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Sokołowska B, Orłowska M, Okrasińska A, Piłsyk S, Pawłowska J, Muszewska A. What can be lost? Genomic perspective on the lipid metabolism of Mucoromycota. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:22. [PMID: 37932857 PMCID: PMC10629195 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00127-4] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucoromycota is a phylum of early diverging fungal (EDF) lineages, of mostly plant-associated terrestrial fungi. Some strains have been selected as promising biotechnological organisms due to their ability to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids and efficient conversion of nutrients into lipids. Others get their lipids from the host plant and are unable to produce even the essential ones on their own. Following the advancement in EDF genome sequencing, we carried out a systematic survey of lipid metabolism protein families across different EDF lineages. This enabled us to explore the genomic basis of the previously documented ability to produce several types of lipids within the fungal tree of life. The core lipid metabolism genes showed no significant diversity in distribution, however specialized lipid metabolic pathways differed in this regard among different fungal lineages. In total 165 out of 202 genes involved in lipid metabolism were present in all tested fungal lineages, while remaining 37 genes were found to be absent in some of fungal lineages. Duplications were observed for 69 genes. For the first time we demonstrate that ergosterol is not being produced by several independent groups of plant-associated fungi due to the losses of different ERG genes. Instead, they possess an ancestral pathway leading to the synthesis of cholesterol, which is absent in other fungal lineages. The lack of diacylglycerol kinase in both Mortierellomycotina and Blastocladiomycota opens the question on sterol equilibrium regulation in these organisms. Early diverging fungi retained most of beta oxidation components common with animals including Nudt7, Nudt12 and Nudt19 pointing at peroxisome divergence in Dikarya. Finally, Glomeromycotina and Mortierellomycotina representatives have a similar set of desaturases and elongases related to the synthesis of complex, polyunsaturated fatty acids pointing at an ancient expansion of fatty acid metabolism currently being explored by biotechnological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Sokołowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Orłowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Okrasińska
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Piłsyk
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Julia Pawłowska
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Muszewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
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Bauer K, Rafael B, Vágó B, Kiss-Vetráb S, Molnár A, Szebenyi C, Varga M, Szekeres A, Vágvölgyi C, Papp T, Nagy G. Characterization of the Sterol 24-C-Methyltransferase Genes Reveals a Network of Alternative Sterol Biosynthetic Pathways in Mucor lusitanicus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0031523. [PMID: 37036336 PMCID: PMC10269636 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00315-23] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain members of the order Mucorales can cause a life-threatening, often-fatal systemic infection called mucormycosis. Mucormycosis has a high mortality rate, which can reach 96 to 100% depending on the underlying condition of the patient. Mucorales species are intrinsically resistant to most antifungal agents, such as most of the azoles, which makes mucormycosis treatment challenging. The main target of azoles is the lanosterol 14α-demethylase (Erg11), which is responsible for an essential step in the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the main sterol component of the fungal membrane. Mutations in the erg11 gene can be associated with azole resistance; however, resistance can also be mediated by loss of function or mutation of other ergosterol biosynthetic enzymes, such as the sterol 24-C-methyltransferase (Erg6). The genome of Mucor lusitanicus encodes three putative erg6 genes (i.e., erg6a, erg6b, and erg6c). In this study, the role of erg6 genes in azole resistance of Mucor was analyzed by generating and analyzing knockout mutants constructed using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. Susceptibility testing of the mutants suggested that one of the three genes, erg6b, plays a crucial role in the azole resistance of Mucor. The sterol composition of erg6b knockout mutants was significantly altered compared to that of the original strain, and it revealed the presence of at least four alternative sterol biosynthesis pathways leading to formation of ergosterol and other alternative, nontoxic sterol products. Dynamic operation of these pathways and the switching of biosynthesis from one to the other in response to azole treatment could significantly contribute to avoiding the effects of azoles by these fungi. IMPORTANCE The fungal membrane contains ergosterol instead of cholesterol, which offers a specific point of attack for the defense against pathogenic fungi. Indeed, most antifungal agents target ergosterol or its biosynthesis. Mucormycoses-causing fungi are resistant to most antifungal agents, including most of the azoles. For this reason, the drugs of choice to treat such infections are limited. The exploration of ergosterol biosynthesis is therefore of fundamental importance to understand the azole resistance of mucormycosis-causing fungi and to develop possible new control strategies. Characterization of sterol 24-C-methyltransferase demonstrated its role in the azole resistance and virulence of M. lusitanicus. Moreover, our experiments suggest that there are at least four alternative pathways for the biosynthesis of sterols in Mucor. Switching between pathways may contribute to the maintenance of azole resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kitti Bauer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bence Rafael
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bernadett Vágó
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sándor Kiss-Vetráb
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anna Molnár
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csilla Szebenyi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mónika Varga
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - András Szekeres
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Vágvölgyi
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás Papp
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nagy
- Department of Microbiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathomechanisms Research Group, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Gu Y, Jiao X, Ye L, Yu H. Metabolic engineering strategies for de novo biosynthesis of sterols and steroids in yeast. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2021; 8:110. [PMID: 38650187 PMCID: PMC10992410 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-021-00460-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroidal compounds are of great interest in the pharmaceutical field, with steroidal drugs as the second largest category of medicine in the world. Advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have enabled de novo biosynthesis of sterols and steroids in yeast, which is a green and safe production route for these valuable steroidal compounds. In this review, we summarize the metabolic engineering strategies developed and employed for improving the de novo biosynthesis of sterols and steroids in yeast based on the regulation mechanisms, and introduce the recent progresses in de novo synthesis of some typical sterols and steroids in yeast. The remaining challenges and future perspectives are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehao Gu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering (Education Ministry), College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xue Jiao
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Lidan Ye
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering (Education Ministry), College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
| | - Hongwei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering (Education Ministry), College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
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Janus D, Hoff B, Kück U. Evidence for Dicer-dependent RNA interference in the industrial penicillin producer Penicillium chrysogenum. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2009; 155:3946-3956. [PMID: 19797363 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.032763-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing system that downregulates target gene expression. Here, we provide several lines of evidence for RNA silencing in the industrial beta-lactam antibiotic producer Penicillium chrysogenum using the DsRed reporter gene under the control of the constitutive trpC promoter or the inducible xylP promoter. The functional RNAi system was verified by detection of siRNAs that hybridized exclusively with gene-specific (32)P-labelled RNA probes. Moreover, when RNAi was used to silence the endogenous PcbrlA morphogene that controls conidiophore development, a dramatic reduction in the formation of conidiospores was observed in 47 % of the corresponding transformants. Evidence that RNAi in P. chrysogenum is dependent on a Dicer peptide was provided with a strain lacking Pcdcl2. In the DeltaPcdcl2 background, silencing of the PcbrlA gene was tested. None of the transformants analysed showed a developmental defect. The applicability of the RNAi system in P. chrysogenum was finally demonstrated by silencing the Pcku70 gene to increase homologous recombination frequency. This led to the generation of single and double knockout mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Janus
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for 'Fungal Biotechnology', Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Birgit Hoff
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for 'Fungal Biotechnology', Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kück
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for 'Fungal Biotechnology', Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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