High-frequency conversion to a "fluffy" developmental phenotype in Aspergillus spp. by 5-azacytidine treatment: evidence for involvement of a single nuclear gene

Heterotrimeric G-protein signalers and RGSs in Aspergillus fumigatus

The heterotrimeric G-protein (G-protein) signaling pathway is one of the most important signaling pathways that transmit external signals into the inside of the cell, triggering appropriate biological responses. The external signals are sensed by various G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and transmitted into G-proteins consisting of the α, β, and γ subunits. Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGSs) are the key controllers of G-protein signaling pathways. GPCRs, G-proteins, and RGSs are the primary upstream components of the G-protein signaling pathway, and they are highly conserved in most filamentous fungi, playing diverse roles in biological processes. Recent studies characterized the G-protein signaling components in the opportunistic pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. In this review, we have summarized the characteristics and functions of GPCRs, G-proteins, and RGSs, and their regulatory roles in governing fungal growth, asexual development, germination, stress tolerance, and virulence in A. fumigatus.

Experimental DNA Demethylation Associates with Changes in Growth and Gene Expression of Oak Tree Seedlings

Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, where methyl groups are added to cytosine base pairs, have the potential to impact phenotypic variation and gene expression, and could influence plant response to changing environments. One way to test this impact is through the application of chemical demethylation agents, such as 5-Azacytidine, which inhibit DNA methylation and lead to a partial reduction in DNA methylation across the genome. In this study, we treated 5-month-old seedlings of the tree, Quercus lobata, with foliar application of 5-Azacytidine to test whether a reduction in genome-wide methylation would cause differential gene expression and change phenotypic development. First, we demonstrate that demethylation treatment led to 3–6% absolute reductions and 6.7–43.2% relative reductions in genome-wide methylation across CG, CHG, and CHH sequence contexts, with CHH showing the strongest relative reduction. Seedlings treated with 5-Azacytidine showed a substantial reduction in new growth, which was less than half that of control seedlings. We tested whether this result could be due to impact of the treatment on the soil microbiome and found minimal differences in the soil microbiome between two groups, although with limited sample size. We found no significant differences in leaf fluctuating asymmetry (i.e., deviations from bilateral symmetry), which has been found in other studies. Nonetheless, treated seedlings showed differential expression of a total of 23 genes. Overall, this study provides initial evidence that DNA methylation is involved in gene expression and phenotypic variation in seedlings and suggests that removal of DNA methylation affects plant development.

Genome sequencing of evolved aspergilli populations reveals robust genomes, transversions in A. flavus, and sexual aberrancy in non-homologous end-joining mutants

Background

Aspergillus spp. comprises a very diverse group of lower eukaryotes with a high relevance for industrial applications and clinical implications. These multinucleate species are often cultured for many generations in the laboratory, which can unknowingly propagate hidden genetic mutations. To assess the likelihood of such events, we studied the genome stability of aspergilli by using a combination of mutation accumulation (MA) lines and whole genome sequencing.

Results

We sequenced the whole genomes of 30 asexual and 10 sexual MA lines of three Aspergillus species (A. flavus, A. fumigatus and A. nidulans) and estimated that each MA line accumulated mutations for over 4000 mitoses during asexual cycles. We estimated mutation rates of 4.2 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. flavus), 1.1 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. fumigatus) and 4.1 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. nidulans) per site per mitosis, suggesting that the genomes are very robust. Unexpectedly, we found a very high rate of GC → TA transversions only in A. flavus. In parallel, 30 asexual lines of the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) mutants of the three species were also allowed to accumulate mutations for the same number of mitoses. Sequencing of these NHEJ MA lines gave an estimated mutation rate of 5.1 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. flavus), 2.2 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. fumigatus) and 4.5 × 10⁻¹¹ (A. nidulans) per base per mitosis, which is slightly higher than in the wild-type strains and some ~ 5–6 times lower than in the yeasts. Additionally, in A. nidulans, we found a NHEJ-dependent interference of the sexual cycle that is independent of the accumulation of mutations.

Conclusions

We present for the first time direct counts of the mutation rate of filamentous fungal species and find that Aspergillus genomes are very robust. Deletion of the NHEJ machinery results in a slight increase in the mutation rate, but at a rate we suggest is still safe to use for biotechnology purposes. Unexpectedly, we found GC→TA transversions predominated only in the species A. flavus, which could be generated by the hepatocarcinogen secondary metabolite aflatoxin. Lastly, a strong effect of the NHEJ mutation in self-crossing was observed and an increase in the mutations of the asexual lines was quantified.

Disturbance in biosynthesis of arachidonic acid impairs the sexual development of the onion blight pathogen Stemphylium eturmiunum

The formation of sexual fruiting bodies for plant pathogenic fungi is a key strategy to propagate their progenies upon environmental stresses. Stemphylium eturmiunum is an opportunistic plant pathogen fungus causing blight in onion. This self-fertilizing filamentous ascomycete persists in the soil by forming pseudothecia, the sexual fruiting body which helps the fungus survive in harsh environments. However, the regulatory mechanism of pseudothecial formation remains unknown. To uncover the mechanism for pseudothecial formation so as to find a practical measure to control the propagation of this onion pathogen, we tentatively used DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-AC) to treat S. eturmiunum. 5-AC treatment silenced the gene-encoding monoacylglycerol lipase (magl) concomitant with the presence of the inheritable fluffy phenotype and defectiveness in pseudothecial development. Moreover, the silence of magl also resulted in a reduction of arachidonic acid (AA) formation from 27 ± 3.1 µg/g to 9.5 ± 1.5 µg/g. To correlate the biosynthesis of AA and pseudothecial formation, we created magl knockdown and overexpression strains. Knockdown of magl reduced AA to 11 ± 2.4 µg/g, which subsequently disabled pseudothecial formation. In parallel, overexpression of magl increased AA to 37 ± 3.4 µg/g, which also impaired pseudothecial formation. Furthermore, exogenous addition of AA to the culture of magl-silenced or magl knockdown strains rescued the pseudothecial formation but failed in the gpr1 knockdown strain of S. eturmiunum, which implicates the involvement of AA in signal transduction via a putative G protein-coupled receptor 1. Thus, AA at a cellular level of 27 ± 3.1 µg/g is essential for sexual development of S. eturmiunum. Disturbance in the biosynthesis of AA by up- and down-regulating the expression of magl disables the pseudothecial development. The specific requirement for AA in pseudothecial development by S. eturmiunum provides a hint to curb this onion pathogen: to impede pseudothecial formation by application of AA.

Evolution of cross-resistance to medical triazoles in Aspergillus fumigatus through selection pressure of environmental fungicides

Resistance to medical triazoles in Aspergillus fumigatus is an emerging problem for patients at risk of aspergillus diseases. There are currently two presumed routes for medical triazole-resistance selection: (i) through selection pressure of medical triazoles when treating patients and (ii) through selection pressure from non-medical sterol-biosynthesis-inhibiting (SI) triazole fungicides which are used in the environment. Previous studies have suggested that SI fungicides can induce cross-resistance to medical triazoles. Therefore, to assess the potential of selection of resistance to medical triazoles in the environment, we assessed cross-resistance to three medical triazoles in lineages of A. fumigatus from previous work where we applied an experimental evolution approach with one of five different SI fungicides to select for resistance. In our evolved lines we found widespread cross-resistance indicating that resistance to medical triazoles rapidly arises through selection pressure of SI fungicides. All evolved lineages showed similar evolutionary dynamics to SI fungicides and medical triazoles, which suggests that the mutations inducing resistance to both SI fungicides and medical triazoles are likely to be the same. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that a variety of mutations were putatively involved in the resistance mechanism, some of which are in known target genes.

Two C4-sterol methyl oxidases (Erg25) catalyse ergosterol intermediate demethylation and impact environmental stress adaptation in Aspergillus fumigatus

The human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus adapts to stress encountered in the mammalian host as part of its ability to cause disease. The transcription factor SrbA plays a significant role in this process by regulating genes involved in hypoxia and low-iron adaptation, antifungal drug responses and virulence. SrbA is a direct transcriptional regulator of genes encoding key enzymes in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, including erg25A and erg25B, and ΔsrbA accumulates C4-methyl sterols, suggesting a loss of Erg25 activity [C4-sterol methyl oxidase (SMO)]. Characterization of the two genes encoding SMOs in Aspergillus fumigatus revealed that both serve as functional C4-demethylases, with Erg25A serving in a primary role, as Δerg25A accumulates more C4-methyl sterol intermediates than Δerg25B. Single deletion of these SMOs revealed alterations in canonical ergosterol biosynthesis, indicating that ergosterol may be produced in an alternative fashion in the absence of SMO activity. A Δerg25A strain displayed moderate susceptibility to hypoxia and the endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducing agent DTT, but was not required for virulence in murine or insect models of invasive aspergillosis. Inducing expression of erg25A partially restored the hypoxia growth defect of ΔsrbA. These findings implicated Aspergillus fumigatus SMOs in the maintenance of canonical ergosterol biosynthesis and indicated an overall involvement in the fungal stress response.

Non-exhaustive DNA methylation-mediated transposon silencing in the black truffle genome, a complex fungal genome with massive repeat element content

BACKGROUND

We investigated how an extremely transposon element (TE)-rich organism such as the plant-symbiotic ascomycete truffle Tuber melanosporum exploits DNA methylation to cope with the more than 45,000 repeated elements that populate its genome.

RESULTS

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing performed on different developmental stages reveals a high fraction of methylated cytosines with a strong preference for CpG sites. The methylation pattern is highly similar among samples and selectively targets TEs rather than genes. A marked trend toward hypomethylation is observed for TEs located within a 1 kb distance from expressed genes, rather than segregated in TE-rich regions of the genome. Approximately 300 hypomethylated or unmethylated TEs are transcriptionally active, with higher expression levels in free-living mycelium compared to fruitbody. Indeed, multiple TE-enriched, copy number variant regions bearing a significant fraction of hypomethylated and expressed TEs are found almost exclusively in free-living mycelium. A reduction of DNA methylation, restricted to non-CpG sites and accompanied by an increase in TE expression, is observed upon treatment of free-living mycelia with 5-azacytidine.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence derived from analysis of the T. melanosporum methylome indicates that a non-exhaustive, partly reversible, methylation process operates in truffles. This allows for the existence of hypomethylated, transcriptionally active TEs that are associated with copy number variant regions of the genome. Non-exhaustive TE methylation may reflect a role of active TEs in promoting genome plasticity and the ability to adapt to sudden environmental changes.

FlbD, a Myb transcription factor of Aspergillus nidulans, is uniquely involved in both asexual and sexual differentiation

In the fungus Aspergillus nidulans, inactivation of the flbA to -E, fluG, fluF, and tmpA genes results in similar phenotypes, characterized by a delay in conidiophore and asexual spore production. flbB to -D encode transcription factors needed for proper expression of the brlA gene, which is essential for asexual development. However, recent evidence indicates that FlbB and FlbE also have nontranscriptional functions. Here we show that fluF1 is an allele of flbD which results in an R47P substitution. Amino acids C46 and R47 are highly conserved in FlbD and many other Myb proteins, and C46 has been proposed to mediate redox regulation. Comparison of ΔflbD and flbD(R47P) mutants uncovered a new and specific role for flbD during sexual development. While flbD(R47P) mutants retain partial function during conidiation, both ΔflbD and flbD(R47P) mutants are unable to develop the peridium, a specialized external tissue that differentiates during fruiting body formation and ends up surrounding the sexual spores. This function, unique among other fluffy genes, does not affect the viability of the naked ascospores produced by mutant strains. Notably, ascospore development in these mutants is still dependent on the NADPH oxidase NoxA. We generated R47K, C46D, C46S, and C46A mutant alleles and evaluated their effects on asexual and sexual development. Conidiation defects were most severe in ΔflbD mutants and stronger in R47P, C46D, and C46S strains than in R47K strains. In contrast, mutants carrying the flbD(C46A) allele exhibited conidiation defects in liquid culture only under nitrogen starvation conditions. The R47K, R47P, C46D, and C46S mutants failed to develop any peridial tissue, while the flbD(C46A) strain showed normal peridium development and increased cleistothecium formation. Our results show that FlbD regulates both asexual and sexual differentiation, suggesting that both processes require FlbD DNA binding activity and that FlbD is involved in the response to nitrogen starvation.

The two-component sensor kinase TcsC and its role in stress resistance of the human-pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus

Two-component signaling systems are widespread in bacteria, but also found in fungi. In this study, we have characterized TcsC, the only Group III two-component sensor kinase of Aspergillus fumigatus. TcsC is required for growth under hyperosmotic stress, but dispensable for normal growth, sporulation and conidial viability. A characteristic feature of the ΔtcsC mutant is its resistance to certain fungicides, like fludioxonil. Both hyperosmotic stress and treatment with fludioxonil result in a TcsC-dependent phosphorylation of SakA, the final MAP kinase in the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, confirming a role for TcsC in this signaling pathway. In wild type cells fludioxonil induces a TcsC-dependent swelling and a complete, but reversible block of growth and cytokinesis. Several types of stress, such as hypoxia, exposure to farnesol or elevated concentrations of certain divalent cations, trigger a differentiation in A. fumigatus toward a "fluffy" growth phenotype resulting in white, dome-shaped colonies. The ΔtcsC mutant is clearly more susceptible to these morphogenetic changes suggesting that TcsC normally antagonizes this process. Although TcsC plays a role in the adaptation of A. fumigatus to hypoxia, it seems to be dispensable for virulence.

Bisulfite sequencing reveals that Aspergillus flavus holds a hollow in DNA methylation

Aspergillus flavus first gained scientific attention for its production of aflatoxin. The underlying regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis has been serving as a theoretical model for biosynthesis of other microbial secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, for several decades, the DNA methylation status, one of the important epigenomic modifications involved in gene regulation, in A. flavus remains to be controversial. Here, we applied bisulfite sequencing in conjunction with a biological replicate strategy to investigate the DNA methylation profiling of A. flavus genome. Both the bisulfite sequencing data and the methylome comparisons with other fungi confirm that the DNA methylation level of this fungus is negligible. Further investigation into the DNA methyltransferase of Aspergillus uncovers its close relationship with RID-like enzymes as well as its divergence with the methyltransferase of species with validated DNA methylation. The lack of repeat contents of the A. flavus' genome and the high RIP-index of the small amount of remanent repeat potentially support our speculation that DNA methylation may be absent in A. flavus or that it may possess de novo DNA methylation which occurs very transiently during the obscure sexual stage of this fungal species. This work contributes to our understanding on the DNA methylation status of A. flavus, as well as reinforces our views on the DNA methylation in fungal species. In addition, our strategy of applying bisulfite sequencing to DNA methylation detection in species with low DNA methylation may serve as a reference for later scientific investigations in other hypomethylated species.

Expression profiling of non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus parasiticus mutants obtained by 5-azacytosine treatment or serial mycelial transfer

Aflatoxins are carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Previous studies found that repeated serial mycelial transfer or treatment of A. parasiticus with 5-azacytidine produced colonies with a fluffy phenotype and inability to produce aflatoxins. To understand how these treatments affect expression of genes involved in aflatoxin production and development, we carried out expressed sequence tag (EST)-based microarray assays to identify genes in treated clones that are differentially expressed compared to the wild-type. Expression of 183 genes was significantly dysregulated. Of these, 38 had at least two-fold or lower expression compared to the untreated control and only two had two-fold or higher expression. The most frequent change was downregulation of genes predicted to encode membrane-bound proteins. Based on this result we hypothesize that the treatments cause changes in the structure of cellular and organelle membranes that prevent normal development and aflatoxin biosynthesis.

Characterization of a 5-azacytidine-induced developmental Aspergillus fumigatus variant

The hypomethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5AC) is widely used in patients at risk of invasive mycoses. We sought to determine whether 5AC affects the developmental competence and virulence of Aspergillus fumigatus. Incubation of A. fumigatus strain 293 with 5AC induced high-frequency conversion to a fluffy-variant (Af293 (FL) ). The conidiation defect was bypassed by exposing Af293 (FL) to light during the initial 18 hours of growth on solid media. Transcriptional profiling revealed differential expression of multiple genes involved in G-protein signaling, including a putative G-protein coupled photoreceptor (opsin), suggesting that impaired signaling through a light-responsive pathway upstream of brlA is responsible for this phenotype. Af293 (FL) was fully virulent in fruit fly and murine models of invasive aspergillosis. Moreover, Af293 (FL) overexpressed aspergillopepsin F, had increased elastase activity and was more angioinvasive than the parental wild-type strain. The 5AC-induced A. fumigatus fluffy variant illustrates the potential effects of chemotherapeutic agents on the developmental and pathobiologic characteristics of opportunistic fungi.

Epigenome manipulation as a pathway to new natural product scaffolds and their congeners

The covalent modification of chromatin is an important control mechanism used by fungi to modulate the transcription of genes involved in secondary metabolite production. To date, both molecular-based and chemical approaches targeting histone and DNA posttranslational processes have shown great potential for rationally directing the activation and/or suppression of natural-product-encoding gene clusters. In this Highlight, the organization of the fungal epigenome is summarized and strategies for manipulating chromatin-related targets are presented. Applications of these techniques are illustrated using several recently published accounts in which chemical-epigenetic methods and mutant studies were successfully employed for the de novo or enhanced production of structurally diverse fungal natural products (e.g., anthraquinones, cladochromes, lunalides, mycotoxins, and nygerones).

H3K9 methylation regulates growth and development in Aspergillus fumigatus

In most species, chromatin remodeling mediates critical biological processes ranging from development to disease states. In fungi within the genus Aspergillus, chromatin remodeling may regulate expression of metabolic gene clusters, but other processes regulated by chromatin structure remain to be elucidated. In many eukaryotic species, methylation of lysine 9 of histone 3 (H3K9) is a hallmark of heterochromatin formation and subsequent gene silencing. The sole H3K9 methyltransferase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is Clr4. We report that disruption of the Clr4 homolog in the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus (ClrD), which is involved in both mono- and trimethylation of H3K9, results in several growth abnormalities. Developmental defects in DeltaAfclrD include reduction in radial growth, reduction in conidial production, and delayed conidiation after developmental competence mediated by delayed expression of brlA, the master regulator of conidiophore development. Sensitivity of DeltaAfclrD to 6-azauracil suggests that ClrD influences transcriptional processing in A. fumigatus. Despite growth abnormalities, macrophage assays suggest ClrD may be dispensable for host interactions.

A cytosine methyltransferase homologue is essential for sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans

BACKGROUND

The genome defense processes RIP (repeat-induced point mutation) in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, and MIP (methylation induced premeiotically) in the fungus Ascobolus immersus depend on proteins with DNA methyltransferase (DMT) domains. Nevertheless, these proteins, RID and Masc1, respectively, have not been demonstrated to have DMT activity. We discovered a close homologue in Aspergillus nidulans, a fungus thought to have no methylation and no genome defense system comparable to RIP or MIP.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We report the cloning and characterization of the DNA methyltransferase homologue A (dmtA) gene from Aspergillus nidulans. We found that the dmtA locus encodes both a sense (dmtA) and an anti-sense transcript (tmdA). Both transcripts are expressed in vegetative, conidial and sexual tissues. We determined that dmtA, but not tmdA, is required for early sexual development and formation of viable ascospores. We also tested if DNA methylation accumulated in any of the dmtA/tmdA mutants we constructed, and found that in both asexual and sexual tissues, these mutants, just like wild-type strains, appear devoid of DNA methylation.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our results demonstrate that a DMT homologue closely related to proteins implicated in RIP and MIP has an essential developmental function in a fungus that appears to lack both DNA methylation and RIP or MIP. It remains formally possible that DmtA is a bona fide DMT, responsible for trace, undetected DNA methylation that is restricted to a few cells or transient but our work supports the idea that the DMT domain present in the RID/Masc1/DmtA family has a previously undescribed function.

5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine-mediated reductions in G9A histone methyltransferase and histone H3 K9 di-methylation levels are linked to tumor suppressor gene reactivation

The epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes is a common event during carcinogenesis, and often involves aberrant DNA methylation and histone modification of gene regulatory regions, resulting in the formation of a transcriptionally repressive chromatin state. Two examples include the antimetastatic, tumor suppressor genes, desmocollin 3 (DSC3) and MASPIN, which are frequently silenced in this manner in human breast cancer. Treatment of the breast tumor cell lines MDA-MB-231 and UACC 1179 with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) induced transcriptional reactivation of both genes in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, DSC3 and MASPIN reactivation was closely and consistently linked with significant decreases in promoter H3 K9 di-methylation. Moreover, 5-aza-CdR treatment also resulted in global decreases in H3 K9 di-methylation, an effect that was linked to its ability to mediate dose-dependent, post-transcriptional decreases in the key enzyme responsible for this epigenetic modification, G9A. Finally, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of G9A and DNMT1 led to increased MASPIN expression in MDA-MB-231 cells, to levels that were supra-additive, verifying the importance of these enzymes in maintaining multiple layers of epigenetic repression in breast tumor cells. These results highlight an additional, complimentary mechanism of action for 5-aza-CdR in the reactivation of epigenetically silenced genes, in a manner that is independent of its effects on DNA methylation, further supporting an important role for H3 K9 methylation in the aberrant repression of tumor suppressor genes in human cancer.

Relationship between secondary metabolism and fungal development

Filamentous fungi are unique organisms-rivaled only by actinomycetes and plants-in producing a wide range of natural products called secondary metabolites. These compounds are very diverse in structure and perform functions that are not always known. However, most secondary metabolites are produced after the fungus has completed its initial growth phase and is beginning a stage of development represented by the formation of spores. In this review, we describe secondary metabolites produced by fungi that act as sporogenic factors to influence fungal development, are required for spore viability, or are produced at a time in the life cycle that coincides with development. We describe environmental and genetic factors that can influence the production of secondary metabolites. In the case of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, we review the only described work that genetically links the sporulation of this fungus to the production of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin through a shared G-protein signaling pathway.

Asexual sporulation in Aspergillus nidulans

The formation of mitotically derived spores, called conidia, is a common reproductive mode in filamentous fungi, particularly among the large fungal class Ascomycetes. Asexual sporulation strategies are nearly as varied as fungal species; however, the formation of conidiophores, specialized multicellular reproductive structures, by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has emerged as the leading model for understanding the mechanisms that control fungal sporulation. Initiation of A. nidulans conidiophore formation can occur either as a programmed event in the life cycle in response to intrinsic signals or to environmental stresses such as nutrient deprivation. In either case, a development-specific set of transcription factors is activated and these control the expression of each other as well as genes required for conidiophore morphogenesis. Recent progress has identified many of the earliest-acting genes needed for initiating conidiophore development and shown that there are at least two antagonistic signaling pathways that control this process. One pathway is modulated by a heterotrimeric G protein that when activated stimulates growth and represses both asexual and sexual sporulation as well as production of the toxic secondary metabolite, sterigmatocystin. The second pathway apparently requires an extracellular signal to induce sporulation-specific events and to direct the inactivation of the first pathway, removing developmental repression. A working model is presented in which the regulatory interactions between these two pathways during the fungal life cycle determine whether cells grow or develop.

Inhibition of tumorigenesis by a cytosine-DNA, methyltransferase, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

This paper tests the hypothesis that cytosine DNA methyltransferase (DNA MeTase) is a candidate target for anticancer therapy. Several observations have suggested recently that hyperactivation of DNA MeTase plays a critical role in initiation and progression of cancer and that its up-regulation is a component of the Ras oncogenic signaling pathway. We show that a phosphorothioate-modified, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed against the DNA MeTase mRNA reduces the level of DNA MeTase mRNA, inhibits DNA MeTase activity, and inhibits anchorage independent growth of Y1 adrenocortical carcinoma cells ex vivo in a dose-dependent manner. Injection of DNA MeTase antisense oligodeoxynucleotides i.p. inhibits the growth of Y1 tumors in syngeneic LAF1 mice, reduces the level of DNA MeTase, and induces demethylation of the adrenocortical-specific gene C21 and its expression in tumors in vivo. These results support the hypothesis that an increase in DNA MeTase activity is critical for tumorigenesis and is reversible by pharmacological inhibition of DNA MeTase.

Genetic requirements for initiating asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans

Conidiation in the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans requires activation of brlA, a well-characterized transcriptional regulator of genes that are induced specifically during asexual development. We have isolated and characterized developmental mutations in six loci, designated fluG, flbA, flbB, flbC, flbD, and flbE, that result in defective development and reduced brlA expression. These mutants grow indeterminately to produce masses of aerial hyphae resulting in the formation of cotton-like colonies with a "fluffy" morphology. The results of growth and epistasis tests involving all pairwise combinations of fluffy mutations indicate complex hierarchical relationships among these loci. We discuss these genetic interactions and propose that there are multiple mechanisms for activating brlA.

Hemimethylation and hypersensitivity are early events in transcriptional reactivation of human inactive X-linked genes in a hamster x human somatic cell hybrid

Reactivation of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene on an inactive human X chromosome in a somatic cell hybrid was analyzed following exposure to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Hemimethylation and chromatin hypersensitivity in the 5' CpG island appeared by 6 h after exposure and continued to increase for 24 h in an exponentially growing cell culture. These results imply that the conformation of inactive chromatin requires a symmetrically methylated 5' G+C-rich promoter region. In addition, quantitative analysis of the time course patterns suggest that chromatin sensitivity changes may depend on strand-specific demethylation. Symmetrically demethylated DNA was first detected at 24 h and continued to increase until 48 h. HPRT mRNA was first detected at 24 h and increased in a biphasic pattern until 48 h. These results suggest that hemimethylation permits nuclease attack but not transcription factor binding, which requires symmetrically demethylated DNA. We also show that in G1-arrested cells, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine has no effect on methylation, chromatin conformation, or transcription. We conclude that reactivation of the HPRT gene present on the inactive X chromosome of a somatic cell hybrid involves the initial events of DNA hemimethylation and chromatin hypersensitivity at the 5' CpG island, followed by symmetrical demethylation and transcriptional reactivation.

Isolation of a gene required for programmed initiation of development by Aspergillus nidulans

In contrast to many other cases in microbial development, Aspergillus nidulans conidiophore production initiates primarily as a programmed part of the life cycle rather than as a response to nutrient deprivation. Mutations in the acoD locus result in "fluffy" colonies that appear to grow faster than the wild type and proliferate as undifferentiated masses of vegetative cells. We show that unlike wild-type strains, acoD deletion mutants are unable to make conidiophores under optimal growth conditions but can be induced to conidiate when growth is nutritionally limited. The requirement for acoD in conidiophore development occurs prior to activation of brlA, a primary regulator of development. The acoD transcript is present both in vegetative hyphae prior to developmental induction and in developing cultures. However, the effects of acoD mutations are detectable only after developmental induction. We propose that acoD activity is primarily controlled at the posttranscriptional level and that it is required to direct developmentally specific changes that bring about growth inhibition and activation of brlA expression to result in conidiophore development.

Isolation of a gene required for programmed initiation of development by Aspergillus nidulans

In contrast to many other cases in microbial development, Aspergillus nidulans conidiophore production initiates primarily as a programmed part of the life cycle rather than as a response to nutrient deprivation. Mutations in the acoD locus result in "fluffy" colonies that appear to grow faster than the wild type and proliferate as undifferentiated masses of vegetative cells. We show that unlike wild-type strains, acoD deletion mutants are unable to make conidiophores under optimal growth conditions but can be induced to conidiate when growth is nutritionally limited. The requirement for acoD in conidiophore development occurs prior to activation of brlA, a primary regulator of development. The acoD transcript is present both in vegetative hyphae prior to developmental induction and in developing cultures. However, the effects of acoD mutations are detectable only after developmental induction. We propose that acoD activity is primarily controlled at the posttranscriptional level and that it is required to direct developmentally specific changes that bring about growth inhibition and activation of brlA expression to result in conidiophore development.

Hemimethylation and hypersensitivity are early events in transcriptional reactivation of human inactive X-linked genes in a hamster x human somatic cell hybrid

Reactivation of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene on an inactive human X chromosome in a somatic cell hybrid was analyzed following exposure to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Hemimethylation and chromatin hypersensitivity in the 5' CpG island appeared by 6 h after exposure and continued to increase for 24 h in an exponentially growing cell culture. These results imply that the conformation of inactive chromatin requires a symmetrically methylated 5' G+C-rich promoter region. In addition, quantitative analysis of the time course patterns suggest that chromatin sensitivity changes may depend on strand-specific demethylation. Symmetrically demethylated DNA was first detected at 24 h and continued to increase until 48 h. HPRT mRNA was first detected at 24 h and increased in a biphasic pattern until 48 h. These results suggest that hemimethylation permits nuclease attack but not transcription factor binding, which requires symmetrically demethylated DNA. We also show that in G1-arrested cells, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine has no effect on methylation, chromatin conformation, or transcription. We conclude that reactivation of the HPRT gene present on the inactive X chromosome of a somatic cell hybrid involves the initial events of DNA hemimethylation and chromatin hypersensitivity at the 5' CpG island, followed by symmetrical demethylation and transcriptional reactivation.

Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans conidial antigens and their prevalence in other Aspergillus species

Aspergillus nidulans is an ascomycetous fungus that reproduces asexually by forming multicellular conidiophores and uninucleate spores called conidia. These elements constitute the main vehicle for the transmission of this and other pathogenic Aspergillus species and are the starting point of the different forms of aspergillosis. In order to use A. nidulans as a potential source of useful antigens for the immunodiagnosis of these diseases, we have examined the total protein composition of conidial extracts of this fungus by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in gels of different percent T. Injection of SDS-extracted conidial proteins into rabbits allowed us to raise a battery of polyclonal antibodies which have defined some important immunogenic polypeptides. Several of these immunogens were both present in mycelial extracts and recognized by antimycelium antibodies. Four of them, designated cdA, cdB, cdC, and cdE, were also found in conidial extracts of other pathogenic Aspergillus species. Only cdE was undetectable in cell extracts of the nonrelated species Fusarium culmorum and Phycomyces blakesleeanus.

Developmental characterization and chromosomal mapping of the 5-azacytidine-sensitive fluF locus of Aspergillus nidulans

In Aspergillus nidulans, a fungus that possesses negligible, if any, levels of methylation in its genome, low concentrations of 5-azacytidine (5-AC) convert a high percentage of the cell population to fluffy phenotypic variants through a heritable modification of a single nuclear gene (M. Tamame, F. Antequera, J. R. Villanueva, and T. Santos, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:2287-2297, 1983). This new 5-AC-altered locus, designated here fluF1, was mapped as the closest marker to the centromere that has been identified so far on the right arm of chromosome VIII. Of all mutagens tested, only 5-AC induced the fluffy phenotype with a significant frequency. Furthermore, we determined that the wild-type, dominant allele of the fluF gene was primarily accessible to modification by 5-AC at the initial stages of fungal vegetative growth. These results indicated that 5-AC does not act through random mutagenic action but, rather, that fluF constitutes a specific target for this drug during a well-defined period of fungal development. Alteration of fluF by 5-AC resulted in a dramatic modification of the developmental program of A. nidulans. The resulting fluffy clones were characterized by massive, uncontrolled proliferation of undifferentiated hyphae, a drastic delay in the onset of asexual differentiation (conidiation), and colonies with an invasive nature. These features are reminiscent of the malignant properties of tumor cells. We propose that the locus fluF plays a primary role in the control of cell proliferation in A. nidulans and that its alteration by 5-AC produces pleiotropic modifications of the developmental program of this fungus.

Developmental characterization and chromosomal mapping of the 5-azacytidine-sensitive fluF locus of Aspergillus nidulans

In Aspergillus nidulans, a fungus that possesses negligible, if any, levels of methylation in its genome, low concentrations of 5-azacytidine (5-AC) convert a high percentage of the cell population to fluffy phenotypic variants through a heritable modification of a single nuclear gene (M. Tamame, F. Antequera, J. R. Villanueva, and T. Santos, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:2287-2297, 1983). This new 5-AC-altered locus, designated here fluF1, was mapped as the closest marker to the centromere that has been identified so far on the right arm of chromosome VIII. Of all mutagens tested, only 5-AC induced the fluffy phenotype with a significant frequency. Furthermore, we determined that the wild-type, dominant allele of the fluF gene was primarily accessible to modification by 5-AC at the initial stages of fungal vegetative growth. These results indicated that 5-AC does not act through random mutagenic action but, rather, that fluF constitutes a specific target for this drug during a well-defined period of fungal development. Alteration of fluF by 5-AC resulted in a dramatic modification of the developmental program of A. nidulans. The resulting fluffy clones were characterized by massive, uncontrolled proliferation of undifferentiated hyphae, a drastic delay in the onset of asexual differentiation (conidiation), and colonies with an invasive nature. These features are reminiscent of the malignant properties of tumor cells. We propose that the locus fluF plays a primary role in the control of cell proliferation in A. nidulans and that its alteration by 5-AC produces pleiotropic modifications of the developmental program of this fungus.

Differential DNA methylation during the vegetative life cycle of Neurospora crassa

Isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of genomic DNAs isolated from the different growth phases of Neurospora crassa revealed significant differences in the amounts of 5-methylcytosine; the mol % of 5-methylcytosine was 0.36 in conidia (asexual spores), 0.40 in conidial germlings cultured for 3 h, 0.24 in mycelial cells that had grown exponentially for 6 and 12 h, and 0.40 in stationary-phase mycelial cells. These results indicate an approximate inverse correlation between the level of C methylation in the DNA and the presumed level of developmentally related transcriptional activity.

Stage-specific DNA methylation in a fungal plant pathogen

Significantly more 5-methylcytosine residues were found in the DNA from the dormant sclerotia of Phymatotrichum omnivorum than in the DNA from the metabolically active mycelia of the fungus, as shown by high-pressure liquid chromatography of acid-hydrolyzed DNA digests and by restriction of the DNA with the isoschizomers MspI and HpaII. N6-Methyladenine was not detected in GATC sequences in the DNA isolated from either stage.

DNA hypomethylation causes an increase in DNase-I sensitivity and an advance in the time of replication of the entire inactive X chromosome

We have examined the effect of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-C) induced hypomethylation of DNA on the time of replication and DNase I sensitivity of the X chromosomes of female Gerbillus gerbillus (rodent) lung fibroblast cells. Using in situ nick translation to visualise the potential state of activity of large regions of metaphase chromosomes we show that 5-aza-C causes a dramatic increase in the DNase-I sensitivity of the entire inactive X chromosome of female G. gerbillus cells and this increase in nuclease sensitivity correlates with a large shift in the time of replication of the inactive X chromosome from late S phase to early S phase. These effects of 5-aza-C on the inactive X chromosome are associated with a 15% decrease in DNA methylation. Our results indicate that DNA methylation concomitantly affects both the time of replication and the chromatin conformation of the inactive X chromosome.

Developmental modulation of DNA methylation in the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus

DNA methylation is a rather sparse event among fungi. Phycomyces blakesleeanus seems to be one of the few exceptions in this context. 5-Methylcytosine represents 2.9% of the total cytosine in spore DNA and is located in approximately the same amount at any of the four CA, CT, CC or CG dinucleotides. A progressive and gradual drop in total 5-methylcytosine parallels the development of the fungus. This demethylation is non random but sequence specific and is not accounted for equally by the four different methylated dinucleotides, CG being much less affected (20% demethylated) than CA, CT and CC (more than 90% demethylated at the same time). "De novo" methylation to restore the initial pattern probably takes place during spore maturation. By using specific hybridization probes we have been able to show that the rRNA genes are not significantly methylated at any stage of development, regardless of their transcription status.