer I, Misslinger M, Shadkchan Y, Dietl AM, Petzer V, Orasch T, Abt B, Graessle S, Osherov N, Haas H. The Lysine Deacetylase RpdA Is Essential for Virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2773. [PMID: 31866965 PMCID: PMC6905131 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current suboptimal treatment options of invasive fungal infections and emerging resistance of the corresponding pathogens urge the need for alternative therapy strategies and require the identification of novel antifungal targets. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common airborne opportunistic mold pathogen causing invasive and often fatal disease. Establishing a novel in vivo conditional gene expression system, we demonstrate that downregulation of the class 1 lysine deacetylase (KDAC) RpdA leads to avirulence of A. fumigatus in a murine model for pulmonary aspergillosis. The xylP promoter used has previously been shown to allow xylose-induced gene expression in different molds. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that this promoter also allows in vivo tuning of A. fumigatus gene activity by supplying xylose in the drinking water of mice. In the absence of xylose, an A. fumigatus strain expressing rpdA under control of the xylP promoter, rpdAxylP, was avirulent and lung histology showed significantly less fungal growth. With xylose, however, rpdAxylP displayed full virulence demonstrating that xylose was taken up by the mouse, transported to the site of fungal infection and caused rpdA induction in vivo. These results demonstrate that (i) RpdA is a promising target for novel antifungal therapies and (ii) the xylP expression system is a powerful new tool for in vivo gene silencing in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Bauer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Matthias Misslinger
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Anna-Maria Dietl
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Petzer
- Department of Internal Medicine II (Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology and Pneumology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Orasch
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Beate Abt
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Graessle
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nir Osherov
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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29
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Zalepkina SA, Smirnov VF, Borisov AV, Matsulevich ZV. Genomic Profiling of the Response of Aspergillus oryzae to the Treatment with Bis(2-Pyridine-1-Oxide) Diselenide. RUSS J GENET+ 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795419030177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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30
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Identification of a copper-transporting ATPase involved in biosynthesis of A. flavus conidial pigment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:4889-4897. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09820-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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31
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Abstract
A growing collection of bacterial riboswitch classes is being discovered that sense central metabolites, coenzymes, and signaling molecules. Included among the various mechanisms of gene regulation exploited by these RNA regulatory elements are several that modulate messenger RNA (mRNA) translation. In this review, the mechanisms of riboswitch-mediated translation control are summarized to highlight both their diversity and potential ancient origins. These mechanisms include ligand-gated presentation or occlusion of ribosome-binding sites, control of alternative splicing of mRNAs, and the regulation of mRNA stability. Moreover, speculation on the potential for novel riboswitch discoveries is presented, including a discussion on the potential for the discovery of a greater diversity of mechanisms for translation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald R Breaker
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8103
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32
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Yu Y, Blachowicz A, Will C, Szewczyk E, Glenn S, Gensberger-Reigl S, Nowrousian M, Wang CCC, Krappmann S. Mating-type factor-specific regulation of the fumagillin/pseurotin secondary metabolite supercluster in Aspergillus fumigatus. Mol Microbiol 2018; 110:1045-1065. [PMID: 30240513 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus, sexual identity is determined by the mating-type idiomorphs MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 residing at the MAT locus. Upon crossing of compatible partners, a heterothallic mating is executed to eventually form cleistothecia that contain recombinant ascospores. Given that the MAT1 gene products are DNA binding master regulators that govern this complex developmental process, we monitored the MAT1-driven transcriptomes of A. fumigatus by conditional overexpression of either MAT1 gene followed by RNA-seq analyses. Numerous genes related to the process of mating were found to be under transcriptional control, such as pheromone production and recognition. Substantial differences between the MAT1-1- and MAT1-2-driven transcriptomes could be detected by functional categorization of differentially expressed genes. Moreover, a significant and distinct impact on expression of genetic clusters of secondary metabolism became apparent, which could be verified on the product level. Unexpectedly, specific cross-regulation of the fumagillin/pseurotin supercluster was evident, thereby uncoupling its co-regulatory characteristic. These insights imply a tight interconnection of sexual development accompanied by ascosporogenesis with secondary metabolite production of a pathogenic fungus and impose evolutionary constraints that link these two fundamental aspects of the fungal lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Yu
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Adriana Blachowicz
- School of Pharmacy, John Staffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cornelia Will
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Edyta Szewczyk
- Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany
| | - Steven Glenn
- School of Pharmacy, John Staffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina Gensberger-Reigl
- Henriette Schmidt-Burkhardt Chair of Food Chemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Minou Nowrousian
- Department of General and Molecular Botany, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Clay C C Wang
- School of Pharmacy, John Staffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
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33
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Miura D, Sugiyama K, Ito A, Ohba-Tanaka A, Tanaka M, Shintani T, Gomi K. The PDR-type ABC transporters AtrA and AtrG are involved in azole drug resistance in Aspergillus oryzae. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2018; 82:1840-1848. [PMID: 30011258 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2018.1497941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
For strain improvement of Aspergillus oryzae, development of the transformation system is essential, wherein dominant selectable markers, including drug-resistant genes, are available. However, A. oryzae generally has a relatively high resistance to many antifungal drugs effective against yeasts and other filamentous fungi. In the course of the study, while investigating azole drug resistance in A. oryzae, we isolated a spontaneous mutant that exhibited high resistance to azole fungicides and found that pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR)-type ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes were upregulated in the mutant; their overexpression in the wild-type strain increased azole drug resistance. While deletion of the gene designated atrG resulted in increased azole susceptibility, double deletion of atrG and another gene (atrA) resulted in further azole hypersensitivity. Overall, these results indicate that the ABC transporters AtrA and AtrG are involved in azole drug resistance in A. oryzae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Miura
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Kohei Sugiyama
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Atsushi Ito
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Ayumi Ohba-Tanaka
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Mizuki Tanaka
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Takahiro Shintani
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Katsuya Gomi
- a Laboratory of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan.,b Biomolecular Engineering Laboratory, School of Food and Nutritional Science , University of Shizuoka , Shizuoka , Japan
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34
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Biochemical and genetic characterization of fungal proline hydroxylase in echinocandin biosynthesis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:7877-7890. [PMID: 29987385 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9179-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
An intriguing structural feature of echinocandins is the incorporation of hydroxylated amino acids. Elucidation of the machinery and the mechanism responsible for this modification is critical to generate new echinocandin derivatives with enhanced antifungal activity. In our present study, we biochemically characterized the α-ketoglutarate/Fe2+-dependent proline hydroxylase (HtyE) from two Aspergillus species, Aspergillus pachycristatus and Aspergillus aculeatus, in the respective echinocandin B and aculeacin A biosynthetic gene clusters. Our results showed that both Ap- and Aa-HtyE converted L-proline to trans-4- and trans-3-hydroxyproline, but at different ratios. Both enzymes also effectively hydroxylated C-3 of 4R-methyl-proline, L-pipecolic acid, and D-proline. Our homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis studies identified Leu182 of Ap-HtyE as a key residue in determining the regioselectivity of Ap-HtyE. Notably, we found that the efficiency in C-3 hydroxylation of 4R-methyl-proline has no direct correlation with the ratio of trans-4-hydroxylproline to trans-3-hydroxylproline catalyzed by HtyE. Deletion of Ap-htyE abolished A. pachycristatus anti-Candida activity and the production of echinocandin B, demonstrating that HtyE is the enzyme responsible for the hydroxylation of L-proline and 4R-methyl-proline in vivo and is essential for the anti-Candida activity of echinocandin B. Our present study thus sheds light on the biochemical basis for the selective hydroxylation of L-proline and 4R-methyl-proline and reveals a new type of biocatalyst with potential for the custom production of hydroxylated proline and pipecolic acid derivatives.
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35
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Chang PK, Zhang Q, Scharfenstein L, Mack B, Yoshimi A, Miyazawa K, Abe K. Aspergillus flavus GPI-anchored protein-encoding ecm33 has a role in growth, development, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and maize infection. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:5209-5220. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9012-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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36
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Reilly MC, Kim J, Lynn J, Simmons BA, Gladden JM, Magnuson JK, Baker SE. Forward genetics screen coupled with whole-genome resequencing identifies novel gene targets for improving heterologous enzyme production in Aspergillus niger. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:1797-1807. [PMID: 29305699 PMCID: PMC5794824 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8717-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Plant biomass, once reduced to its composite sugars, can be converted to fuel substitutes. One means of overcoming the recalcitrance of lignocellulose is pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. However, currently available commercial enzyme cocktails are inhibited in the presence of residual pretreatment chemicals. Recent studies have identified a number of cellulolytic enzymes from bacteria that are tolerant to pretreatment chemicals such as ionic liquids. The challenge now is generation of these enzymes in copious amounts, an arena where fungal organisms such as Aspergillus niger have proven efficient. Fungal host strains still need to be engineered to increase production titers of heterologous protein over native enzymes, which has been a difficult task. Here, we developed a forward genetics screen coupled with whole-genome resequencing to identify specific lesions responsible for a protein hyper-production phenotype in A. niger. This strategy successfully identified novel targets, including a low-affinity glucose transporter, MstC, whose deletion significantly improved secretion of recombinant proteins driven by a glucoamylase promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgann C Reilly
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Chemical and Biological Processes Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Joonhoon Kim
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Chemical and Biological Processes Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Jed Lynn
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Blake A Simmons
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - John M Gladden
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biomass Science and Conversion Technologies Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94551, USA
| | - Jon K Magnuson
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Chemical and Biological Processes Development Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA
| | - Scott E Baker
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA. .,Biosystems Design and Simulation Group, Environmental Molecular Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
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37
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Li D, Tang Y, Lin J, Cai W. Methods for genetic transformation of filamentous fungi. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:168. [PMID: 28974205 PMCID: PMC5627406 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0785-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi have been of great interest because of their excellent ability as cell factories to manufacture useful products for human beings. The development of genetic transformation techniques is a precondition that enables scientists to target and modify genes efficiently and may reveal the function of target genes. The method to deliver foreign nucleic acid into cells is the sticking point for fungal genome modification. Up to date, there are some general methods of genetic transformation for fungi, including protoplast-mediated transformation, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, electroporation, biolistic method and shock-wave-mediated transformation. This article reviews basic protocols and principles of these transformation methods, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
| | - Yu Tang
- Triplex International Biosciences (China) Co. LTD, Xiamen, 361100 China
| | - Jun Lin
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefubei Road, Fuzhou, 350122 China
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
| | - Weiwen Cai
- Institute of Apply Genomics, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, No.2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108 China
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38
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Song Z, Pan J, Xie L, Gong G, Han S, Zhang W, Hu Y. Expression, Purification, and Activity of ActhiS, a Thiazole Biosynthesis Enzyme from Acremonium chrysogenum. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2017; 82:852-860. [PMID: 28918750 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297917070112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Thiamine pyrophosphate is an essential coenzyme in all organisms. Its biosynthesis involves independent syntheses of the precursors, pyrimidine and thiazole, which are then coupled. In our previous study with overexpressed and silent mutants of ActhiS (thiazole biosynthesis enzyme from Acremonium chrysogenum), we found that the enzyme level correlated with intracellular thiamine content in A. chrysogenum. However, the exact structure and function of ActhiS remain unclear. In this study, the enzyme-bound ligand was characterized as the ADP adduct of 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole-2-carboxylic acid (ADT) using HPLC and 1H NMR. The ligand-free ActhiS expressed in M9 minimal medium catalyzed conversion of NAD+ and glycine to ADT in the presence of iron. Furthermore, the C217 residue was identified as the sulfur donor for the thiazole moiety. These observations confirm that ActhiS is a thiazole biosynthesis enzyme in A. chrysogenum, and it serves as a sulfur source for the thiazole moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Song
- China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Zhangjiang Institute, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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39
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Kobayashi T, Maeda H, Takeuchi M, Yamagata Y. Deletion of admB gene encoding a fungal ADAM affects cell wall construction in Aspergillus oryzae. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2017; 81:1041-1050. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1270741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Mammals possess a unique signaling system based on the proteolytic mechanism of a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) on the cell surface. We found two genes encoding ADAMs in Aspergillus oryzae and named them admA and admB. We produced admA and admB deletion strains to elucidate their biological function and clarify whether fungal ADAMs play a similar role as in mammals. The ∆admA∆admB and ∆admB strains were sensitive to cell wall-perturbing agents, congo red, and calcofluor white. Moreover, the two strains showed significantly increased weights of total alkali-soluble fractions from the mycelial cell wall compared to the control strain. Furthermore, ∆admB showed MpkA phosphorylation at lower concentration of congo red stimulation than the control strain. However, the MpkA phosphorylation level was not different between ∆admB and the control strain without the stimulation. The results indicated that A. oryzae AdmB involved in the cell wall integrity without going through the MpkA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuji Kobayashi
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Maeda
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Michio Takeuchi
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Youhei Yamagata
- Department of Applied Life Science, The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
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40
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Zhang S, Ban A, Ebara N, Mizutani O, Tanaka M, Shintani T, Gomi K. Self-excising Cre/mutant lox marker recycling system for multiple gene integrations and consecutive gene deletions in Aspergillus oryzae. J Biosci Bioeng 2017; 123:403-411. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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41
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Enhancing fructooligosaccharides production by genetic improvement of the industrial fungus Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611. J Biotechnol 2017; 249:25-33. [PMID: 28344156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2017.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus niger ATCC20611 is one of the most potent filamentous fungi used commercially for production of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are prospective components of functional food by stimulating probiotic bacteria in the human gut. However, current strategies for improving FOS yield still rely on production process development. The genetic engineering approach hasn't been applied in industrial strains to increase FOS production level. Here, an optimized polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation system was established in A. niger ATCC 20611 and used for further strain improvement. The pyrithiamine resistance gene (ptrA) was selected as a dominant marker and protoplasts were prepared with high concentration (up to 108g-1 wet weight mycelium) by using mixed cell wall-lysing enzymes. The transformation frequency with ptrA can reach 30-50 transformants per μg of DNA. In addition, the efficiency of co-transformation with the EGFP reporter gene (egfp) was high (approx. 82%). Furthermore, an activity-improved variant of β-fructofuranosidase, FopA(A178P), was successfully overexpressed in A. niger ATCC 20611 by using the transformation system. The transformant, CM6, exhibited a 58% increase in specific β-fructofuranosidase activity (up to 507U/g), compared to the parental strain (320U/g), and effectively reduced the time needed for completion of FOS synthesis. These results illustrate the feasibility of strain improvement through genetic engineering for further enhancement of FOS production level.
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42
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Han X, Qiu M, Wang B, Yin WB, Nie X, Qin Q, Ren S, Yang K, Zhang F, Zhuang Z, Wang S. Functional Analysis of the Nitrogen Metabolite Repression Regulator Gene nmrA in Aspergillus flavus. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1794. [PMID: 27933036 PMCID: PMC5122588 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Aspergillus nidulans, the nitrogen metabolite repression (NMR) regulator NmrA plays a major role in regulating the activity of the GATA transcription factor AreA during nitrogen metabolism. However, the function of nmrA in A. flavus has not been previously studied. Here, we report the identification and functional analysis of nmrA in A. flavus. Our work showed that the amino acid sequences of NmrA are highly conserved among Aspergillus species and that A. flavus NmrA protein contains a canonical Rossmann fold motif. Deletion of nmrA slowed the growth of A. flavus but significantly increased conidiation and sclerotia production. Moreover, seed infection experiments indicated that nmrA is required for the invasive virulence of A. flavus. In addition, the ΔnmrA mutant showed increased sensitivity to rapamycin and methyl methanesulfonate, suggesting that nmrA could be responsive to target of rapamycin signaling and DNA damage. Furthermore, quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis suggested that nmrA might interact with other nitrogen regulatory and catabolic genes. Our study provides a better understanding of NMR and the nitrogen metabolism network in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Han
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Mengguang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Nie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiuping Qin
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Silin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Kunlong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhenhong Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
| | - Shihua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Fungi and Mycotoxins of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Education Ministry, School of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou, China
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Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl moieties from lysine residues at histone tails and nuclear regulatory proteins and thus significantly impact chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes. In recent years, HDACs of filamentous fungi were found to be decisive regulators of genes involved in pathogenicity and the production of important fungal metabolites such as antibiotics and toxins. Here we present proof that one of these enzymes, the class 1 type HDAC RpdA, is of vital importance for the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus Recombinant expression of inactivated RpdA shows that loss of catalytic activity is responsible for the lethal phenotype of Aspergillus RpdA null mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a fungus-specific C-terminal region of only a few acidic amino acids is required for both the nuclear localization and catalytic activity of the enzyme in the model organism Aspergillus nidulans Since strains with single or multiple deletions of other classical HDACs revealed no or only moderate growth deficiencies, it is highly probable that the significant delay of germination and the growth defects observed in strains growing under the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A are caused primarily by inhibition of catalytic RpdA activity. Indeed, even at low nanomolar concentrations of the inhibitor, the catalytic activity of purified RpdA is considerably diminished. Considering these results, RpdA with its fungus-specific motif represents a promising target for novel HDAC inhibitors that, in addition to their increasing impact as anticancer drugs, might gain in importance as antifungals against life-threatening invasive infections, apart from or in combination with classical antifungal therapy regimes. IMPORTANCE This paper reports on the fungal histone deacetylase RpdA and its importance for the viability of the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and other filamentous fungi, a finding that is without precedent in other eukaryotic pathogens. Our data clearly indicate that loss of RpdA activity, as well as depletion of the enzyme in the nucleus, results in lethality of the corresponding Aspergillus mutants. Interestingly, both catalytic activity and proper cellular localization depend on the presence of an acidic motif within the C terminus of RpdA-type enzymes of filamentous fungi that is missing from the homologous proteins of yeasts and higher eukaryotes. The pivotal role, together with the fungus-specific features, turns RpdA into a promising antifungal target of histone deacetylase inhibitors, a class of molecules that is successfully used for the treatment of certain types of cancer. Indeed, some of these inhibitors significantly delay the germination and growth of different filamentous fungi via inhibition of RpdA. Upcoming analyses of clinically approved and novel inhibitors will elucidate their therapeutic potential as new agents for the therapy of invasive fungal infections-an interesting aspect in light of the rising resistance of fungal pathogens to conventional therapies.
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Sheridan KJ, Lechner BE, Keeffe GO, Keller MA, Werner ER, Lindner H, Jones GW, Haas H, Doyle S. Ergothioneine Biosynthesis and Functionality in the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35306. [PMID: 27748436 PMCID: PMC5066259 DOI: 10.1038/srep35306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ergothioneine (EGT; 2-mercaptohistidine trimethylbetaine) is a trimethylated and sulphurised histidine derivative which exhibits antioxidant properties. Here we report that deletion of Aspergillus fumigatus egtA (AFUA_2G15650), which encodes a trimodular enzyme, abrogated EGT biosynthesis in this opportunistic pathogen. EGT biosynthetic deficiency in A. fumigatus significantly reduced resistance to elevated H2O2 and menadione, respectively, impaired gliotoxin production and resulted in attenuated conidiation. Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed substantial proteomic remodelling in ΔegtA compared to wild-type under both basal and ROS conditions, whereby the abundance of 290 proteins was altered. Specifically, the reciprocal differential abundance of cystathionine γ-synthase and β-lyase, respectively, influenced cystathionine availability to effect EGT biosynthesis. A combined deficiency in EGT biosynthesis and the oxidative stress response regulator Yap1, which led to extreme oxidative stress susceptibility, decreased resistance to heavy metals and production of the extracellular siderophore triacetylfusarinine C and increased accumulation of the intracellular siderophore ferricrocin. EGT dissipated H2O2 in vitro, and elevated intracellular GSH levels accompanied abrogation of EGT biosynthesis. EGT deficiency only decreased resistance to high H2O2 levels which suggests functionality as an auxiliary antioxidant, required for growth at elevated oxidative stress conditions. Combined, these data reveal new interactions between cellular redox homeostasis, secondary metabolism and metal ion homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Sheridan
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | | | - Grainne O' Keeffe
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Markus A Keller
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Austria
| | - Ernst R Werner
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Austria
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Austria
| | - Gary W Jones
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, Austria
| | - Sean Doyle
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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45
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Chang PK, Scharfenstein LL, Ehrlich KC, Diana Di Mavungu J. The Aspergillus flavus fluP-associated metabolite promotes sclerotial production. Fungal Biol 2016; 120:1258-68. [PMID: 27647242 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus is able to synthesize a variety of polyketide-derived secondary metabolites including the hepatocarcinogen, aflatoxin B1. The fungus reproduces and disseminates predominantly by production of conidia. It also produces hardened mycelial aggregates called sclerotia that are used to cope with unfavourable growth environments. In the present study, we examined the role of A. flavus fluP, the backbone polyketide synthase gene of secondary metabolite gene cluster 41, on fungal development. The A. flavus CA14 fluP deletion mutant (AfΔfluP) grew and accumulated aflatoxin normally but produced a lower amount of sclerotia than the parental strain. This was also true for the Aspergillus parasiticus BN9 fluP deletion mutant (ApΔfluP). The A. flavus fluP gene was positively regulated by developmental regulators of VeA and VelB but not by the global regulator of secondary metabolism, LaeA. Overexpression of fluP in AfΔfluP (OEfluP) elevated its ability to produce sclerotia compared to that of the parental strain. Coculture of OEfluP with CA14, AfΔfluP, ApΔfluP, or an A. flavus pptA deletion mutant incapable of producing functional polyketide synthases also allowed increased sclerotial production of the respective strains at edges where colonies made contact. Acetone extracts of OEfluP but not of AfΔfluP exhibited the same effect in promoting sclerotial production of AfΔfluP. These results suggest that FluP polyketide synthase is involved in the synthesis of a diffusible metabolite that could serve as a signal molecule to regulate sclerotiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perng-Kuang Chang
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States.
| | - Leslie L Scharfenstein
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States
| | - Kenneth C Ehrlich
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1100 Robert E. Lee Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States
| | - José Diana Di Mavungu
- Laboratory of Food Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, 460 Ottergemsesteenweg, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Mouyna I, Aimanianda V, Hartl L, Prevost MC, Sismeiro O, Dillies MA, Jagla B, Legendre R, Coppee JY, Latgé JP. GH16 and GH81 family β-(1,3)-glucanases in Aspergillus fumigatus are essential for conidial cell wall morphogenesis. Cell Microbiol 2016; 18:1285-93. [PMID: 27306610 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The fungal cell wall is a rigid structure because of fibrillar and branched β-(1,3)-glucan linked to chitin. Softening of the cell wall is an essential phenomenon during fungal morphogenesis, wherein rigid cell wall structures are cleaved by glycosylhydrolases. During the search for glycosylhydrolases acting on β-(1,3)-glucan, we identified seven genes in the Aspergillus fumigatus genome coding for potential endo-β-(1,3)-glucanase. ENG1 (previously characterized and named ENGL1, Mouyna et al., ), belongs to the Glycoside-Hydrolase 81 (GH81) family, while ENG2 to ENG7, to GH16 family. ENG1 and four GH16 genes (ENG2-5) were expressed in the resting conidia as well as during germination, suggesting an essential role during A. fumigatus morphogenesis. Here, we report the effect of sequential deletion of AfENG2-5 (GH16) followed by AfENG1 (GH81) deletion in the Δeng2,3,4,5 mutant. The Δeng1,2,3,4,5 mutant showed conidial defects, with linear chains of conidia unable to separate while the germination rate was not affected. These results show, for the first time in a filamentous fungus, that endo β-(1,3)-glucanases are essential for proper conidial cell wall assembly and thus segregation of conidia during conidiation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lukas Hartl
- Unité des Aspergillus, Département de Mycologie, France.,Microsynth Austria Leberstrasse, 20 1110, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Odile Sismeiro
- Transcriptome and EpiGenome Platform, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Marie-Agnès Dillies
- Transcriptome and EpiGenome Platform, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Bernd Jagla
- Transcriptome and EpiGenome Platform, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Rachel Legendre
- Transcriptome and EpiGenome Platform, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppee
- Transcriptome and EpiGenome Platform, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
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47
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Schinke J, Kolog Gulko M, Christmann M, Valerius O, Stumpf SK, Stirz M, Braus GH. The DenA/DEN1 Interacting Phosphatase DipA Controls Septa Positioning and Phosphorylation-Dependent Stability of Cytoplasmatic DenA/DEN1 during Fungal Development. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1005949. [PMID: 27010942 PMCID: PMC4806917 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
DenA/DEN1 and the COP9 signalosome (CSN) represent two deneddylases which remove the ubiquitin-like Nedd8 from modified target proteins and are required for distinct fungal developmental programmes. The cellular DenA/DEN1 population is divided into a nuclear and a cytoplasmatic subpopulation which is especially enriched at septa. DenA/DEN1 stability control mechanisms are different for the two cellular subpopulations and depend on different physical interacting proteins and the C-terminal DenA/DEN1 phosphorylation pattern. Nuclear DenA/DEN1 is destabilized during fungal development by five of the eight CSN subunits which target nuclear DenA/DEN1 for degradation. DenA/DEN1 becomes stabilized as a phosphoprotein at S243/S245 during vegetative growth, which is necessary to support further asexual development. After the initial phase of development, the newly identified cytoplasmatic DenA/DEN1 interacting phosphatase DipA and an additional developmental specific C-terminal phosphorylation site at serine S253 destabilize DenA/DEN1. Outside of the nucleus, DipA is co-transported with DenA/DEN1 in the cytoplasm between septa and nuclei. Deletion of dipA resulted in increased DenA/DEN1 stability in a strain which is unresponsive to illumination. The mutant strain is dysregulated in cytokinesis and impaired in asexual development. Our results suggest a dual phosphorylation-dependent DenA/DEN1 stability control with stabilizing and destabilizing modifications and physical interaction partner proteins which function as control points in the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josua Schinke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miriam Kolog Gulko
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Martin Christmann
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sina Kristin Stumpf
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Margarita Stirz
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), and Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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48
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Yao G, Li Z, Wu R, Qin Y, Liu G, Qu Y. Penicillium oxalicum PoFlbC regulates fungal asexual development and is important for cellulase gene expression. Fungal Genet Biol 2016; 86:91-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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49
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Muñoz A, Bertuzzi M, Bettgenhaeuser J, Iakobachvili N, Bignell EM, Read ND. Different Stress-Induced Calcium Signatures Are Reported by Aequorin-Mediated Calcium Measurements in Living Cells of Aspergillus fumigatus. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138008. [PMID: 26402916 PMCID: PMC4581630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an inhaled fungal pathogen of human lungs, the developmental growth of which is reliant upon Ca2+-mediated signalling. Ca2+ signalling has regulatory significance in all eukaryotic cells but how A. fumigatus uses intracellular Ca2+ signals to respond to stresses imposed by the mammalian lung is poorly understood. In this work, A. fumigatus strains derived from the clinical isolate CEA10, and a non-homologous recombination mutant ΔakuBKU80, were engineered to express the bioluminescent Ca2+-reporter aequorin. An aequorin-mediated method for routine Ca2+ measurements during the early stages of colony initiation was successfully developed and dynamic changes in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]c) in response to extracellular stimuli were measured. The response to extracellular challenges (hypo- and hyper-osmotic shock, mechanical perturbation, high extracellular Ca2+, oxidative stress or exposure to human serum) that the fungus might be exposed to during infection, were analysed in living conidial germlings. The 'signatures' of the transient [Ca2+]c responses to extracellular stimuli were found to be dose- and age-dependent. Moreover, Ca2+-signatures associated with each physico-chemical treatment were found to be unique, suggesting the involvement of heterogeneous combinations of Ca2+-signalling components in each stress response. Concordant with the involvement of Ca2+-calmodulin complexes in these Ca2+-mediated responses, the calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine (TFP) induced changes in the Ca2+-signatures to all the challenges. The Ca2+-chelator BAPTA potently inhibited the initial responses to most stressors in accordance with a critical role for extracellular Ca2+ in initiating the stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Muñoz
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Margherita Bertuzzi
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Bettgenhaeuser
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nino Iakobachvili
- Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine M. Bignell
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NDR); (EMB)
| | - Nick D. Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NDR); (EMB)
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Li Z, Yao G, Wu R, Gao L, Kan Q, Liu M, Yang P, Liu G, Qin Y, Song X, Zhong Y, Fang X, Qu Y. Synergistic and Dose-Controlled Regulation of Cellulase Gene Expression in Penicillium oxalicum. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005509. [PMID: 26360497 PMCID: PMC4567317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungus Penicillium oxalicum produces diverse lignocellulolytic enzymes, which are regulated by the combinations of many transcription factors. Here, a single-gene disruptant library for 470 transcription factors was constructed and systematically screened for cellulase production. Twenty transcription factors (including ClrB, CreA, XlnR, Ace1, AmyR, and 15 unknown proteins) were identified to play putative roles in the activation or repression of cellulase synthesis. Most of these regulators have not been characterized in any fungi before. We identified the ClrB, CreA, XlnR, and AmyR transcription factors as critical dose-dependent regulators of cellulase expression, the core regulons of which were identified by analyzing several transcriptomes and/or secretomes. Synergistic and additive modes of combinatorial control of each cellulase gene by these regulatory factors were achieved, and cellulase expression was fine-tuned in a proper and controlled manner. With one of these targets, the expression of the major intracellular β-glucosidase Bgl2 was found to be dependent on ClrB. The Bgl2-deficient background resulted in a substantial gene activation by ClrB and proved to be closely correlated with the relief of repression mediated by CreA and AmyR during cellulase induction. Our results also signify that probing the synergistic and dose-controlled regulation mechanisms of cellulolytic regulators and using it for reconstruction of expression regulation network (RERN) may be a promising strategy for cellulolytic fungi to develop enzyme hyper-producers. Based on our data, ClrB was identified as focal point for the synergistic activation regulation of cellulase expression by integrating cellulolytic regulators and their target genes, which refined our understanding of transcriptional-regulatory network as a “seesaw model” in which the coordinated regulation of cellulolytic genes is established by counteracting activators and repressors. Cellulolytic fungi have evolved into sophisticated lignocellulolytic systems to adapt to their natural habitat. This trait is important for filamentous fungi, which are the main source of cellulases utilized to degrade lignocellulose to fermentable sugars. Penicillium oxalicum, which produces lignocellulolytic enzymes with more diverse components than Trichoderma reesei, has the capacity to secrete large amounts of cellulases. Meanwhile, cellulase expression is regulated by a complex network involved in many transcription factors in this organism. To better understand how cellulase genes are systematically regulated in P. oxalicum, we employed molecular genetics to uncover the cellulolytic transcription factors on a genome-wide scale. We discovered the synergistic and tunable regulation of cellulase expression by integrating cellulolytic regulators and their target genes, which refined our understanding of transcriptional-regulatory network as a “seesaw model” in which the coordinated regulation of cellulolytic genes is established by counteracting activators and repressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guangshan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ruimei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Liwei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qinbiao Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Piao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuqi Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yaohua Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yinbo Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- * E-mail:
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