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Hao Z, Lu C, Wang M, Li S, Wang Y, Yan Y, Ding Y, Li Y. Systematic investigation on the pharmaceutical components and mechanism of the treatment against zebrafish enteritis by Sporisorium reilianum f. sp. reilianum based on histomorphology and pathology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 334:118574. [PMID: 39019416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sporisorium reilianum f. sp. reilianum (SSR) is a fungus isolated from a medicinal plant. Recorded in the "Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicine" and "Compendium of Materia Medica," it was used for preventing and treating intestinal diseases, enhancing immune function, etc. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and bioactivity of SSR. Network pharmacology is utilized for predictive analysis and targeting pathway studies of anti-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mechanisms. Pharmacological activity against enteritis is evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as model animals. AIM OF THE STUDY To reveal the treatment of IBD by SSR used as traditional medicine and food, based on molecular biology identification of SSR firstly, and the pharmaceutical components & its toxicities, biological activity & mechanism of SSR were explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using chromatography and zebrafish IBD model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), nine compounds were first identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The toxicity of ethanol crude extract and monomers from SSR were evaluated by evaluating the phenotypic characteristics of zebrafish embryos and larvae, histomorphology and pathology of the zebrafish model guided by network pharmacology were conducted. RESULTS The zebrafish embryo development did not show toxicity. The molecular docking and enrichment pathway results predicted that metabolites 3 & 4 (N-trans- feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine & N-cis-feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine) and 7 & 8 (4-N- trans-p-coumaroyltyramine & 4-N-cis--p-coumaroyltyramine) have anti-enteritis activities. This paper lays an experimental foundation for developing new drugs and functional foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhuang Hao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Chang Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Mengtong Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Shuxia Li
- Jinmanwu Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co., LTD., Liaoyuan, 136200, China.
| | - Ye Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Yuli Yan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Yuling Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
| | - Yong Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130117, China.
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Robertz S, Philipp M, Schipper K, Richter P, Miebach K, Magnus J, Pauly M, Ramírez V. Monitoring corn stover processing by the fungus Ustilago maydis. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2024; 11:87. [PMID: 39276241 PMCID: PMC11401804 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-024-00802-3] [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: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024] Open
Abstract
A key aspect of sustainable bioeconomy is the recirculation of renewable, agricultural waste streams as substrates for microbial production of high-value compounds. One approach is the bioconversion of corn stover, an abundant maize crop byproduct, using the fungal maize pathogen Ustilago maydis. U. maydis is already used as a unicellular biocatalyst in the production of several industrially-relevant compounds using plant biomass hydrolysates. In this study, we demonstrate that U. maydis can grow using untreated corn stover as its sole carbon source. We developed a small-scale bioreactor platform to investigate U. maydis processing of corn stover, combining online monitoring of fungal growth and metabolic activity profiles with biochemical analyses of the pre- and post-fermentation residues. Our results reveal that U. maydis primarily utilizes soluble sugars i.e., glucose, sucrose and fructose present in corn stover, with only limited exploitation of the abundant lignocellulosic carbohydrates. Thus, we further explored the biotechnological potential of enhancing U. maydis´ lignocellulosic utilization. Additive performance improvements of up to 120 % were achieved when using a maize mutant with increased biomass digestibility, co-fermentation with a commercial cellulolytic enzyme cocktail, and exploiting engineered fungal strains expressing diverse lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. This work represents a key step towards scaling up the production of sustainable compounds from corn stover using U. maydis and provides a tool for the detailed monitoring of the fungal processing of plant biomass substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Robertz
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Magnus Philipp
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Biotechnology and Foodscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034, Gløshaugen, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Paul Richter
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Chair of Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Katharina Miebach
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Chair of Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jorgen Magnus
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Chair of Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Markus Pauly
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany
| | - Vicente Ramírez
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 53435, Jülich, Germany.
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3
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Villagrán Z, Martínez-Reyes M, Gómez-Rodríguez H, Ríos-García U, Montalvo-González E, Ortiz-Basurto RI, Anaya-Esparza LM, Pérez-Moreno J. Huitlacoche ( Ustilago maydis), an Iconic Mexican Fungal Resource: Biocultural Importance, Nutritional Content, Bioactive Compounds, and Potential Biotechnological Applications. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114415. [PMID: 37298890 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, the fungus known as huitlacoche (Ustilago maydis (DC.) Corda) is a phytopathogen of maize plants that causes important economic losses in different countries. Conversely, it is an iconic edible fungus of Mexican culture and cuisine, and it has high commercial value in the domestic market, though recently there has been a growing interest in the international market. Huitlacoche is an excellent source of nutritional compounds such as protein, dietary fiber, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is also an important source of bioactive compounds with health-enhancing properties. Furthermore, scientific evidence shows that extracts or compounds isolated from huitlacoche have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antiplatelet, and dopaminergic properties. Additionally, the technological uses of huitlacoche include stabilizing and capping agents for inorganic nanoparticle synthesis, removing heavy metals from aqueous media, having biocontrol properties for wine production, and containing biosurfactant compounds and enzymes with potential industrial applications. Furthermore, huitlacoche has been used as a functional ingredient to develop foods with potential health-promoting benefits. The present review focuses on the biocultural importance, nutritional content, and phytochemical profile of huitlacoche and its related biological properties as a strategy to contribute to global food security through food diversification; moreover, the biotechnological uses of huitlacoche are also discussed with the aim of contributing to the use, propagation, and conservation of this valuable but overlooked fungal resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuamí Villagrán
- Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Mexico
| | | | - Horacio Gómez-Rodríguez
- Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Mexico
| | - Uzziel Ríos-García
- Edafología, Campus Montecillo, Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco 56230, Mexico
| | - Efigenia Montalvo-González
- Laboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Mexico
| | - Rosa Isela Ortiz-Basurto
- Laboratorio Integral de Investigación en Alimentos, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tepic, Tepic 63175, Mexico
| | | | - Jesús Pérez-Moreno
- Edafología, Campus Montecillo, Colegio de Postgraduados, Texcoco 56230, Mexico
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Zhou JC, Wang YF, Zhu D, Zhu YG. Deciphering the distribution of microbial communities and potential pathogens in the household dust. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162250. [PMID: 36804982 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The reliance of modern society on indoor environments increasing has made them crucial sites for human exposure to microbes. Extensive research has identified ecological drivers that influence indoor microbial assemblages. However, few studies have examined the dispersion of microbes in different locations of identical indoor environments. In this study, we employed PacBio Sequel full-length amplicon sequencing to examine the distribution of microbes at distinct locations in a single home and to identify the potential pathogens and microbial functions. Microbial communities differed considerably among the indoor sampling sites (P < 0.05). In addition, bacterial diversity was influenced by human activities and contact with the external environment at different sites, whereas fungal diversity did not significantly differ among the sites. Potential pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, were significantly enriched on the door handle (P < 0.05), suggesting that door handles may be hotpots for potential pathogens in the household. A high proportion of fungal allergens (34.37 %-56.50 %), which can cause skin diseases and asthma, were observed. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed the essential ecological role of microbial interactions in the development of a healthy immune system. Overall, we revealed the differences in microbial communities at different sampling sites within a single indoor environment, highlighting the distribution of potential pathogens and ecological functions of microbes, and providing a new perspective and information for assessing indoor health from a microbiological viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Cheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; International School of Beijing, Beijing 101318, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China.
| | - Dong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315830, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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5
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Yu C, Qi J, Han H, Wang P, Liu C. Progress in pathogenesis research of Ustilago maydis, and the metabolites involved along with their biosynthesis. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:495-509. [PMID: 36808861 PMCID: PMC10098057 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a pathogenic fungus that causes corn smut. Because of its easy cultivation and genetic transformation, U. maydis has become an important model organism for plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes. U. maydis is able to infect maize by producing effectors and secreted proteins as well as surfactant-like metabolites. In addition, the production of melanin and iron carriers is also associated with its pathogenicity. Here, advances in our understanding of the pathogenicity of U. maydis, the metabolites involved in the pathogenic process, and the biosynthesis of these metabolites, are reviewed and discussed. This summary will provide new insights into the pathogenicity of U. maydis and the functions of associated metabolites, as well as new clues for deciphering the biosynthesis of metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyan Yu
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Jianzhao Qi
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & PharmacyNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Haiyan Han
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Pengchao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Chengwei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Enzyme and Enzyme‐Like Material Engineering of Heilongjiang, College of Life ScienceNortheast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
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6
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Heucken N, Tang K, Hüsemann L, Heßler N, Müntjes K, Feldbrügge M, Göhre V, Zurbriggen MD. Engineering and Implementation of Synthetic Molecular Tools in the Basidiomycete Fungus Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9040480. [PMID: 37108934 PMCID: PMC10140897 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040480] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The basidiomycete Ustilago maydis is a well-characterized model organism for studying pathogen-host interactions and of great interest for a broad spectrum of biotechnological applications. To facilitate research and enable applications, in this study, three luminescence-based and one enzymatic quantitative reporter were implemented and characterized. Several dual-reporter constructs were generated for ratiometric normalization that can be used as a fast-screening platform for reporter gene expression, applicable to in vitro and in vivo detection. Furthermore, synthetic bidirectional promoters that enable bicisitronic expression for gene expression studies and engineering strategies were constructed and implemented. These noninvasive, quantitative reporters and expression tools will significantly widen the application range of biotechnology in U. maydis and enable the in planta detection of fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Heucken
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kun Tang
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Hüsemann
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Natascha Heßler
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kira Müntjes
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Göhre
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEPLAS-Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Matias D Zurbriggen
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEPLAS-Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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7
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Becker J, Liebal UW, Phan AN, Ullmann L, Blank LM. Renewable carbon sources to biochemicals and -fuels: contributions of the smut fungi Ustilaginaceae. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102849. [PMID: 36446145 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The global demand for food, fuels, and chemicals increases annually. Using renewable C-sources (i.e. biomass, CO2, and organic waste) is a prerequisite for a future free of fossil carbon. The smut fungi Ustilaginaceae naturally produce a versatile spectrum of valuable products, such as organic acids, polyols, and glycolipids, applicable in the food, energy, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sector. Combined with the use of alternative (co-)substrates (e.g. acetate, butanediol, formate, and glycerol), these microorganisms offer excellent potential for industrial biotechnology, thereby overcoming central challenges humankind faces, including CO2 release and land use. Here, we provide insight into fundamental production capacities, present genetic modifications that improve the biotechnical application, and review recent high-performance engineering of Ustilaginaceae toward relevant platform chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf W Liebal
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - An Nt Phan
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lena Ullmann
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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Nan J, Ling Y, An J, Wang T, Chai M, Fu J, Wang G, Yang C, Yang Y, Han B. Genome resequencing reveals independent domestication and breeding improvement of naked oat. Gigascience 2022; 12:giad061. [PMID: 37524540 PMCID: PMC10390318 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
As an important cereal crop, common oat, has attracted more and more attention due to its healthy nutritional components and bioactive compounds. Here, high-depth resequencing of 115 oat accessions and closely related hexaploid species worldwide was performed. Based on genetic diversity and linkage disequilibrium analysis, it was found that hulled oat (Avena sativa) experienced a more severe bottleneck than naked oat (Avena sativa var. nuda). Combined with the divergence time of ∼51,200 years ago, the previous speculation that naked oat was a variant of hulled oat was rejected. It was found that the common segments that hulled oat introgressed to naked oat cultivars contained 444 genes, mainly enriched in photosynthetic efficiency-related pathways. Selective sweeps during environmental adaptation and breeding improvement were identified in the naked oat genome. Candidate genes associated with smut resistance and the days to maturity phenotype were also identified. Our study provides genomic resources and new insights into naked oat domestication and breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Nan
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Yu Ling
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Jianghong An
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Mingna Chai
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Jun Fu
- Beijing 8omics Gene Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Gaochao Wang
- Beijing 8omics Gene Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Cai Yang
- Inner Mongolia Guomai Agriculture Co. Ltd, Xilingol League, Xilinhot City 026005, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Bing Han
- Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Triticeae Crops at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
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Import and Export of Mannosylerythritol Lipids by Ustilago maydis. mBio 2022; 13:e0212322. [PMID: 36069442 PMCID: PMC9600162 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02123-22] [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: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon nitrogen starvation, the basidiomycete Ustilago maydis, which causes smut disease on corn, secretes amphipathic glycolipids, including mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). MELs consist of a carbohydrate core whose mannosyl moiety is both acylated with fatty acids of different lengths and acetylated. Here, we report the transport of MELs into and out of the cell depending on the transport protein Mmf1, which belongs to the major facilitator superfamily. Analysis of mmf1 mutants and mutants lacking the acetyltransferase Mat1 revealed that Mmf1 is necessary for the export of acetylated MELs, while MELs without an acetyl group are secreted independently of this transporter. Upon deletion of mmf1, we detected novel MEL species lacking the acyl side chain at C-3′. With the help of feeding experiments, we demonstrate that MELs are taken up by U. maydis in an mmf1-independent manner. This leads to catabolism or rearrangement of acetyl and acyl side groups and subsequent secretion. The catabolism of MELs involves the presence of Mac2, an enzyme required for MEL biosynthesis. In cocultivation experiments, mutual exchange of MELs between different mutants was observed. Thus, we propose a novel function for fungal glycolipids as an external carbon storage.
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10
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Perspectives for the application of Ustilaginaceae as biotech cell factories. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:365-379. [PMID: 33860800 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Basidiomycetes fungi of the family Ustilaginaceae are mainly known as plant pathogens causing smut disease on crops and grasses. However, they are also natural producers of value-added substances like glycolipids, organic acids, polyols, and harbor secretory enzymes with promising hydrolytic activities. These attributes recently evoked increasing interest in their biotechnological exploitation. The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is the best characterized member of the Ustilaginaceae. After decades of research in the fields of genetics and plant pathology, a broad method portfolio and detailed knowledge on its biology and biochemistry are available. As a consequence, U. maydis has developed into a versatile model organism not only for fundamental research but also for applied biotechnology. Novel genetic, synthetic biology, and process development approaches have been implemented to engineer yields and product specificity as well as for the expansion of the repertoire of produced substances. Furthermore, research on U. maydis also substantially promoted the interest in other members of the Ustilaginaceae, for which the available tools can be adapted. Here, we review the latest developments in applied research on Ustilaginaceae towards their establishment as future biotech cell factories.
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Hussnaetter KP, Philipp M, Müntjes K, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. Controlling Unconventional Secretion for Production of Heterologous Proteins in Ustilago maydis through Transcriptional Regulation and Chemical Inhibition of the Kinase Don3. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030179. [PMID: 33802393 PMCID: PMC7999842 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterologous protein production is a highly demanded biotechnological process. Secretion of the product to the culture broth is advantageous because it drastically reduces downstream processing costs. We exploit unconventional secretion for heterologous protein expression in the fungal model microorganism Ustilago maydis. Proteins of interest are fused to carrier chitinase Cts1 for export via the fragmentation zone of dividing yeast cells in a lock-type mechanism. The kinase Don3 is essential for functional assembly of the fragmentation zone and hence, for release of Cts1-fusion proteins. Here, we are first to develop regulatory systems for unconventional protein secretion using Don3 as a gatekeeper to control when export occurs. This enables uncoupling the accumulation of biomass and protein synthesis of a product of choice from its export. Regulation was successfully established at two different levels using transcriptional and post-translational induction strategies. As a proof-of-principle, we applied autoinduction based on transcriptional don3 regulation for the production and secretion of functional anti-Gfp nanobodies. The presented developments comprise tailored solutions for differentially prized products and thus constitute another important step towards a competitive protein production platform.
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12
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Versatile CRISPR/Cas9 Systems for Genome Editing in Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020149. [PMID: 33670568 PMCID: PMC7922307 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The phytopathogenic smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a versatile model organism to study plant pathology, fungal genetics, and molecular cell biology. Here, we report several strategies to manipulate the genome of U. maydis by the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. These include targeted gene deletion via homologous recombination of short double-stranded oligonucleotides, introduction of point mutations, heterologous complementation at the genomic locus, and endogenous N-terminal tagging with the fluorescent protein mCherry. All applications are independent of a permanent selectable marker and only require transient expression of the endonuclease Cas9hf and sgRNA. The techniques presented here are likely to accelerate research in the U. maydis community but can also act as a template for genome editing in other important fungi.
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13
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Ullmann L, Phan ANT, Kaplan DKP, Blank LM. Ustilaginaceae Biocatalyst for Co-Metabolism of CO 2-Derived Substrates toward Carbon-Neutral Itaconate Production. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020098. [PMID: 33573033 PMCID: PMC7911105 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Ustilaginaceae (belonging to the smut fungi) are known for their plant pathogenicity. Despite the fact that these plant diseases cause agricultural yield reduction, smut fungi attracted special attention in the field of industrial biotechnology. Ustilaginaceae show a versatile product spectrum such as organic acids (e.g., itaconate, malate, succinate), polyols (e.g., erythritol, mannitol), and extracellular glycolipids, which are considered value-added chemicals with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries. This study focused on itaconate as a platform chemical for the production of resins, plastics, adhesives, and biofuels. During this work, 72 different Ustilaginaceae strains from 36 species were investigated for their ability to (co-) consume the CO2-derived substrates acetate and formate, potentially contributing toward a carbon-neutral itaconate production. The fungal growth and product spectrum with special interest in itaconate was characterized. Ustilago maydis MB215 and Ustilago rabenhorstiana NBRC 8995 were identified as promising candidates for acetate metabolization whereas Ustilago cynodontis NBRC 7530 was identified as a potential production host using formate as a co-substrate enhancing the itaconate production. Selected strains with the best itaconate production were characterized in more detail in controlled-batch bioreactor experiments confirming the co-substrate utilization. Thus, a proof-of-principle study was performed resulting in the identification and characterization of three promising Ustilaginaceae biocatalyst candidates for carbon-neutral itaconate production contributing to the biotechnological relevance of Ustilaginaceae.
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14
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High level production of itaconic acid at low pH by Ustilago maydis with fed-batch fermentation. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 2021; 44:749-758. [PMID: 33392747 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-020-02483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The metabolically engineered plant pathogen Ustilago maydis MB215 Δcyp3 Petefria1 has been cultivated to produce more than 80 g/L itaconate in 16 L scale pH and temperature controlled fermentation, in fed-batch mode with two successive feedings. The effect of pH as well as successive rounds of feeding has been quantified via elemental balances. Volumetric itaconic acid productivity gradually decreased with successive glucose feedings with increasing itaconic titers, with nearly constant product yield. Extracellular pH was decreased from 6 down to 3.5 and the fermentation was characterized in specific uptake, production, and growth rates. Notable is that the biomass composition changes significantly from growth phase to itaconic acid production phase, carbon content increases from 42% to around 62%. Despite the gradual decrease in itaconic acid levels with decreasing pH (nearly 50% decrease in itaconic acid at pH 3.5, compared to pH 6), significant itaconate production is still observed at pH 4 (around 63 g/L). Biomass yield remained nearly constant until pH 4. Taken together, these results strongly illustrate the potential of engineered Ustilago maydis in itaconate production at commercial levels.
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15
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Becker J, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Ernst P, Blank LM, Wierckx N. An Optimized Ustilago maydis for Itaconic Acid Production at Maximal Theoretical Yield. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 7:20. [PMID: 33396473 PMCID: PMC7824378 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis, a member of the Ustilaginaceae family, is a promising host for the production of several metabolites including itaconic acid. This dicarboxylate has great potential as a bio-based building block in the polymer industry, and is of special interest for pharmaceutical applications. Several itaconate overproducing Ustilago strains have been generated by metabolic and morphology engineering. This yielded stabilized unicellular morphology through fuz7 deletion, reduction of by-product formation through deletion of genes responsible for itaconate oxidation and (glyco)lipid production, and the overexpression of the regulator of the itaconate cluster ria1 and the mitochondrial tricarboxylate transporter encoded by mttA from Aspergillus terreus. In this study, itaconate production was further optimized by consolidating these different optimizations into one strain. The combined modifications resulted in itaconic acid production at theoretical maximal yield, which was achieved under biotechnologically relevant fed-batch fermentations with continuous feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Philipp Ernst
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
| | - Lars Mathias Blank
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
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16
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Lee J, Hilgers F, Loeschke A, Jaeger KE, Feldbrügge M. Ustilago maydis Serves as a Novel Production Host for the Synthesis of Plant and Fungal Sesquiterpenoids. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1655. [PMID: 32849341 PMCID: PMC7396576 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sesquiterpenoids are important secondary metabolites with various pharma- and nutraceutical properties. In particular, higher basidiomycetes possess a versatile biosynthetic repertoire for these bioactive compounds. To date, only a few microbial production systems for fungal sesquiterpenoids have been established. Here, we introduce Ustilago maydis as a novel production host. This model fungus is a close relative of higher basidiomycetes. It offers the advantage of metabolic compatibility and potential tolerance for substances toxic to other microorganisms. We successfully implemented a heterologous pathway to produce the carotenoid lycopene that served as a straightforward read-out for precursor pathway engineering. Overexpressing genes encoding enzymes of the mevalonate pathway resulted in increased lycopene levels. Verifying the subcellular localization of the relevant enzymes revealed that initial metabolic reactions might take place in peroxisomes: despite the absence of a canonical peroxisomal targeting sequence, acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase Aat1 localized to peroxisomes. By expressing the plant (+)-valencene synthase CnVS and the basidiomycete sesquiterpenoid synthase Cop6, we succeeded in producing (+)-valencene and α-cuprenene, respectively. Importantly, the fungal compound yielded about tenfold higher titers in comparison to the plant substance. This proof of principle demonstrates that U. maydis can serve as promising novel chassis for the production of terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungho Lee
- Bioeconomy Science Centre, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabienne Hilgers
- Institute for Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Anita Loeschke
- Institute for Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute for Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Bioeconomy Science Centre, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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17
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Reindl M, Stock J, Hussnaetter KP, Genc A, Brachmann A, Schipper K. A Novel Factor Essential for Unconventional Secretion of Chitinase Cts1. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1529. [PMID: 32733418 PMCID: PMC7358432 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Subcellular targeting of proteins is essential to orchestrate cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells. During cell division of Ustilago maydis, for example, chitinases must be specifically targeted to the fragmentation zone at the site of cell division to degrade remnant chitin and thus separate mother and daughter cells. Chitinase Cts1 is exported to this location via an unconventional secretion pathway putatively operating in a lock-type manner. The underlying mechanism is largely unexplored. Here, we applied a forward genetic screen based on UV mutagenesis to identify components essential for Cts1 export. The screen revealed a novel factor termed Jps1 lacking known protein domains. Deletion of the corresponding gene confirmed its essential role for Cts1 secretion. Localization studies demonstrated that Jps1 colocalizes with Cts1 in the fragmentation zone of dividing yeast cells. While loss of Jps1 leads to exclusion of Cts1 from the fragmentation zone and strongly reduced unconventional secretion, deletion of the chitinase does not disturb Jps1 localization. Yeast-two hybrid experiments indicate that the two proteins might interact. In essence, we identified a novel component of unconventional secretion that functions in the fragmentation zone to enable export of Cts1. We hypothesize that Jps1 acts as an anchoring factor for Cts1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Reindl
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Janpeter Stock
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kai P. Hussnaetter
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Aycin Genc
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Brachmann
- Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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18
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Cell Factories for Industrial Production Processes: Current Issues and Emerging Solutions. Processes (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/pr8070768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite all the progresses made by metabolic engineering, still only a few biotechnological processes are running at an industrial level. In order to boost the biotechnological sector, integration strategies as well as long-term views are needed. The aim of the present review is to identify the main drawbacks in biotechnological processes, and to propose possible solutions to overcome the issues in question. Novel cell factories and bioreactor design are discussed as possible solutions. In particular, the following microorganisms: Yarrowia lipolytica, Trichosporon oleaginosus, Ustilago cynodontis, Debaryomyces hansenii along with sequential bioreactor configurations are presented as possible cell factories and bioreactor design solutions, respectively.
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19
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Müntjes K, Philipp M, Hüsemann L, Heucken N, Weidtkamp-Peters S, Schipper K, Zurbriggen MD, Feldbrügge M. Establishing Polycistronic Expression in the Model Microorganism Ustilago maydis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1384. [PMID: 32670239 PMCID: PMC7326815 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic microorganisms use monocistronic mRNAs to encode proteins. For synthetic biological approaches like metabolic engineering, precise co-expression of several proteins in space and time is advantageous. A straightforward approach is the application of viral 2A peptides to design synthetic polycistronic mRNAs in eukaryotes. During translation of these peptides the ribosome stalls, the peptide chain is released and the ribosome resumes translation. Thus, two independent polypeptide chains can be encoded from a single mRNA when a 2A peptide sequence is placed inbetween the two open reading frames. Here, we establish such a system in the well-studied model microorganism Ustilago maydis. Using two fluorescence reporter proteins, we compared the activity of five viral 2A peptides. Their activity was evaluated in vivo using fluorescence microscopy and validated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Activity ranged from 20 to 100% and the best performing 2A peptide was P2A from porcine teschovirus-1. As proof of principle, we followed regulated gene expression efficiently over time and synthesised a tri-cistronic mRNA encoding biosynthetic enzymes to produce mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). In essence, we evaluated 2A peptides in vivo and demonstrated the applicability of 2A peptide technology for U. maydis in basic and applied science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Müntjes
- Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Magnus Philipp
- Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Hüsemann
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicole Heucken
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Schipper
- Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Matias D. Zurbriggen
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Bioeconomy Science Centre, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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20
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Complementing the intrinsic repertoire of Ustilago maydis for degradation of the pectin backbone polygalacturonic acid. J Biotechnol 2020; 307:148-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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21
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Becker J, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Gauert M, Mampel J, Blank LM, Wierckx N. An Ustilago maydis chassis for itaconic acid production without by-products. Microb Biotechnol 2019; 13:350-362. [PMID: 31880860 PMCID: PMC7017832 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a promising yeast for the production of a range of valuable metabolites, including itaconate, malate, glycolipids and triacylglycerols. However, wild-type strains generally produce a potpourri of all of these metabolites, which hinders efficient production of single target chemicals. In this study, the diverse by-product spectrum of U. maydis was reduced through strain engineering using CRISPR/Cas9 and FLP/FRT, greatly increasing the metabolic flux into the targeted itaconate biosynthesis pathway. With this strategy, a marker-free chassis strain could be engineered, which produces itaconate from glucose with significantly enhanced titre, rate and yield. The lack of by-product formation not only benefited itaconate production, it also increases the efficiency of downstream processing improving cell handling and product purity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Marc Gauert
- BRAIN AG (Biotechnology, Research and Information Network), Darmstädter Str. 34-36, Zwingenberg, 64673, Germany
| | - Jörg Mampel
- BRAIN AG (Biotechnology, Research and Information Network), Darmstädter Str. 34-36, Zwingenberg, 64673, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany.,Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, 52425, Germany
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22
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Pauly M, Gawenda N, Wagner C, Fischbach P, Ramírez V, Axmann IM, Voiniciuc C. The Suitability of Orthogonal Hosts to Study Plant Cell Wall Biosynthesis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E516. [PMID: 31744209 PMCID: PMC6918405 DOI: 10.3390/plants8110516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Plant cells are surrounded by an extracellular matrix that consists mainly of polysaccharides. Many molecular components involved in plant cell wall polymer synthesis have been identified, but it remains largely unknown how these molecular players function together to define the length and decoration pattern of a polysaccharide. Synthetic biology can be applied to answer questions beyond individual glycosyltransferases by reconstructing entire biosynthetic machineries required to produce a complete wall polysaccharide. Recently, this approach was successful in establishing the production of heteromannan from several plant species in an orthogonal host-a yeast-illuminating the role of an auxiliary protein in the biosynthetic process. In this review we evaluate to what extent a selection of organisms from three kingdoms of life (Bacteria, Fungi and Animalia) might be suitable for the synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides. By identifying their key attributes for glycoengineering as well as analyzing the glycosidic linkages of their native polymers, we present a valuable comparison of their key advantages and limitations for the production of different classes of plant polysaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Pauly
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.P.); (N.G.); (V.R.)
| | - Niklas Gawenda
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.P.); (N.G.); (V.R.)
| | - Christine Wagner
- Independent Junior Research Group–Designer Glycans, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Patrick Fischbach
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Vicente Ramírez
- Institute for Plant Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (M.P.); (N.G.); (V.R.)
| | - Ilka M. Axmann
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Cătălin Voiniciuc
- Independent Junior Research Group–Designer Glycans, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
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23
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Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Becker J, Bator I, Saur K, Meyer S, Rodrigues Lóia AC, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Integrated strain- and process design enable production of 220 g L -1 itaconic acid with Ustilago maydis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:263. [PMID: 31709012 PMCID: PMC6833137 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1605-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Itaconic acid is an unsaturated, dicarboxylic acid which finds a wide range of applications in the polymer industry and as a building block for fuels, solvents and pharmaceuticals. Currently, Aspergillus terreus is used for industrial production, with titers above 100 g L-1 depending on the conditions. Besides A. terreus, Ustilago maydis is also a promising itaconic acid production host due to its yeast-like morphology. Recent strain engineering efforts significantly increased the yield, titer and rate of production. RESULTS In this study, itaconate production by U. maydis was further increased by integrated strain- and process engineering. Next-generation itaconate hyper-producing strains were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and FLP/FRT genome editing tools for gene deletion, promoter replacement, and overexpression of genes. The handling and morphology of this engineered strain were improved by deletion of fuz7, which is part of a regulatory cascade that governs morphology and pathogenicity. These strain modifications enabled the development of an efficient fermentation process with in situ product crystallization with CaCO3. This integrated approach resulted in a maximum itaconate titer of 220 g L-1, with a total acid titer of 248 g L-1, which is a significant improvement compared to best published itaconate titers reached with U. maydis and with A. terreus. CONCLUSION In this study, itaconic acid production could be enhanced significantly by morphological- and metabolic engineering in combination with process development, yielding the highest titer reported with any microorganism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Johanna Becker
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Isabel Bator
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Saur
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Svenja Meyer
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ana Catarina Rodrigues Lóia
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Str., 52425 Jülich, Germany
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24
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Marine Biosurfactants: Biosynthesis, Structural Diversity and Biotechnological Applications. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17070408. [PMID: 31323998 PMCID: PMC6669457 DOI: 10.3390/md17070408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosurfactants are amphiphilic secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms. Marine bacteria have recently emerged as a rich source for these natural products which exhibit surface-active properties, making them useful for diverse applications such as detergents, wetting and foaming agents, solubilisers, emulsifiers and dispersants. Although precise structural data are often lacking, the already available information deduced from biochemical analyses and genome sequences of marine microbes indicates a high structural diversity including a broad spectrum of fatty acid derivatives, lipoamino acids, lipopeptides and glycolipids. This review aims to summarise biosyntheses and structures with an emphasis on low molecular weight biosurfactants produced by marine microorganisms and describes various biotechnological applications with special emphasis on their role in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments. Furthermore, novel exploitation strategies are suggested in an attempt to extend the existing biosurfactant portfolio.
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25
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26
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A Potential Lock-Type Mechanism for Unconventional Secretion in Fungi. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030460. [PMID: 30678160 PMCID: PMC6386918 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein export in eukaryotes can either occur via the classical pathway traversing the endomembrane system or exploit alternative routes summarized as unconventional secretion. Besides multiple examples in higher eukaryotes, unconventional secretion has also been described for fungal proteins with diverse functions in important processes such as development or virulence. Accumulating molecular insights into the different export pathways suggest that unconventional secretion in fungal microorganisms does not follow a common scheme but has evolved multiple times independently. In this study, we review the most prominent examples with a focus on the chitinase Cts1 from the corn smut Ustilago maydis. Cts1 participates in cell separation during budding growth. Recent evidence indicates that the enzyme might be actively translocated into the fragmentation zone connecting dividing mother and daughter cells, where it supports cell division by the degradation of remnant chitin. Importantly, a functional fragmentation zone is prerequisite for Cts1 release. We summarize in detail what is currently known about this potential lock-type mechanism of Cts1 secretion and its connection to the complex regulation of fragmentation zone assembly and cell separation.
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Müller MJ, Stachurski S, Stoffels P, Schipper K, Feldbrügge M, Büchs J. Online evaluation of the metabolic activity of Ustilago maydis on (poly)galacturonic acid. J Biol Eng 2018; 12:34. [PMID: 30574186 PMCID: PMC6299674 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-018-0128-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pectin is a rather complex and highly branched polysaccharide strengthening the plant cell wall. Thus, many different pectinases are required for an efficient microbial conversion of biomass waste streams with a high pectin content like citrus peel, apple pomace or sugar beet pulp. The screening and optimization of strains growing on pectic substrates requires both, quantification of the residual substrate and an accurate determination of the enzymatic activity. Galacturonic acid, the main sugar unit of pectin, is an uncommon substrate for microbial fermentations. Thus, growth and enzyme production of the applied strain has to be characterized in detail to understand the microbial system. An essential step to reach this goal is the development of online monitoring tools. Results In this study, a method for the online determination of residual substrate was developed for the growth of the plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis on pectic substrates such as galacturonic acid. To this end, an U. maydis strain was used that expressed a heterologous exo-polygalacturonase for growth on polygalacturonic acid. The growth behavior on galacturonic acid was analyzed by online measurement of the respiration activity. A method for the online prediction of the residual galacturonic acid concentration during the cultivation, based on the overall oxygen consumption, was developed and verified by offline sampling. This sensitive method was extended towards polygalacturonic acid, which is challenging to quantify via offline measurements. Finally, the enzymatic activity in the culture supernatant was calculated and the enzyme stability during the course of the cultivation was confirmed. Conclusion The introduced method can reliably predict the residual (poly)galacturonic acid concentration based on the overall oxygen consumption. Based on this method, the enzymatic activity of the culture broth of an U. maydis strain expressing a heterologous exo-polygalacturonase could be calculated. It was demonstrated that the method is especially advantageous for determination of low enzymatic activities. In future, it will be applied to U. maydis strains in which the number of produced hydrolytic enzymes is increased for more efficient degradation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13036-018-0128-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Jan Müller
- 1AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Jochen Büchs, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), 52426 Jülich, Germany
| | - Sarah Stachurski
- 1AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Jochen Büchs, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Stoffels
- 2Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), 52426 Jülich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- 2Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), 52426 Jülich, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- 2Institute for Microbiology, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.,Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), 52426 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- 1AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Jochen Büchs, Forckenbeckstr. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), 52426 Jülich, Germany
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Terfrüchte M, Wewetzer S, Sarkari P, Stollewerk D, Franz-Wachtel M, Macek B, Schlepütz T, Feldbrügge M, Büchs J, Schipper K. Tackling destructive proteolysis of unconventionally secreted heterologous proteins in Ustilago maydis. J Biotechnol 2018; 284:37-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Huck S, Bock J, Girardello J, Gauert M, Pul Ü. Marker-free genome editing in Ustilago trichophora with the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. RNA Biol 2018; 16:397-403. [PMID: 29996713 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1493329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this communication, we report the adaptation of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in Ustilago trichophora prototrophic wild-type isolate obtained from its natural host Echinochloa crus-galli. The established CRISPR vector and method enable a rapid and marker-free introduction of Cas9-induced non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) dependent mutation at the targeted gene. Moreover, the method allows a specific modification of the chromosomal DNA sequence by Cas9-induced homologous recombination using short DNA repair templates. The results demonstrate the applicability of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in U. trichophora for both gene knock-out by the NHEJ pathway and specific gene modification by templated genome editing, paving the way for rapid metabolic engineering of this Ustilago species for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ümit Pul
- a B.R.A.I.N AG , Zwingenberg , Germany
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30
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Matuz-Mares D, Matus-Ortega G, Cárdenas-Monroy C, Romero-Aguilar L, Villalobos-Rocha JC, Vázquez-Meza H, Guerra-Sánchez G, Peña-Díaz A, Pardo JP. Expression of alternative NADH dehydrogenases (NDH-2) in the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. FEBS Open Bio 2018; 8:1267-1279. [PMID: 30221129 PMCID: PMC6134880 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 alternative NADH dehydrogenases (NDH‐2) participate indirectly in the generation of the electrochemical proton gradient by transferring electrons from NADH and NADPH into the ubiquinone pool. Due to their structural simplicity, alternative NADH dehydrogenases have been proposed as useful tools for gene therapy of cells with defects in the respiratory complex I. In this work, we report the presence of three open reading frames, which correspond to NDH‐2 genes in the genome of Ustilago maydis. These three genes were constitutively transcribed in cells cultured in YPD and minimal medium with glucose, ethanol, or lactate as carbon sources. Proteomic analysis showed that only two of the three NDH‐2 were associated with isolated mitochondria in all culture media. Oxygen consumption by permeabilized cells using NADH or NADPH was different for each condition, opening the possibility of posttranslational regulation. We confirmed the presence of both external and internal NADH dehydrogenases, as well as an external NADPH dehydrogenase insensitive to calcium. Higher oxygen consumption rates were observed during the exponential growth phase, suggesting that the activity of NADH and NADPH dehydrogenases is coupled to the dynamics of cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyamira Matuz-Mares
- Departamento de Bioquímica Facultad de Medicina Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Genaro Matus-Ortega
- Departamento de Genética Molecular Instituto de Fisiología Celular Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Christian Cárdenas-Monroy
- Departamento de Bioquímica Facultad de Medicina Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Lucero Romero-Aguilar
- Bioquímica de hongos Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas Instituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de México México
| | | | - Héctor Vázquez-Meza
- Departamento de Bioquímica Facultad de Medicina Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Guadalupe Guerra-Sánchez
- Bioquímica de hongos Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas Instituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de México México
| | - Antonio Peña-Díaz
- Departamento de Genética Molecular Instituto de Fisiología Celular Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
| | - Juan Pablo Pardo
- Departamento de Bioquímica Facultad de Medicina Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Ciudad de México México
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Benevenuto J, Teixeira-Silva NS, Kuramae EE, Croll D, Monteiro-Vitorello CB. Comparative Genomics of Smut Pathogens: Insights From Orphans and Positively Selected Genes Into Host Specialization. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:660. [PMID: 29681893 PMCID: PMC5897528 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Host specialization is a key evolutionary process for the diversification and emergence of new pathogens. However, the molecular determinants of host range are poorly understood. Smut fungi are biotrophic pathogens that have distinct and narrow host ranges based on largely unknown genetic determinants. Hence, we aimed to expand comparative genomics analyses of smut fungi by including more species infecting different hosts and to define orphans and positively selected genes to gain further insights into the genetics basis of host specialization. We analyzed nine lineages of smut fungi isolated from eight crop and non-crop hosts: maize, barley, sugarcane, wheat, oats, Zizania latifolia (Manchurian rice), Echinochloa colona (a wild grass), and Persicaria sp. (a wild dicot plant). We assembled two new genomes: Ustilago hordei (strain Uhor01) isolated from oats and U. tritici (strain CBS 119.19) isolated from wheat. The smut genomes were of small sizes, ranging from 18.38 to 24.63 Mb. U. hordei species experienced genome expansions due to the proliferation of transposable elements and the amount of these elements varied among the two strains. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that Ustilago is not a monophyletic genus and, furthermore, detected misclassification of the U. tritici specimen. The comparison between smut pathogens of crop and non-crop hosts did not reveal distinct signatures, suggesting that host domestication did not play a dominant role in shaping the evolution of smuts. We found that host specialization in smut fungi likely has a complex genetic basis: different functional categories were enriched in orphans and lineage-specific selected genes. The diversification and gain/loss of effector genes are probably the most important determinants of host specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Benevenuto
- Microbial Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of São Paulo/Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Natalia S. Teixeira-Silva
- Microbial Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of São Paulo/Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Eiko E. Kuramae
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel (UNINE), Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia B. Monteiro-Vitorello
- Microbial Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, University of São Paulo/Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, Brazil
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Zambanini T, Hartmann SK, Schmitz LM, Büttner L, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Geiser E, Beudels M, Venc D, Wandrey G, Büchs J, Schwarzländer M, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Promoters from the itaconate cluster of Ustilago maydis are induced by nitrogen depletion. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2017; 4:11. [PMID: 29209508 PMCID: PMC5706154 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-017-0040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ustilago maydis is known for its natural potential to produce a broad range of valuable chemicals, such as itaconate, from both industrial carbon waste streams and renewable biomass. Production of itaconate, and many other secondary metabolites, is induced by nitrogen limitation in U. maydis. The clustered genes responsible for itaconate production have recently been identified, enabling the development of new expression tools that are compatible with biotechnological processes. Results Here we report on the investigation of two of the native promoters, Ptad1 and Pmtt1, from the itaconate cluster of U. maydis MB215. For both promoters the specific activation upon nitrogen limitation, which is known to be the trigger for itaconate production in Ustilago, could be demonstrated by gfp expression. The promoters cover a broad range of expression levels, especially when combined with the possibility to create single- and multicopy construct integration events. In addition, these reporter constructs enable a functional characterization of gene induction patterns associated with itaconate production. Conclusions The promoters are well suited to induce gene expression in response to nitrogen limitation, coupled to the itaconate production phase, which contributes towards the further improvement of organic acid production with Ustilago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Zambanini
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Sandra K Hartmann
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany.,BioSC, c/o Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Lisa M Schmitz
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Linda Büttner
- Department of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Elena Geiser
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Melanie Beudels
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Dominik Venc
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Georg Wandrey
- AVT-Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT-Aachener Verfahrenstechnik, Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Markus Schwarzländer
- BioSC, c/o Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48143 Münster, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
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Niessing D, Jansen RP, Pohlmann T, Feldbrügge M. mRNA transport in fungal top models. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2017; 9. [PMID: 28994236 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells rely on the precise determination of when and where proteins are synthesized. Spatiotemporal expression is supported by localization of mRNAs to specific subcellular sites and their subsequent local translation. This holds true for somatic cells as well as for oocytes and embryos. Most commonly, mRNA localization is achieved by active transport of the molecules along the actin or microtubule cytoskeleton. Key factors are molecular motors, adaptors, and RNA-binding proteins that recognize defined sequences or structures in cargo mRNAs. A deep understanding of this process has been gained from research on fungal model systems such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Ustilago maydis. Recent highlights of these studies are the following: (1) synergistic binding of two RNA-binding proteins is needed for high affinity recognition; (2) RNA sequences undergo profound structural rearrangements upon recognition; (3) mRNA transport is tightly linked to membrane trafficking; (4) mRNAs and ribosomes are transported on the cytoplasmic surface of endosomes; and (5) heteromeric protein complexes are, most likely, assembled co-translationally during endosomal transport. Thus, the study of simple fungal model organisms provides valuable insights into fundamental mechanisms of mRNA transport boosting the understanding of similar events in higher eukaryotes. WIREs RNA 2018, 9:e1453. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1453 This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Recognition RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dierk Niessing
- Department of Cell Biology, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.,Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ralf-Peter Jansen
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Pohlmann
- Centre of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Centre of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Biotechnological production of value-added compounds by ustilaginomycetous yeasts. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:7789-7809. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8516-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Lipid droplets accumulation and other biochemical changes induced in the fungal pathogen Ustilago maydis under nitrogen-starvation. Arch Microbiol 2017; 199:1195-1209. [PMID: 28550409 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-017-1388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In many organisms, the growth under nitrogen-deprivation or a poor nitrogen source impacts on the carbon flow distribution and causes accumulation of neutral lipids, which are stored as lipid droplets (LDs). Efforts are in progress to find the mechanism of LDs synthesis and degradation, and new organisms capable of accumulating large amounts of lipids for biotechnological applications. In this context, when Ustilago maydis was cultured in the absence of a nitrogen source, there was a large accumulation of lipid bodies containing mainly triacylglycerols. The most abundant fatty acids in lipid bodies at the stationary phase were palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acids, and they were synthesized de novo by the fatty-acid synthase. In regard to the production of NADPH for the synthesis of fatty acids, the cytosolic NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase and the glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases couple showed the highest specific activities, with a lower activity of the malic enzyme. The ATP-citrate lyase activity was not detected in any of the culture conditions, which points to a different mechanism for the transfer of acetyl-CoA into the cytosol. Protein and RNA contents decreased when U. maydis was grown without a nitrogen source. Due to the significant accumulation of triacylglycerols and the particular composition of fatty acids, U. maydis can be considered an alternative model for biotechnological applications.
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Zambanini T, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Geiser E, Merker D, Schleese S, Krabbe J, Buescher JM, Meurer G, Wierckx N, Blank LM. Efficient itaconic acid production from glycerol with Ustilago vetiveriae TZ1. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:131. [PMID: 28533815 PMCID: PMC5438567 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0809-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The family of Ustilaginaceae is known for their capability to naturally produce industrially valuable chemicals from different carbon sources. Recently, several Ustilaginaceae were reported to produce organic acids from glycerol, which is the main side stream in biodiesel production. RESULTS In this study, we present Ustilago vetiveriae as new production organism for itaconate synthesis from glycerol. In a screening of 126 Ustilaginaceae, this organism reached one of the highest titers for itaconate combined with a high-glycerol uptake rate. By adaptive laboratory evolution, the production characteristics of this strain could be improved. Further medium optimization with the best single colony, U. vetiveriae TZ1, in 24-deep well plates resulted in a maximal itaconate titer of 34.7 ± 2.5 g L-1 produced at a rate of 0.09 ± 0.01 g L-1 h-1 from 196 g L-1 glycerol. Simultaneously, this strain produced 46.2 ± 1.4 g L-1 malate at a rate of 0.12 ± 0.00 g L-1 h-1. Due to product inhibition, the itaconate titer in NaOH-titrated bioreactor cultivations was lower (24 g L-1). Notably, an acidic pH value of 5.5 resulted in decreased itaconate production, however, completely abolishing malate production. Overexpression of ria1 or mtt1, encoding a transcriptional regulator and mitochondrial transporter, respectively, from the itaconate cluster of U. maydis resulted in a 2.0-fold (ria1) and 1.5-fold (mtt1) higher itaconate titer in comparison to the wild-type strain, simultaneously reducing malate production by 75 and 41%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The observed production properties of U. vetiveriae TZ1 make this strain a promising candidate for microbial itaconate production. The outcome of the overexpression experiments, which resulted in reduced malate production in favor of an increased itaconate titer, clearly strengthens its potential for industrial itaconate production from glycerol as major side stream of biodiesel production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Zambanini
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Elena Geiser
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dorothee Merker
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sarah Schleese
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Judith Krabbe
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Guido Meurer
- BRAIN AG, Darmstädter Straße 34, 64673 Zwingenberg, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Applying Unconventional Secretion in Ustilago maydis for the Export of Functional Nanobodies. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18050937. [PMID: 28468279 PMCID: PMC5454850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploiting secretory pathways for production of heterologous proteins is highly advantageous with respect to efficient downstream processing. In eukaryotic systems the vast majority of heterologous proteins for biotechnological application is exported via the canonical endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi pathway. In the endomembrane system target proteins are often glycosylated and may thus be modified with foreign glycan patterns. This can be destructive for their activity or cause immune reactions against therapeutic proteins. Hence, using unconventional secretion for protein expression is an attractive alternative. In the fungal model Ustilago maydis, chitinase Cts1 is secreted via an unconventional pathway connected to cell separation which can be used to co-export heterologous proteins. Here, we apply this mechanism for the production of nanobodies. First, we achieved expression and unconventional secretion of a functional nanobody directed against green fluorescent protein (Gfp). Second, we found that Cts1 binds to chitin and that this feature can be applied to generate a Gfp-trap. Thus, we demonstrated the dual use of Cts1 serving both as export vehicle and as purification tag. Finally, we established and optimized the production of a nanobody against botulinum toxin A and hence describe the first pharmaceutically relevant target exported by Cts1-mediated unconventional secretion.
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Abstract
Some smut fungi of the family Ustilaginaceae produce itaconate from glucose. De novo genome sequencing of nine itaconate-producing Ustilaginaceae revealed genome sizes between 19 and 25 Mbp. Comparison to the itaconate cluster of U. maydis MB215 revealed all essential genes for itaconate production contributing to metabolic engineering for improving itaconate production.
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Geiser E, Przybilla SK, Engel M, Kleineberg W, Büttner L, Sarikaya E, Hartog TD, Klankermayer J, Leitner W, Bölker M, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Genetic and biochemical insights into the itaconate pathway of Ustilago maydis enable enhanced production. Metab Eng 2016; 38:427-435. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Activating Intrinsic Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes of the Smut Fungus Ustilago maydis for the Degradation of Plant Cell Wall Components. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:5174-85. [PMID: 27316952 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00713-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The microbial conversion of plant biomass to valuable products in a consolidated bioprocess could greatly increase the ecologic and economic impact of a biorefinery. Current strategies for hydrolyzing plant material mostly rely on the external application of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Alternatively, production organisms can be engineered to secrete CAZymes to reduce the reliance on externally added enzymes. Plant-pathogenic fungi have a vast repertoire of hydrolytic enzymes to sustain their lifestyle, but expression of the corresponding genes is usually highly regulated and restricted to the pathogenic phase. Here, we present a new strategy in using the biotrophic smut fungus Ustilago maydis for the degradation of plant cell wall components by activating its intrinsic enzyme potential during axenic growth. This fungal model organism is fully equipped with hydrolytic enzymes, and moreover, it naturally produces value-added substances, such as organic acids and biosurfactants. To achieve the deregulated expression of hydrolytic enzymes during the industrially relevant yeast-like growth in axenic culture, the native promoters of the respective genes were replaced by constitutively active synthetic promoters. This led to an enhanced conversion of xylan, cellobiose, and carboxymethyl cellulose to fermentable sugars. Moreover, a combination of strains with activated endoglucanase and β-glucanase increased the release of glucose from carboxymethyl cellulose and regenerated amorphous cellulose, suggesting that mixed cultivations could be a means for degrading more complex substrates in the future. In summary, this proof of principle demonstrates the potential applicability of activating the expression of native CAZymes from phytopathogens in a biocatalytic process. IMPORTANCE This study describes basic experiments that aim at the degradation of plant cell wall components by the smut fungus Ustilago maydis As a plant pathogen, this fungus contains a set of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes that may be suited for biomass degradation. However, its hydrolytic enzymes are specifically expressed only during plant infection. Here, we provide the proof of principle that these intrinsic enzymes can be synthetically activated during the industrially relevant yeast-like growth. The fungus is known to naturally synthesize valuable compounds, such as itaconate or glycolipids. Therefore, it could be suited for use in a consolidated bioprocess in which more complex and natural substrates are simultaneously converted to fermentable sugars and to value-added compounds in the future.
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Draft Genome Sequence of Ustilago trichophora RK089, a Promising Malic Acid Producer. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2016; 4:4/4/e00749-16. [PMID: 27469969 PMCID: PMC4966473 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00749-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The basidiomycetous smut fungus Ustilago trichophora RK089 produces malate from glycerol. De novo genome sequencing revealed a 20.7-Mbp genome (301 gap-closed contigs, 246 scaffolds). A comparison to the genome of Ustilago maydis 521 revealed all essential genes for malate production from glycerol contributing to metabolic engineering for improving malate production.
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Saika A, Koike H, Fukuoka T, Yamamoto S, Kishimoto T, Morita T. A Gene Cluster for Biosynthesis of Mannosylerythritol Lipids Consisted of 4-O-β-D-Mannopyranosyl-(2R,3S)-Erythritol as the Sugar Moiety in a Basidiomycetous Yeast Pseudozyma tsukubaensis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157858. [PMID: 27327162 PMCID: PMC4915680 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) belong to the glycolipid biosurfactants and are produced by various fungi. The basidiomycetous yeast Pseudozyma tsukubaensis produces diastereomer type of MEL-B, which contains 4-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-(2R,3S)-erythritol (R-form) as the sugar moiety. In this respect it differs from conventional type of MELs, which contain 4-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-(2S,3R)-erythritol (S-form) as the sugar moiety. While the biosynthetic gene cluster for conventional type of MELs has been previously identified in Ustilago maydis and Pseudozyma antarctica, the genetic basis for MEL biosynthesis in P. tsukubaensis is unknown. Here, we identified a gene cluster involved in MEL biosynthesis in P. tsukubaensis. Among these genes, PtEMT1, which encodes erythritol/mannose transferase, had greater than 69% identity with homologs from strains in the genera Ustilago, Melanopsichium, Sporisorium and Pseudozyma. However, phylogenetic analysis placed PtEMT1p in a separate clade from the other proteins. To investigate the function of PtEMT1, we introduced the gene into a P. antarctica mutant strain, ΔPaEMT1, which lacks MEL biosynthesis ability owing to the deletion of PaEMT1. Using NMR spectroscopy, we identified the biosynthetic product as MEL-A with altered sugar conformation. These results indicate that PtEMT1p catalyzes the sugar conformation of MELs. This is the first report of a gene cluster for the biosynthesis of diastereomer type of MEL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azusa Saika
- Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hideaki Koike
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tokuma Fukuoka
- Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Shuhei Yamamoto
- Toyobo Co., Ltd., Tsuruga Institute of Biotechnology, Tsuruga, Fukui, Japan
| | - Takahide Kishimoto
- Toyobo Co., Ltd., Tsuruga Institute of Biotechnology, Tsuruga, Fukui, Japan
| | - Tomotake Morita
- Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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Zambanini T, Kleineberg W, Sarikaya E, Buescher JM, Meurer G, Wierckx N, Blank LM. Enhanced malic acid production from glycerol with high-cell density Ustilago trichophora TZ1 cultivations. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2016; 9:135. [PMID: 27375775 PMCID: PMC4930609 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0553-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In order to establish a cost-efficient biodiesel biorefinery, valorization of its main by-product, crude glycerol, is imperative. Recently, Ustilago trichophora TZ1 was found to efficiently produce malic acid from glycerol. By adaptive laboratory evolution and medium optimization, titer and rate could be improved significantly. RESULTS Here we report on the investigation of this strain in fed-batch bioreactors. With pH controlled at 6.5 (automatic NaOH addition), a titer of 142 ± 1 g L(-1) produced at an overall rate of 0.54 ± 0.00 g L(-1) h(-1) was reached by optimizing the initial concentrations of ammonium and glycerol. Combining the potential of bioreactors and CaCO3 as buffer system, we were able to increase the overall production rate to 0.74 ± 0.06 g L(-1) h(-1) with a maximum production rate of 1.94 ± 0.32 g L(-1) reaching a titer of 195 ± 15 g L(-1). The initial purification strategy resulted in 90 % pure calcium malate as solid component. Notably, the fermentation is not influenced by an increased temperature of up to 37 °C, which reduces the energy required for cooling. However, direct acid production is not favored as at a lowered pH value of pH 4.5 the malic acid titer decreased to only 9 ± 1 g L(-1). When using crude glycerol as substrate, only the product to substrate yield is decreased. The results are discussed in the context of valorizing glycerol with Ustilaginaceae. CONCLUSIONS Combining these results reveals the potential of U. trichophora TZ1 to become an industrially applicable production host for malic acid from biodiesel-derived glycerol, thus making the overall biodiesel production process economically and ecologically more feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiemo Zambanini
- />Institute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Wiebke Kleineberg
- />Institute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Eda Sarikaya
- />Institute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | | | | | - Nick Wierckx
- />Institute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- />Institute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074 Germany
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Sarkari P, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. The Corn Smut Fungus Ustilago maydis as an Alternative Expression System for Biopharmaceuticals. Fungal Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27951-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Stock J, Terfrüchte M, Schipper K. A Reporter System to Study Unconventional Secretion of Proteins Avoiding N-Glycosylation in Ustilago maydis. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1459:149-60. [PMID: 27665557 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3804-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Unconventional secretion of proteins in eukaryotes is characterized by the circumvention of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). As a consequence proteins exported by unconventional pathways lack N-glycosylation, a post-transcriptional modification that is initiated in the ER during classical secretion. We are exploiting the well-established enzyme β-glucuronidase (GUS) to assay unconventional protein secretion (UPS). This bacterial protein is perfectly suited for this purpose because it carries a eukaryotic N-glycosylation motif. Modification of this residue by attachment of sugar moieties during the passage of the ER apparently causes a very strong reduction in GUS activity. Hence, this enzyme can only be secreted in an active state, if the export mechanism does not involve ER passage. Here, we describe a reporter system applied in the corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis that is based on this observation and can be used to test if candidate proteins are secreted to the culture supernatant via alternative pathways avoiding N-glycosylation. Importantly, this system is the basis for the establishment of genetic screens providing mechanistic insights into unknown UPS pathways in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janpeter Stock
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Institute for Microbiology, Bldg. 26.12.01, 40204, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marius Terfrüchte
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Institute for Microbiology, Bldg. 26.12.01, 40204, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schipper
- Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Institute for Microbiology, Bldg. 26.12.01, 40204, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
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Abstract
Intracellular logistics are essential for delivery of newly synthesized material during polar growth of fungal hyphae. Proteins and lipids are actively transported throughout the cell by motor-dependent movement of small vesicles or larger units such as endosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum. A remarkably tight link is emerging between active membrane trafficking and mRNA transport, a process that determines the precise subcellular localization of translation products within the cell. Here, we report on recent insights into the mechanism and biological role of these intricate cotransport processes in fungal models such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, and Ustilago maydis. In the latter, we focus on the new finding of endosomal mRNA transport and its implications for protein targeting, complex assembly, and septin biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Haag
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany; , ,
| | - Benedikt Steuten
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany; , ,
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Institute for Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40204 Düsseldorf, Germany; , ,
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Guo L, Qiu J, Han Z, Ye Z, Chen C, Liu C, Xin X, Ye CY, Wang YY, Xie H, Wang Y, Bao J, Tang S, Xu J, Gui Y, Fu F, Wang W, Zhang X, Zhu Q, Guang X, Wang C, Cui H, Cai D, Ge S, Tuskan GA, Yang X, Qian Q, He SY, Wang J, Zhou XP, Fan L. A host plant genome (Zizania latifolia) after a century-long endophyte infection. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 83:600-609. [PMID: 26072920 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of host-microbe interactions in natural ecosystems, agriculture and medicine, the impact of long-term (especially decades or longer) microbial colonization on the dynamics of host genomes is not well understood. The vegetable crop 'Jiaobai' with enlarged edible stems was domesticated from wild Zizania latifolia (Oryzeae) approximately 2000 years ago as a result of persistent infection by a fungal endophyte, Ustilago esculenta. Asexual propagation via infected rhizomes is the only means of Jiaobai production, and the Z. latifolia-endophyte complex has been maintained continuously for two centuries. Here, genomic analysis revealed that cultivated Z. latifolia has a significantly smaller repertoire of immune receptors compared with wild Z. latifolia. There are widespread gene losses/mutations and expression changes in the plant-pathogen interaction pathway in Jiaobai. These results show that continuous long-standing endophyte association can have a major effect on the evolution of the structural and transcriptomic components of the host genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Jie Qiu
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | | | - Zihong Ye
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chao Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | | | - Xiufang Xin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, and Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48864, USA
| | - Chu-Yu Ye
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ying-Ying Wang
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | | | - Yu Wang
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiandong Bao
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - She Tang
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Yijie Gui
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fei Fu
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Weidi Wang
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xingchen Zhang
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | | | | | | | - Haifeng Cui
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Daguang Cai
- Department of Molecular Phytopathology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, D-24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Song Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Gerald A Tuskan
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Qian Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Sheng Yang He
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, and Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48864, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Xue-Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Longjiang Fan
- Department of Agronomy & Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Juárez-Montiel M, Romero-Maldonado A, Monreal-Escalante E, Becerra-Flora A, Korban SS, Rosales-Mendoza S, Jiménez-Bremont JF. The Corn Smut ('Huitlacoche') as a New Platform for Oral Vaccines. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26207365 PMCID: PMC4514630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new alternative platforms for subunit vaccine production is a priority in the biomedical field. In this study, Ustilago maydis, the causal agent of common corn smut or ‘huitlacoche’has been genetically engineered to assess expression and immunogenicity of the B subunit of the cholera toxin (CTB), a relevant immunomodulatory agent in vaccinology. An oligomeric CTB recombinant protein was expressed in corn smut galls at levels of up to 1.3 mg g-1 dry weight (0.8% of the total soluble protein). Mice orally immunized with ‘huitlacoche’-derived CTB showed significant humoral responses that were well-correlated with protection against challenge with the cholera toxin (CT). These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using edible corn smut as a safe, effective, and low-cost platform for production and delivery of a subunit oral vaccine. The implications of this platform in the area of molecular pharming are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Juárez-Montiel
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Andrea Romero-Maldonado
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Alicia Becerra-Flora
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Schuyler S. Korban
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- * E-mail: (SRM); (JFJB)
| | - Juan Francisco Jiménez-Bremont
- Laboratorio de Estudios Moleculares de Respuesta a Estrés en Plantas, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica AC, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
- * E-mail: (SRM); (JFJB)
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Complete Genome Sequence of Sporisorium scitamineum and Biotrophic Interaction Transcriptome with Sugarcane. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129318. [PMID: 26065709 PMCID: PMC4466345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporisorium scitamineum is a biotrophic fungus responsible for the sugarcane smut, a worldwide spread disease. This study provides the complete sequence of individual chromosomes of S. scitamineum from telomere to telomere achieved by a combination of PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads sequence data, as well as a draft sequence of a second fungal strain. Comparative analysis to previous available sequences of another strain detected few polymorphisms among the three genomes. The novel complete sequence described herein allowed us to identify and annotate extended subtelomeric regions, repetitive elements and the mitochondrial DNA sequence. The genome comprises 19,979,571 bases, 6,677 genes encoding proteins, 111 tRNAs and 3 assembled copies of rDNA, out of our estimated number of copies as 130. Chromosomal reorganizations were detected when comparing to sequences of S. reilianum, the closest smut relative, potentially influenced by repeats of transposable elements. Repetitive elements may have also directed the linkage of the two mating-type loci. The fungal transcriptome profiling from in vitro and from interaction with sugarcane at two time points (early infection and whip emergence) revealed that 13.5% of the genes were differentially expressed in planta and particular to each developmental stage. Among them are plant cell wall degrading enzymes, proteases, lipases, chitin modification and lignin degradation enzymes, sugar transporters and transcriptional factors. The fungus also modulates transcription of genes related to surviving against reactive oxygen species and other toxic metabolites produced by the plant. Previously described effectors in smut/plant interactions were detected but some new candidates are proposed. Ten genomic islands harboring some of the candidate genes unique to S. scitamineum were expressed only in planta. RNAseq data was also used to reassure gene predictions.
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50
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Sarkari P, Reindl M, Stock J, Müller O, Kahmann R, Feldbrügge M, Schipper K. Improved expression of single-chain antibodies in Ustilago maydis. J Biotechnol 2014; 191:165-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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