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Role of AcndtA in cleistothecium formation, osmotic stress response, pigmentation and carbon metabolism of Aspergillus cristatus. Fungal Biol 2021; 125:749-763. [PMID: 34537171 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.04.009] [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: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
As the dominant fungus during the fermentation of Fuzhuan brick tea, Aspergillus cristatus is easily induced to undergo a sexual cycle under low-salt stress. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of sexual reproduction is unclear. Here, we report a P53-like transcription factor AcndtA, which encodes an NDT80 DNA binding protein and regulates fungal reproduction, pigmentation and the stress response. Both insertion and deletion mutants of AcndtA exhibited a complete blockade of cleistothecium formation, and overexpressing AcndtA strains (OE: AcndtA) exhibited significantly reduced cleistothecium production, indicating that AcndtA plays a vital role in sexual development. Osmotic stress tests showed that overexpression of AcndtA had a negative impact on growth and conidia production. Additionally, AcndtA insertion, deletion and overexpression mutants exhibited reduced pigment formation. All the above developmental defects were reversed by the re-introduction of the AcndtA gene in ΔAcndtA. Moreover, the growth of AcndtA mutants in carbon-limited medium was better than that of the WT and OE: AcndtA strains, indicating that AcndtA is involved in carbon metabolism. Transcriptional profiling data showed that AcndtA regulated the expression of several genes related to development, osmotic stress and carbon metabolism.
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2
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Romsdahl J, Schultzhaus Z, Chen A, Liu J, Ewing A, Hervey J, Wang Z. Adaptive evolution of a melanized fungus reveals robust augmentation of radiation resistance by abrogating non-homologous end-joining. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:3627-3645. [PMID: 33078510 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fungi have been observed to exhibit resistance to high levels of ionizing radiation despite sharing most DNA repair mechanisms with other eukaryotes. Radioresistance, in fact, is such a common feature in fungi that it is difficult to identify species that exhibit widely different radiosensitivities, which in turn has hampered the identification of genetic elements responsible for this resistance phenotype. Due to the inherent mutagenic properties of radiation exposure, however, this can be addressed through adaptive laboratory evolution for increased ionizing radiation resistance. Here, using the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis, we demonstrate that resistance to γ-radiation can be greatly increased through repeated rounds of irradiation and outgrowth. Moreover, we find that the small genome size of fungi situates them as a relatively simple functional genomics platform for identification of mutations associated with ionizing radiation resistance. This enabled the identification of genetic mutations in genes encoding proteins with a broad range of functions from 10 evolved strains. Specifically, we find that greatly increased resistance to γ-radiation is achieved in E. dermatitidis through disruption of the non-homologous end-joining pathway, with three individual evolutionary paths converging to abolish this DNA repair process. This result suggests that non-homologous end-joining, even in haploid cells where homologous chromosomes are not present during much of the cell cycle, is an impediment to repair of radiation-induced lesions in this organism, and that the relative levels of homologous and non-homologous repair in a given fungal species may play a major role in its radiation resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Romsdahl
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zachary Schultzhaus
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amy Chen
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Jing Liu
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | | | - Judson Hervey
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Center for Biomolecular Sciences and Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
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3
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Wang BT, Yu XY, Zhu YJ, Zhuang M, Zhang ZM, Jin L, Jin FJ. Research progress on the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors of Aspergillus species. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2019; 109:31-59. [PMID: 31677646 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins belong to a superfamily of transcription factors, and they are widely distributed in eukaryotic organisms. Members of the bHLH protein family can form homodimers or heterodimers with themselves or other family members, and they often play bifunctional roles as activators and repressors to uniquely regulate the transcription of downstream target genes. The bHLH transcription factors are usually involved in developmental processes, including cellular proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, these transcription factors often play crucial roles in regulating growth, development, and differentiation in eukaryotes. Aspergillus species fungi are widely distributed in the environment, and they play important roles not only in the decomposition of organic matter as an important environmental microorganism but also in the fermentation and the food processing industry. Furthermore, some pathogenic fungi, such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus, affect the environment and human health in important ways. Recent research has shown that some Aspergillus bHLH proteins are significantly involved in the regulation of asexual and sexual reproduction, secondary metabolite production, carbohydrate metabolism, conidial and sclerotial production, among other processes. Here, we review the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of the bHLH transcription factors of the Aspergillus genus to provide a theoretical reference for further study on the growth and development of Aspergillus and the functions of bHLHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Teng Wang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing-Ye Yu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun-Jia Zhu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Miao Zhuang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-Min Zhang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Long Jin
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng-Jie Jin
- College of Biology and the Environment, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
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Loha A, Kashyap AK, Sharma P. A putative cyclin, SiPHO80 from root endophytic fungus Serendipita indica regulates phosphate homeostasis, salinity and heavy metal toxicity tolerance. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 507:414-419. [PMID: 30446223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.11.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Serendipita indica previously known as Piriformospora indica is an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) like endophytic fungus which can be cultivated axenically and colonizes an array of plants, thereby promoting their growth and confers biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to the colonized host plant. It efficiently sequestrates heavy metals and defends host plant against heavy metal-induced toxicity. In the present study, SiPHO80, a homologue of S. cerevisiae PHO80 was isolated from S. indica and functionally characterized in S. cerevisiae. SiPHO80 has conserved 'cyclin box' domain and closely related to negative regulator cyclin of the wood decaying fungi. In S. indica, its expression gets upregulated in phosphate-rich media. The regulation of Pi homeostasis which was disrupted in S. cerevisiae Δpho80 grown under high Pi condition was restored upon complementation with SiPHO80. Also, the expression of SiPHO80 in Δpho80 mutant restored osmotolerance and heavy metal tolerance. This is the first report of a cyclin which is involved in Pi homeostasis, salt tolerance, heavy metal toxicity tolerance in any plant growth promoting endophytic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Loha
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
| | - Arun Kumar Kashyap
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Pooja Sharma
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Paolillo V, Jenkinson C, Horio T, Oakley B. Cyclins in aspergilli: Phylogenetic and functional analyses of group I cyclins. Stud Mycol 2018; 91:1-22. [PMID: 30104814 PMCID: PMC6078057 DOI: 10.1016/j.simyco.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We have identified the cyclin domain-containing proteins encoded by the genomes of 17 species of Aspergillus as well as 15 members of other genera of filamentous ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that the cyclins fall into three groups, as in other eukaryotic phyla, and, more significantly, that they are remarkably conserved in these fungi. All 32 species examined, for example, have three group I cyclins, cyclins that are particularly important because they regulate the cell cycle, and these are highly conserved. Within the group I cyclins there are three distinct clades, and each fungus has a single member of each clade. These findings are in marked contrast to the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Candida albicans, which have more numerous group I cyclins. These results indicate that findings on cyclin function made with a model Aspergillus species, such as A. nidulans, are likely to apply to other Aspergilli and be informative for a broad range of filamentous ascomycetes. In this regard, we note that the functions of only one Aspergillus group I cyclin have been analysed (NimECyclin B of A. nidulans). We have consequently carried out an analysis of the members of the other two clades using A. nidulans as our model. We have found that one of these cyclins, PucA, is essential, but deletion of PucA in a strain carrying a deletion of CdhA, an activator of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), is not lethal. These data, coupled with data from heterokaryon rescue experiments, indicate that PucA is an essential G1/S cyclin that is required for the inactivation of the APC/C-CdhA, which, in turn, allows the initiation of the S phase of the cell cycle. Our data also reveal that PucA has additional, non-essential, roles in the cell cycle in interphase. The A. nidulans member of the third clade (AN2137) has not previously been named or analyzed. We designate this gene clbA. ClbA localizes to kinetochores from mid G2 until just prior to chromosomal condensation. Deletion of clbA does not affect viability. However, by using a regulatable promoter system new to Aspergillus, we have found that expression of a version of ClbA in which the destruction box sequences have been removed is lethal and causes a mitotic arrest and a high frequency of non-disjunction. Thus, although ClbA is not essential, its timely destruction is essential for viability, chromosomal disjunction, and successful completion of mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Paolillo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - C.B. Jenkinson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - T. Horio
- Department of Natural Sciences, Nippon Sport Science University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - B.R. Oakley
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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Evolutionary conservation of a core fungal phosphate homeostasis pathway coupled to development in Blastocladiella emersonii. Fungal Genet Biol 2018; 115:20-32. [PMID: 29627365 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae elicits a transcriptional response to phosphate (Pi) depletion. To determine the origins of the phosphate response (PHO) system, we bioinformatically identified putative PHO components in the predicted proteomes of diverse fungi. Our results suggest that the PHO system is ancient; however, components have been expanded or lost in different fungal lineages. To show that a similar physiological response is present in deeply-diverging fungi we examined the transcriptional and physiological response of PHO genes to Pi depletion in the blastocladiomycete Blastocladiella emersonii. Our physiological experiments indicate that B. emersonii relies solely on high-affinity Na+-independent Pho84-like transporters. In response to Pi depletion, BePho84 paralogues were 4-8-fold transcriptionally upregulated, whereas several other PHO homologues like phosphatases and vacuolar transporter chaperone (VTC) complex components show 2-3-fold transcriptional upregulation. Since Pi has been shown to be important during the development of B. emersonii, we sought to determine if PHO genes are differentially regulated at different lifecycle stages. We demonstrate that a similar set of PHO transporters and phosphatases are upregulated at key points during B. emersonii development. Surprisingly, some genes upregulated during Pi depletion, including VTC components, are repressed at these key stages of development indicating that PHO genes are regulated by different pathways in different developmental and environmental situations. Overall, our findings indicate that a complex PHO network existed in the ancient branches of the fungi, persists in diverse extant fungi, and that this ancient network is likely to be involved in development and cell cycle regulation.
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Mondo SJ, Lastovetsky OA, Gaspar ML, Schwardt NH, Barber CC, Riley R, Sun H, Grigoriev IV, Pawlowska TE. Bacterial endosymbionts influence host sexuality and reveal reproductive genes of early divergent fungi. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1843. [PMID: 29184190 PMCID: PMC5705715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02052-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Many heritable mutualisms, in which beneficial symbionts are transmitted vertically between host generations, originate as antagonisms with parasite dispersal constrained by the host. Only after the parasite gains control over its transmission is the symbiosis expected to transition from antagonism to mutualism. Here, we explore this prediction in the mutualism between the fungus Rhizopus microsporus (Rm, Mucoromycotina) and a beta-proteobacterium Burkholderia, which controls host asexual reproduction. We show that reproductive addiction of Rm to endobacteria extends to mating, and is mediated by the symbiont gaining transcriptional control of the fungal ras2 gene, which encodes a GTPase central to fungal reproductive development. We also discover candidate G-protein-coupled receptors for the perception of trisporic acids, mating pheromones unique to Mucoromycotina. Our results demonstrate that regulating host asexual proliferation and modifying its sexual reproduction are sufficient for the symbiont's control of its own transmission, needed for antagonism-to-mutualism transition in heritable symbioses. These properties establish the Rm-Burkholderia symbiosis as a powerful system for identifying reproductive genes in Mucoromycotina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Mondo
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe-Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- US DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Olga A Lastovetsky
- Graduate Field of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Maria L Gaspar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Nicole H Schwardt
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe-Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Colin C Barber
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe-Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Robert Riley
- US DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Hui Sun
- US DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- US DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Teresa E Pawlowska
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Pathology and Plant Microbe-Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Abstract
All cells must accurately replicate DNA and partition it to daughter cells. The basic cell cycle machinery is highly conserved among eukaryotes. Most of the mechanisms that control the cell cycle were worked out in fungal cells, taking advantage of their powerful genetics and rapid duplication times. Here we describe the cell cycles of the unicellular budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the multicellular filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. We compare and contrast morphological landmarks of G1, S, G2, and M phases, molecular mechanisms that drive cell cycle progression, and checkpoints in these model unicellular and multicellular fungal systems.
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Valiante V, Baldin C, Hortschansky P, Jain R, Thywißen A, Straßburger M, Shelest E, Heinekamp T, Brakhage AA. TheAspergillus fumigatusconidial melanin production is regulated by the bifunctional bHLH DevR and MADS-box RlmA transcription factors. Mol Microbiol 2016; 102:321-335. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vito Valiante
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Leibniz Research Group - Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI); Jena Germany
| | - Clara Baldin
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Radhika Jain
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Andreas Thywißen
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Maria Straßburger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI); Jena Germany
| | - Ekaterina Shelest
- Research Group Bioinformatics/Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI); Jena Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology; Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI); Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23 Jena 07745 Germany
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Schmoll M, Dattenböck C, Carreras-Villaseñor N, Mendoza-Mendoza A, Tisch D, Alemán MI, Baker SE, Brown C, Cervantes-Badillo MG, Cetz-Chel J, Cristobal-Mondragon GR, Delaye L, Esquivel-Naranjo EU, Frischmann A, Gallardo-Negrete JDJ, García-Esquivel M, Gomez-Rodriguez EY, Greenwood DR, Hernández-Oñate M, Kruszewska JS, Lawry R, Mora-Montes HM, Muñoz-Centeno T, Nieto-Jacobo MF, Nogueira Lopez G, Olmedo-Monfil V, Osorio-Concepcion M, Piłsyk S, Pomraning KR, Rodriguez-Iglesias A, Rosales-Saavedra MT, Sánchez-Arreguín JA, Seidl-Seiboth V, Stewart A, Uresti-Rivera EE, Wang CL, Wang TF, Zeilinger S, Casas-Flores S, Herrera-Estrella A. The Genomes of Three Uneven Siblings: Footprints of the Lifestyles of Three Trichoderma Species. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2016; 80:205-327. [PMID: 26864432 PMCID: PMC4771370 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00040-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Trichoderma contains fungi with high relevance for humans, with applications in enzyme production for plant cell wall degradation and use in biocontrol. Here, we provide a broad, comprehensive overview of the genomic content of these species for "hot topic" research aspects, including CAZymes, transport, transcription factors, and development, along with a detailed analysis and annotation of less-studied topics, such as signal transduction, genome integrity, chromatin, photobiology, or lipid, sulfur, and nitrogen metabolism in T. reesei, T. atroviride, and T. virens, and we open up new perspectives to those topics discussed previously. In total, we covered more than 2,000 of the predicted 9,000 to 11,000 genes of each Trichoderma species discussed, which is >20% of the respective gene content. Additionally, we considered available transcriptome data for the annotated genes. Highlights of our analyses include overall carbohydrate cleavage preferences due to the different genomic contents and regulation of the respective genes. We found light regulation of many sulfur metabolic genes. Additionally, a new Golgi 1,2-mannosidase likely involved in N-linked glycosylation was detected, as were indications for the ability of Trichoderma spp. to generate hybrid galactose-containing N-linked glycans. The genomic inventory of effector proteins revealed numerous compounds unique to Trichoderma, and these warrant further investigation. We found interesting expansions in the Trichoderma genus in several signaling pathways, such as G-protein-coupled receptors, RAS GTPases, and casein kinases. A particularly interesting feature absolutely unique to T. atroviride is the duplication of the alternative sulfur amino acid synthesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Schmoll
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | - Christoph Dattenböck
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | | | | | - Doris Tisch
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Ivan Alemán
- Cinvestav, Department of Genetic Engineering, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Scott E Baker
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Christopher Brown
- University of Otago, Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - José Cetz-Chel
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Luis Delaye
- Cinvestav, Department of Genetic Engineering, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Alexa Frischmann
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Monica García-Esquivel
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - David R Greenwood
- The University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Miguel Hernández-Oñate
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Joanna S Kruszewska
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Laboratory of Fungal Glycobiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Lawry
- Lincoln University, Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sebastian Piłsyk
- Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Laboratory of Fungal Glycobiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kyle R Pomraning
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Aroa Rodriguez-Iglesias
- Austrian Institute of Technology, Department Health and Environment, Bioresources Unit, Tulln, Austria
| | | | | | - Verena Seidl-Seiboth
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Chih-Li Wang
- National Chung-Hsing University, Department of Plant Pathology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Fang Wang
- Academia Sinica, Institute of Molecular Biology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susanne Zeilinger
- Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria University of Innsbruck, Institute of Microbiology, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
- LANGEBIO, National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Cinvestav-Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
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11
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Zhou Y, Yuikawa N, Nakatsuka H, Maekawa H, Harashima S, Nakanishi Y, Kaneko Y. Core regulatory components of the PHO pathway are conserved in the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Curr Genet 2016; 62:595-605. [PMID: 26794724 PMCID: PMC4929164 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-016-0565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
To gain better understanding of the diversity and evolution of the gene regulation system in eukaryotes, the phosphate signal transduction (PHO) pathway in non-conventional yeasts has been studied in recent years. Here we characterized the PHO pathway of Hansenula polymorpha, which is genetically tractable and distantly related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, in order to get more information for the diversity and evolution of the PHO pathway in yeasts. We generated several pho gene-deficient mutants based on the annotated draft genome of H. polymorpha BY4329. Except for the Hppho2-deficient mutant, these mutants exhibited the same phenotype of repressible acid phosphatase (APase) production as their S. cerevisiae counterparts. Subsequently, Hppho80 and Hppho85 mutants were isolated as suppressors of the Hppho81 mutation and Hppho4 was isolated from Hppho80 and Hppho85 mutants as the sole suppressor of the Hppho80 and Hppho85 mutations. To gain more complete delineation of the PHO pathway in H. polymorpha, we screened for UV-irradiated mutants that expressed APase constitutively. As a result, three classes of recessive constitutive mutations and one dominant constitutive mutation were isolated. Genetic analysis showed that one group of recessive constitutive mutations was allelic to HpPHO80 and that the dominant mutation occurred in the HpPHO81 gene. Epistasis analysis between Hppho81 and the other two classes of recessive constitutive mutations suggested that the corresponding new genes, named PHO51 and PHO53, function upstream of HpPHO81 in the PHO pathway. Taking these findings together, we conclude that the main components of the PHO pathway identified in S. cerevisiae are conserved in the methylotrophic yeast H. polymorpha, even though these organisms separated from each other before duplication of the whole genome. This finding is useful information for the study of evolution of the PHO regulatory system in yeasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhou
- Yeast Genetic Resources Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoya Yuikawa
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nakatsuka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiromi Maekawa
- Yeast Genetic Resources Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Satoshi Harashima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Division of Applied Microbial Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Sojo University, Kumamoto, 860-0082, Japan
| | - Yoichi Nakanishi
- Department of Biological Mechanisms and Functions, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Kaneko
- Yeast Genetic Resources Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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12
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Toh-e A, Ohkusu M, Li HM, Shimizu K, Takahashi-Nakaguchi A, Gonoi T, Kawamoto S, Kanesaki Y, Yoshikawa H, Nishizawa M. Identification of genes involved in the phosphate metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans. Fungal Genet Biol 2015; 80:19-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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13
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Deng M, Hu B, Xu L, Liu Y, Wang F, Zhao H, Wei X, Wang J, Yi K. OsCYCP1;1, a PHO80 homologous protein, negatively regulates phosphate starvation signaling in the roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.). PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 86:655-69. [PMID: 25315105 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-014-0254-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus is one of the most essential and limiting nutrients in all living organisms, thus the organisms have evolved complicated and precise regulatory mechanisms for phosphorus acquisition, storage and homeostasis. In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the modification of PHO4 by the PHO80 and PHO85 complex is a core regulation system. However, the existence and possible functions in phosphate signaling of the homologs of the PHO80 and PHO85 components in plants has yet to be determined. Here we describe the identification of a family of seven PHO80 homologous genes in rice named OsCYCPs. Among these, the OsCYCP1;1 gene was able to partially rescue the pho80 mutant strain of yeast. The OsCYCP1;1 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus, and was ubiquitously expressed throughout the whole plant and during the entire growth period of rice. Consistent with the negative role of PHO80 in phosphate signaling in yeast, OsCYCP1;1 expression was reduced by phosphate starvation in the roots. This reduction was dependent on PHR2, the central regulator of phosphate signaling in rice. Overexpression and suppression of the expression of OsCYCP1;1 influenced the phosphate starvation signaling response. The inducible expression of phosphate starvation inducible and phosphate transporter genes was suppressed in the OsCYCP1;1 overexpression lines and was relatively enhanced in the OsCYCP1;1 RNAi plants by phosphate starvation. Together, these results demonstrate the role of PHO80 homologs in the phosphate starvation signaling pathway in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjuan Deng
- Institute of Virology and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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14
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Lee SH, Cho J, Bok J, Kang S, Choi Y, Lee PCW. Characterization, Gene Cloning, and Sequencing of a Fungal Phytase, PhyA, FromPenicillium oxalicumPJ3. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2014; 45:336-47. [DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2014.923446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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15
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Yu Z, Cai M, Hu W, Zhang Y, Zhou J, Zhou X, Zhang Y. A cyclin-like protein, ClgA, regulates development in Aspergillus nidulans. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:462-7. [PMID: 24794637 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A cyclin-like protein from Aspergillus nidulans, ClgA, was identified. Its cyclin-like subunit shares 28.3% identity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Clg1. Deletion of clgA slightly influenced fungal growth, but repressed asexual development and made it more sensitive to temperature variations. It also downregulated expression of brlA, abaA and wetA, which are critically responsible for asexual development. Sexual development was impaired in the ΔclgA mutant. Its related genes, veA and nosA, were expressed weakly in the ΔclgA mutant, while nsdD expression showed the opposite behavior. Generally, ClgA functioned differently from other reported cyclins in development of A. nidulans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Jiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Xiangshan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Yuanxing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
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16
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Marui J, Tada S, Fukuoka M, Wagu Y, Shiraishi Y, Kitamoto N, Sugimoto T, Hattori R, Suzuki S, Kusumoto KI. Reduction of the degradation activity of umami-enhancing purinic ribonucleotide supplement in miso by the targeted suppression of acid phosphatases in the Aspergillus oryzae starter culture. Int J Food Microbiol 2013; 166:238-43. [PMID: 23973834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Miso (fermented soybean paste) is a traditional Japanese fermented food, and is now used worldwide. The solid-state culture of filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae, grown on rice is known as rice-koji, and is important as a starter for miso fermentation because of its prominent hydrolytic enzyme activities. Recently, commercial miso products have been supplemented with purinic ribonucleotides, such as inosine monophosphate (IMP) and guanine monophosphate, to enhance the characteristic umami taste of glutamate in miso. Because the purinic ribonucleotides are degraded by enzymes such as acid phosphatases in miso, heat inactivation is required prior to the addition of these flavorings. However, heat treatment is a costly process and reduces the quality of miso. Therefore, an approach to lower acid phosphatase activities in koji culture is necessary. Transcriptional analysis using an A. oryzae KBN8048 rice-koji culture showed that eight of the 13 acid phosphatase (aph) genes were significantly down-regulated by the addition of phosphoric acid in the preparation of the culture in a concentration-dependent manner, while aphC expression was markedly up-regulated under the same conditions. The eight down-regulated genes might be under the control of the functional counterpart of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcriptional activator Pho4, which specifically regulates phosphatase genes in response to the ambient phosphate availability. However, the regulatory mechanism of aphC was not clear. The IMP dephosphorylation activities in rice-koji cultures of KBN8048 and the aphC deletion mutant (ΔaphC) were reduced by up to 30% and 70%, respectively, in cultures with phosphoric acid, while protease and amylase activity, which is important for miso fermentation, was minimally affected. The miso products fermented using the rice-koji cultures of KBN8048 and ΔaphC prepared with phosphoric acid had reductions in IMP dephosphorylation activity of 80% and 90%, respectively, without any adverse effects on amylase and protease activities. Thus, preparing the A. oryzae rice-koji culture under phosphate-sufficient conditions preferentially produces a fermentation starter of miso exhibiting low purinic ribonucleotide dephosphorylation activity. Moreover, aphC is a potential breeding target to reduce purinic ribonucleotide degradation activity further in commercial miso products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichiro Marui
- Applied Microbiology Division, National Food Research Institute, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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MARUI J, TADA S, FUKUOKA M, SUZUKI S, HATTORI R, WAGU Y, SHIRAISHI Y, KITAMOTO N, SUGIMOTO T, KUSUMOTO KI. Comparison of Acid Phosphatase Gene Expression Profiles in Solid-State Rice and Soybean Cultures of an Aspergillus oryzae Strain with Low Acid Phosphatase Activity (KBN8048): Implications for Miso Brewing. FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 2012. [DOI: 10.3136/fstr.18.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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18
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Dyer PS, O'Gorman CM. Sexual development and cryptic sexuality in fungi: insights from Aspergillus species. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2011; 36:165-92. [PMID: 22091779 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Major insights into sexual development and cryptic sexuality within filamentous fungi have been gained from investigations using Aspergillus species. Here, an overview is first given into sexual morphogenesis in the aspergilli, describing the different types of sexual structures formed and how their production is influenced by a variety of environmental and nutritional factors. It is argued that the formation of cleistothecia and accessory tissues, such as Hülle cells and sclerotia, should be viewed as two independent but co-ordinated developmental pathways. Next, a comprehensive survey of over 75 genes associated with sexual reproduction in the aspergilli is presented, including genes relating to mating and the development of cleistothecia, sclerotia and ascospores. Most of these genes have been identified from studies involving the homothallic Aspergillus nidulans, but an increasing number of studies have now in addition characterized 'sex-related' genes from the heterothallic species Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. A schematic developmental genetic network is proposed showing the inter-relatedness between these genes. Finally, the discovery of sexual reproduction in certain Aspergillus species that were formerly considered to be strictly asexual is reviewed, and the importance of these findings for cryptic sexuality in the aspergilli as a whole is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Dyer
- School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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19
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Toh-e A, Shimizu K, Li HM, Nishizawa M, Kawamoto S. [Phosphate regulation in Cryptococcus neoformans]. Med Mycol J 2011; 52:19-23. [PMID: 21441709 DOI: 10.3314/jjmm.52.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akio Toh-e
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University
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20
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Functional characterization of a new member of the Cdk9 family in Aspergillus nidulans. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2010; 9:1901-12. [PMID: 20952582 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00384-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cdk9-like kinases in complex with T-type cyclins are essential components of the eukaryotic transcription elongation machinery. The full spectrum of Cdk9/cyclin T targets, as well as the specific consequences of phosphorylations, is still largely undefined. We identify and characterize here a Cdk9 kinase (PtkA) in the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans. Deletion of ptkA had a lethal effect in later stages of vegetative growth and completely impeded asexual development. Overexpression of ptkA affected directionality of polarized growth and the initiation of new branching sites. A green fluorescent protein-tagged PtkA version localized inside the nucleus during interphase, supporting a role of PtkA in transcription elongation, as observed in other organisms. We also identified a putative cyclin T homolog, PchA, in the A. nidulans genome and confirmed its interaction with PtkA in vivo. Surprisingly, the Pcl-like cyclin PclA, previously described to be involved in asexual development, was also found to interact with PtkA, indicating a possible role of PtkA in linking transcriptional activity with development and/or morphogenesis in A. nidulans. This is the first report of a Cdk9 kinase interacting with a Pcl-like cyclin, revealing interesting new aspects about the involvement of this Cdk-subfamily in differential gene expression.
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21
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Gras DE, Silveira HC, Peres NT, Sanches PR, Martinez-Rossi NM, Rossi A. Transcriptional changes in the nuc-2A mutant strain of Neurospora crassa cultivated under conditions of phosphate shortage. Microbiol Res 2009; 164:658-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2008.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2008] [Revised: 12/21/2008] [Accepted: 12/30/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Corbel C, Haddoub R, Guiffant D, Lozach O, Gueyrard D, Lemoine J, Ratin M, Meijer L, Bach S, Goekjian P. Identification of potential cellular targets of aloisine A by affinity chromatography. Bioorg Med Chem 2009; 17:5572-82. [PMID: 19596197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2009.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2009] [Revised: 06/05/2009] [Accepted: 06/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Affinity chromatography was used to identify potential cellular targets of aloisine A (7-n-butyl-6-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-5H-pyrrolo[2,3b]pyrazine), a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases. This technique is based on the immobilization of the drug on a solid matrix, followed by identification of specifically bound proteins. To this end, both aloisine A and the protein-kinase inactive control N-methyl aloisine, bearing extended linker chains have been synthesized. We present the preparation of such analogues having the triethylene glycol chain at different positions of the molecule, as well as their immobilization on an agarose-based matrix. Affinity chromatography of various biological extracts on the aloisine matrices allowed the identification of both protein kinases and non-kinase proteins as potential cellular targets of aloisine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Corbel
- CNRS USR-3151, Protein Phosphorylation and Human Disease, Station Biologique, B.P.74, F-29682 Roscoff Cedex, Bretagne, France
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23
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Silva EM, Freitas JS, Gras DE, Squina FM, Leal J, Silveira HCS, Martinez-Rossi NM, Rossi A. Identification of genes differentially expressed in a strain of the mold Aspergillus nidulans carrying a loss-of-function mutation in the palA gene. Can J Microbiol 2009; 54:803-11. [PMID: 18923548 DOI: 10.1139/w08-072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To identify genes differentially expressed in a strain of the mold Aspergillus nidulans carrying a loss-of-function mutation in palA, a gene in the pH-responsive signal transduction pathway, suppression subtractive hybridization was performed between RNA isolated from the biA1 and biA1 palA1 strains grown under limiting inorganic phosphate at pH 5.0. We have identified several genes upregulated in the biA1 palA1 mutant strain that play important roles in mitotic fidelity, stress responses, enzyme secretion, signal transduction mechanisms, development, genome stability, phosphate sensing, and transcriptional regulation among others. The upregulation of eight of these transcripts was also validated by Northern blot. Moreover, we show that a loss of function mutation in the palA gene drastically reduced the neutral sugar content of the acid phosphatase PacA secreted by the fungus A. nidulans grown at pH 5.0 compared with a control strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiliana M Silva
- Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, Brazil
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24
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de Gouvêa PF, Soriani FM, Malavazi I, Savoldi M, Goldman MHDS, Loss O, Bignell E, da Silva Ferreira ME, Goldman GH. Functional characterization of the Aspergillus fumigatus PHO80 homologue. Fungal Genet Biol 2008; 45:1135-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2008.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2008] [Revised: 04/01/2008] [Accepted: 04/02/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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25
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Leal J, Squina FM, Martinez-Rossi NM, Rossi A. The transcription of the gene for iso-orotate decarboxylase (IDCase), an enzyme of the thymidine salvage pathway, is downregulated in the pregc mutant strain of Neurospora crassa grown under phosphate starvation. Can J Microbiol 2008; 53:1011-5. [PMID: 17898858 DOI: 10.1139/w07-064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The preg gene encodes a cyclin-like protein that is implicated in the derepression of nucleases and phosphatases that scavenge phosphate from the environment. To better understand the regulatory role of the preg gene product, the differential display reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate transcripts differentially expressed in the pregc mutant strain of the mold Neurospora crassa grown under phosphate starvation, at pH 7.8. Two transcripts, whose differential expressions were confirmed by Northern blotting, were downregulated in a strain of N. crassa carrying a loss-of-function mutation in the preg gene (preg(c) allele). These transcripts revealed genes coding for enzymes involved in the thymidine salvage pathway (iso-orotate decarboxylase) and in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone C-methyltransferase), which may be relevant to a further understanding of the molecular events involved in the phosphorus sensing in N. crassa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Leal
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes 3900, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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26
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Meyer V. A small protein that fights fungi: AFP as a new promising antifungal agent of biotechnological value. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 78:17-28. [PMID: 18066545 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-007-1291-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2007] [Revised: 11/14/2007] [Accepted: 11/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
As fungal infections are becoming more prevalent in the medical or agricultural fields, novel and more efficient antifungal agents are badly needed. Within the scope of developing new strategies for the management of fungal infections, antifungal compounds that target essential fungal cell wall components are highly preferable. Ideally, newly developed antimycotics should also combine major aspects such as sustainability, high efficacy, limited toxicity and low costs of production. A naturally derived molecule that possesses all the desired characteristics is the antifungal protein (AFP) secreted by the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus giganteus. AFP is a small, basic and cysteine-rich peptide that exerts extremely potent antifungal activity against human- and plant-pathogenic fungi without affecting the viability of bacteria, yeast, plant and mammalian cells. This review summarises the current knowledge of the structure, mode of action and expression of AFP, and highlights similarities and differences concerning these issues between AFP and its related proteins from other Ascomycetes. Furthermore, the potential use of AFP in the combat against fungal contaminations and infections will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Meyer
- TU Berlin, Institut für Biotechnologie, Fachgebiet Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355, Berlin, Germany.
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Miyakawa Y, Chibana H, Uno J, Mikami Y, Nakayama H. [Essential genes as potential targets of antifungal agents in pathogenic yeast Candida]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 47:269-74. [PMID: 17086158 DOI: 10.3314/jjmm.47.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
An important point in the development of an antimicrobial agent is whether its target molecules are essential for growth of the microorganism. From this viewpoint, we focused attention on essential genes as potential targets of antifungal agents in the pathogenic yeast Candida. Here we introduce recent attempts for screening, identification, and characterization of essential genes from a haploid yeast Candida glabrata, using temperature-sensitive mutants. Our experimental results suggesting the essentiality of C. albicans PHO85, the homologue of which is known as a negative regulator of the PHO system and as a non-essential gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yozo Miyakawa
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Japan
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