Cloning of an Aspergillus niger invertase gene by expression in Trichoderma reesei

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger produces two glycosylated forms of the sucrose-hydrolysing enzyme, invertase. In contrast, some Trichoderma species lack invertase and are unable to utilise sucrose as a sole carbon source. Using an A. niger genomic library constructed in a cosmid vector containing the ura5 gene of Podospora anserina as a selectable marker, and the T. reesei ura5- strain as a sucrose-minus recipient strain, an A. niger invertase gene (suc1) has been cloned by a sib selection procedure. PAGE and enzyme analysis confirmed that transformants had acquired invertase activity. The cloned gene contained DNA sequences which were complementary to the amino-acid sequences of tryptic peptides found in invertase purified from A. niger. The suc1 invertase gene can be used as a dominant selectable marker for the transformation of Trichoderma strains.

Analysis of promoter activity by transformation of Acremonium chrysogenum

Promoter activity was examined in the beta-lactam-producing fungus, Acremonium chrysogenum, by assessment of the properties of transformant isolates. Transformation was achieved using plasmid constructs specifying hygromycin B resistance (HyR) linked to the promoter elements of gpdA (the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-encoding gene of Aspergillus nidulans), and pcbC [the gene encoding the isopenicillin N synthetase (IPNS) enzyme of A. chrysogenum]. Transformation frequency, HyR levels, and Hy phosphotransferase (HPT) levels suggested that the transformants of constructs using the gpdA promoter showed a higher level of expression of the HyR gene than in transformants obtained using the pcbC promoter. The patterns of integration of the transforming DNA also differed in that pcbC promoter construct transformants appeared to have tandem repeats. All integrations of plasmid DNA occurred on a single chromosome which was different in four out of five transformants studied. Multiple copy transformants of constructs using the pcbC promoter did not show the regulated pattern of expression of HPT activity observed with IPNS in untransformed strains.

Regulation of chitinase synthesis in Trichoderma harzianum

The production of chitinase by Trichoderma species is of interest in relation to their use in biocontrol and as a source of mycolytic enzymes. Fourteen isolates of the genus were screened to identify the most effective producer of chitinase. The best strain for chitinase was Trichoderma harzianum 39.1, and this was selected for study of the regulation of enzyme synthesis. Washed mycelium of T. harzianum 39.1 was incubated with a range of carbon sources. Chitinase synthesis was induced on chitin-containing medium, but repressed by glucose and N-acetylglucosamine. Production of the enzyme was optimal at a chitin concentration of 0.5%, at 28 degrees C, pH 6.0 and was independent of the age of the mycelium. The synthesis of chitinase was blocked by both 8-hydroxyquinoline and cycloheximide, inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, respectively. The mode of chitinase synthesis in this fungus is discussed.

Chromosome rearrangements in improved cephalosporin C-producing strains of Acremonium chrysogenum

A number of A. chrysogenum strains from a lineage improved in cephalosporin C production were analysed by contoured-clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis (CHEF). Although antibiotic titre was increased across the lineage, chromosome rearrangements were only observed at two points in it. In one member of the lineage the chromosomal changes included those which altered the size of the chromosome on which the isopenicillin N synthetase gene (pcbC) was located. It is proposed that chromosome changes are a chance event in an industrial strain improvement programme.

Regulation of invertase in Aspergillus nidulans: effect of different carbon sources

Aspergillus nidulans produces an extracellular beta-D-fructofuranoside fructohydrolase (invertase) when grown on a medium containing the beta-fructofuranosides sucrose or raffinose, indicating that synthesis is subject to induction by the substrate. On a growth medium containing sucrose, production was maximal at 15 h in cultures incubated at 28 C degrees. After this time the level of detectable invertase in the cultures declined. A proportion of the enzyme was secreted during the linear growth phase of the fungus. Various sugars were investigated for induction of invertase, but only the two beta-fructofuranosides induced high production levels; with the other sugars, the enzyme was produced only at a low constitutive level. Mycelium grown under repressive conditions (1% glucose), rapidly produced invertase when transferred to sucrose-containing medium. After 80 min the invertase level in these cultures was 26-fold higher than the constitutive level. The repressive effect of other sugars, e.g. glucose and xylose, on invertase production was also demonstrated in this experimental system.

Solubilisation of a cell wall bound invertase in Aspergillus nidulans

Aspergillus nidulans produces an extracellular invertase when incubated in the presence of sucrose and about half of the activity produced was found to be associated with the mycelium. Sixty percent of this mycelial invertase could be solubilised by simple mechanical disruption. Among the agents tested for solubilisation of invertase, proteinase K and dithiothreitol were the most effective.

Regulation of Isopenicillin N Synthetase (IPNS) Gene Expression in Acremonium Chrysogenum

Total RNA was extracted daily from the beta-lactam antibiotic producing fungus A. chrysogenum strain CO728 during a 7 day cephalosporin C fermentation. IPNS mRNA species, with a size of about 1.5 kb, were detected by Northern blotting at high levels between days 2 and 4. The rapid appearance of IPNS mRNA in mycelial extracts up to day 2 suggests that IPNS is regulated at the transcriptional level. Primer extension and S1 endonuclease mapping studies indicate the existence of two major and at least two minor transcription initiation start sites. There was no change in the relative levels of the four transcripts during the period they could be detected. A region upstream of the IPNS structural gene (pcbC) has been sequenced and the transcription initiation sites appear as major and minor pairs on either side of one of the pyrimidine-rich blocks that punctuate the promoter sequence.

Genetic mapping in Streptomyces clavuligerus by protoplast fusion

The development of a protoplast manipulation protocol for the industrially important bacterium Streptomyces clavuligerus, which produces the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, made possible a preliminary genetic mapping study based on protoplast fusion crosses. A preliminary position for 11 markers on the S. clavuligerus genetic map is proposed. Fusion progeny were characterized by random spore analysis because the markers present in the strains were not amenable to the conventional four-on-four selection procedure. Whilst the resulting map is similar to that derived by conjugation for S. clavuligerus and S. coelicolor, further analysis of the markers is required to confirm these observations.

Protoplast isolation and regeneration in Streptomyces clavuligerus

The regeneration of streptomycete protoplasts is a major step following genetic manipulations such as fusion and DNA-mediated transformation. Reports of studies on the regeneration of protoplasts from Streptomyces clavuligerus are limited and for this reason the experiments described in this paper were carried out. An investigation of protoplast formation and cytology was made to gain further insight into the loss of protoplast viability in osmotically stabilized support media. Protoplasts with the highest regeneration frequency were isolated from mycelium, grown in a two-stage culture system (without glycine), using lysozyme dissolved in a sucrose osmoticum containing 1% bovine serum albumin. The latter promoted improved protoplast viability. A systematic survey was made of the components of regeneration medium R5, previously used for S. clavuligerus, and other potentially advantageous components and conditions, in an attempt to raise the regeneration frequency of the protoplasts. An improved regeneration medium (R6) and protocol which supported higher and more consistent levels of regeneration of S. clavuligerus protoplasts resulted from these experiments. These improved procedures for protoplast isolation and regeneration proved to be suitable for other streptomycete species.

Developments in protoplast fusion in fungi

Protoplasts have proved to be valuable tools in fungal genetics. Removal of the cell wall is clearly very significant because this organelle has an important role in cell-cell interactions. Using the molecular 'glue' polyethylene glycol or electrofusion methods, protoplasts can be fused in intraspecies and interspecies and intergeneric combinations. The technique has therefore opened up an important new area of study which has both fundamental and applied importance.

Protoplast fusion as a tool for genetic analysis in Cephalosporium acremonium

Protoplasts of nutritionally complementary strains of Cephalosporium acremonium were fused and plated onto media which supressed the growth of both parents. The regenerating colonies were used for genetic analysis and were found to be of two types, stable haploid recombinants and unstable heterozygotes (aneuploids and/or diploids). Analysis of these colonies provided evidence for eight linkage groups and a relatively high rate of mitotic crossing-over. The gene order for three of the markers on one linkage group was also determined.

Further studies on protoplast fusion and interspecific hybridization within the Aspergillus nidulans group

Hybridization of eight species of the Aspergillus nidulans group was attempted using auxotrophic mutants and protoplast fusion methods. Viable fusion products were obtained from eight crosses. Allodiploid hybrids were recovered from crosses involving A. nidulans with A. rugulosus, A. quadrilineatus, A. nidulans var. echinulatus and A. violaceus, although some mutants only gave heterokaryons. Crosses involving these latter species also gave heterokaryons. Crosses between A. nidulans and A. unguis, A. stellatus and A. heterothallicus were unsuccessful. Fusions involving three parents gave heterokaryons made up of only two of them.

Aspects of genetic interaction in hybrids of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus rugulosus obtained by protoplast fusion

Hybrids were produced by protoplast fusion between strains of Aspergillus rugulosus and mitotic master strains of Aspergillus nidulans with a genetic marker on each linkage group. Analysis of segregants induced by growth on benomyl revealed recombination between every pair of unlinked markers. Parental combinations of markers were often recovered at significantly higher frequencies than expected. This aberrant segregation was not correlated with any particular pair of linkage-groups and was attributed to inter-species incompatibility. The segregation of genetic markers of A. rugulosus from the hybrids suggested that A. nidulans and A. rugulosus may differ in haploid chromosome number and chromosome size. In sexual crosses between A. nidulans and strains containing chromosomes of mixed parental origin recombinants were recovered. The results support the classification of A. nidulans and A. rugulosus as separate species.

Induced segregation in interspecific hybrids of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus rugulosus obtained by protoplast fusion

Interspecific hybrids produced by polyethylene glycol induced fusion of protoplasts from auxotrophic mutants of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus rugulosus were grown in the presence of the recombinogens benomyl and chloral hydrate to stimulate segregation. The A. nidulans parental strains used had a known genetic marker in each linkage group. Hybrids grown on complete medium containing benomyl yielded more segregants. Analysis of the segregants showed that the distribution of A. nidulans linkage groups was random. No specific linkage group appeared in all the segregants. The two parents are closely related taxonomically and the findings from these experiments suggest that a high degree of chromosomal homology may exist between them.

A particulate chitin synthase from Aspergillus flavus Link: the properties, location, and levels of activity in mycelium and regenerating protoplast preparations

Chitin synthase (ED 2.4.1.16) has been characterized in Aspergillus flavus. A K(m) value of 2.5 m(M) was obtained for the substrate UDPGlcNAc. The enzyme had a requirement for GlcNAc, and Mg2+ and activity was increased in the presence of soluble chitodextrins F1 and F2. The optimum activity was obtained using Tris--HCl buffer, pH 7.5, with a secondary peak at pH 6.2 and an incubation temperature of 29.5 degrees C. Distribution patterns of chitin synthase in protoplasts and mycelial material were very similar. The highest specific activity was found in a 200 000 X g fraction. Enzyme levels in growing mycelium increased during the exponential growth phase after which they declined. Activity also increased during the early stages of regeneration of both conidial and mycelial protoplasts, despite an initial lack in net protein synthesis. Chitin synthase levels were also dependent upon the carbon source available during regeneration.

Conditions for induced fusion of fungal protoplasts in polyethylene glycol solutions

Solutions containing polyethylene glycol MW 6000 (PEG) induced fusion of protoplasts of Penicillium chrysogenum. Balanced heterokaryons were formed by fusion of nutritionally complementing protoplasts. Heterokaryotic fusion products were obtained up to a frequency of 4% of the number of protoplasts, surviving the fusion treatment. Investigation of the conditions, necessary to achieve this high fusion frequency, showed that supplementing the PEG solution with Ca++ and adjustment to high pH gave the best results. Mechanisms of fusion of fungal protoplasts by PEG, calcium and alkaline pH are discussed in view of the obtained results.

Chitin synthase in Mortierella vinacea: properties, cellular location and synthesis in growing cultures

Chitin synthase of Mortierella vinacea was present in the "microsomal' fraction (100 000 g precipitate), the 'cell-wall' fraction (2000 g precipitate) and the 'mitochondrial' fraction (10 000 g precipitate). The properties of the 'microsomal' enzyme were investigated. The pH optimum was between 5-8 and 6-2, and the temperature optimum was between 31 and 33 degrees C. The Km for UDP N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was 1.8 mM. The enzyme was stimulated by Mg2+ and a slight stimulation was also effected by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Soluble chitodextrins were inhibitory. A pH-dependent, heat-stable inhibitor of chitin synthase activity was present in the soluble cytoplasm from the mycelium. The effects of aeration and glucose concentration on enzyme production in growing cultures were also investigated; maximum specific activity of chitin synthase was associated with the cessation of exponential growth.