Biosynthesis of Steroidal Antibiotic Fusidanes: Functional Analysis of Oxidosqualene Cyclase and Subsequent Tailoring Enzymes from Aspergillus fumigatus

Advances in Aspergillus secondary metabolite research in the post-genomic era

This review studies the impact of whole genome sequencing on Aspergillus secondary metabolite research. There has been a proliferation of many new, intriguing discoveries since sequencing data became widely available. What is more, the genomes disclosed the surprising finding that there are many more secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways than laboratory research had suggested. Activating these pathways has been met with some success, but many more dormant genes remain to be awakened.

Medium optimization for enhanced co-production of two bioactive metabolites in the same fermentation by a statistical approach

This paper describes improved optimization method that combines the one-factor-at-a-time method (OFAT), Plackett-Burman design, and the response surface method (RSM), which were used to optimize the medium for the production of fumigaclavine C (FC) and helvolic acid (HA) from endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus CY018 simultaneously. The ideal carbon and nitrogen sources for the two compounds were assessed initially via the one-factor-at-a-time method. Three key cultivation factors (pH, phosphate, and inoculum size) were chosen based on the results of Plackett-Burman design, and subsequently optimized by the central composite design. The two metabolites were amply afforded when the cultivation was carried out with the inoculum size of 2.45% at pH 4.2 and 28°C for 19 days in the medium containing (g/l): mannitol 50, sodium succinate 5.4, NaNO₃ 2, MgSO₄·7H₂O 0.3, FeSO₄·7H₂O 0.01, and KH₂PO₄ 0.67. The highest yields of FC and HA achieved herein were 17.26 and 16.88 mg/l. This work might be the first endeavor leading to the improved simultaneous production of two complex active metabolites with a single strain.

First self-assembly study of betulinic acid, a renewable nano-sized, 6-6-6-6-5 pentacyclic monohydroxy triterpenic acid

Self-assembly of betulinic acid, a renewable nano-sized 6-6-6-6-5 pentacyclic triterpenic acid studied in twenty two organic liquids and alcohol-water mixtures showed that it self-assembled in all the liquids studied affording strong gels in nineteen organic liquids and also in alcohol-water mixtures. Optical and electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies revealed fibrillar networks having fibers of nano- to micro-metre cross sections and micrometre lengths.

Genome sequencing and comparative transcriptomics of the model entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and M. acridum

Metarhizium spp. are being used as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides, as model systems for studying insect-fungus interactions, and as a resource of genes for biotechnology. We present a comparative analysis of the genome sequences of the broad-spectrum insect pathogen Metarhizium anisopliae and the acridid-specific M. acridum. Whole-genome analyses indicate that the genome structures of these two species are highly syntenic and suggest that the genus Metarhizium evolved from plant endophytes or pathogens. Both M. anisopliae and M. acridum have a strikingly larger proportion of genes encoding secreted proteins than other fungi, while ∼30% of these have no functionally characterized homologs, suggesting hitherto unsuspected interactions between fungal pathogens and insects. The analysis of transposase genes provided evidence of repeat-induced point mutations occurring in M. acridum but not in M. anisopliae. With the help of pathogen-host interaction gene database, ∼16% of Metarhizium genes were identified that are similar to experimentally verified genes involved in pathogenicity in other fungi, particularly plant pathogens. However, relative to M. acridum, M. anisopliae has evolved with many expanded gene families of proteases, chitinases, cytochrome P450s, polyketide synthases, and nonribosomal peptide synthetases for cuticle-degradation, detoxification, and toxin biosynthesis that may facilitate its ability to adapt to heterogenous environments. Transcriptional analysis of both fungi during early infection processes provided further insights into the genes and pathways involved in infectivity and specificity. Of particular note, M. acridum transcribed distinct G-protein coupled receptors on cuticles from locusts (the natural hosts) and cockroaches, whereas M. anisopliae transcribed the same receptor on both hosts. This study will facilitate the identification of virulence genes and the development of improved biocontrol strains with customized properties.

Aside from playing a crucial role in natural ecosystems, entomopathogenic fungi are being developed as environmentally friendly alternatives for the control of insect pests. We conducted the first genomic study of two of the best characterized entomopathogens, Metarhizium anisopliae and M. acridum. M. anisopliae is a ubiquitous pathogen of >200 insect species and a plant growth promoting colonizer of rhizospheres. M. acridum is a specific pathogen of locusts. Important findings of this study included: 1) Both M. anisopliae and M. acridum have a very large number of genes encoding secreted proteins, and many of these play roles in fungus-insect interactions. 2) M. anisopliae has more genes than M. acridum, which may be associated with adaptation to multiple insect hosts. 3) Unlike M. acridum, the M. anisopliae genome contains many more transposase genes and shows no evidence of repeat-induced point mutations. The lack of repeat-induced mutations may have allowed the lineage-specific gene duplications that have contributed to its adaptability. 4) High-throughput transcriptomics identified the strategies by which these fungi overcome their insect hosts and achieve specificity. These genome sequences will provide the basis for a comprehensive understanding of fungal–plant–insect interactions and will contribute to our understanding of fungal evolution and ecology.

What makes Aspergillus fumigatus a successful pathogen? Genes and molecules involved in invasive aspergillosis

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes 90% of invasive aspergillosis (IA) due to Aspergillus genus, with a 50-95% mortality rate. It has been postulated that certain virulence factors are characteristic of A. fumigatus, but the "non-classical" virulence factors seem to be highly variable. Overall, published studies have demonstrated that the virulence of this fungus is multifactorial, associated with its structure, its capacity for growth and adaptation to stress conditions, its mechanisms for evading the immune system and its ability to cause damage to the host. In this review we intend to give a general overview of the genes and molecules involved in the development of IA. The thermotolerance section focuses on five genes related with the capacity of the fungus to grow at temperatures above 30°C (thtA, cgrA, afpmt1, kre2/afmnt1, and hsp1/asp f 12). The following sections discuss molecules and genes related to interaction with the host and with the immune responses. These sections include β-glucan, α-glucan, chitin, galactomannan, galactomannoproteins (afmp1/asp f 17 and afmp2), hydrophobins (rodA/hyp1 and rodB), DHN-melanin, their respective synthases (fks1, rho1-4, ags1-3, chsA-G, och1-4, mnn9, van1, anp1, glfA, pksP/alb1, arp1, arp2, abr1, abr2, and ayg1), and modifying enzymes (gel1-7, bgt1, eng1, ecm33, afpigA, afpmt1-2, afpmt4, kre2/afmnt1, afmnt2-3, afcwh41 and pmi); several enzymes related to oxidative stress protection such as catalases (catA, cat1/catB, cat2/katG, catC, and catE), superoxide dismutases (sod1, sod2, sod3/asp f 6, and sod4), fatty acid oxygenases (ppoA-C), glutathione tranferases (gstA-E), and others (afyap1, skn7, and pes1); and efflux transporters (mdr1-4, atrF, abcA-E, and msfA-E). In addition, this review considers toxins and related genes, such as a diffusible toxic substance from conidia, gliotoxin (gliP and gliZ), mitogillin (res/mitF/asp f 1), hemolysin (aspHS), festuclavine and fumigaclavine A-C, fumitremorgin A-C, verruculogen, fumagillin, helvolic acid, aflatoxin B1 and G1, and laeA. Two sections cover genes and molecules related with nutrient uptake, signaling and metabolic regulations involved in virulence, including enzymes, such as serine proteases (alp/asp f 13, alp2, and asp f 18), metalloproteases (mep/asp f 5, mepB, and mep20), aspartic proteases (pep/asp f 10, pep2, and ctsD), dipeptidylpeptidases (dppIV and dppV), and phospholipases (plb1-3 and phospholipase C); siderophores and iron acquisition (sidA-G, sreA, ftrA, fetC, mirB-C, and amcA); zinc acquisition (zrfA-H, zafA, and pacC); amino acid biosynthesis, nitrogen uptake, and cross-pathways control (areA, rhbA, mcsA, lysF, cpcA/gcn4p, and cpcC/gcn2p); general biosynthetic pathway (pyrG, hcsA, and pabaA), trehalose biosynthesis (tpsA and tpsB), and other regulation pathways such as those of the MAP kinases (sakA/hogA, mpkA-C, ste7, pbs2, mkk2, steC/ste11, bck1, ssk2, and sho1), G-proteins (gpaA, sfaD, and cpgA), cAMP-PKA signaling (acyA, gpaB, pkaC1, and pkaR), His kinases (fos1 and tcsB), Ca(2+) signaling (calA/cnaA, crzA, gprC and gprD), and Ras family (rasA, rasB, and rhbA), and others (ace2, medA, and srbA). Finally, we also comment on the effect of A. fumigatus allergens (Asp f 1-Asp f 34) on IA. The data gathered generate a complex puzzle, the pieces representing virulence factors or the different activities of the fungus, and these need to be arranged to obtain a comprehensive vision of the virulence of A. fumigatus. The most recent gene expression studies using DNA-microarrays may be help us to understand this complex virulence, and to detect targets to develop rapid diagnostic methods and new antifungal agents.

Cloning and functional analysis of the second geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene influencing helvolic acid biosynthesis in Metarhizium anisopliae

A gene (ggs2) having high similarity to the geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPP synthase) gene was cloned from Metarhizium anisopliae NAFF635007. The ggs2 gene (1,239-bp open reading frame with no intron) encoded a protein of 412 amino acids, and the transcription occurred only after late log-phase during the growth. Gene disruption of ggs2, performed to clarify the function in M. anisopliae, resulted in decreased GGPP synthase activity together with a slight delay of sporulation. An high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) comparison of compound profiles between the wild-type strain and the disruptant revealed that a compound was abolished by the ggs2 disruption. Purification and structural elucidation by 1H-NMR and mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the lost compound is helvolic acid. Furthermore, the pathogenicity assay against two species of insect larvae revealed that the ggs2-disruptant possessed much weaker toxicity than the wild-type strain. Based on these results, it was concluded that ggs2 encodes the GGPP synthase influencing the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in various species, including helvolic acid in M. anisopliae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to identify a GGPP synthase gene related to secondary metabolism in entomopathogenic fungi.

Protostadienol synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus: functional conversion into lanosterol synthase

Oxidosqualene:protostadienol cyclase (OSPC) from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, catalyzes the cyclization of (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene into protosta-17(20)Z,24-dien-3beta-ol which is the precursor of the steroidal antibiotic helvolic acid. To shed light on the structure-function relationship between OSPC and oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSLC), we constructed an OSPC mutant in which the C-terminal residues (702)APPGGMR(708) were replaced with (702)NKSCAIS(708), as in human OSLC. As a result, the mutant no longer produced the protostadienol, but instead efficiently produced a 1:1 mixture of lanosterol and parkeol. This is the first report of the functional conversion of OSPC into OSLC, which resulted in a 14-fold decrease in the V(max)/K(M) value, whereas the binding affinity for the substrate did not change significantly. Homology modeling suggested that stabilization of the C-20 protosteryl cation by the active-site Phe701 through cation-pi interactions is important for the product outcome between protostadienol and lanosterol.