scholarly journals Alternaria alternata transcription factor CmrA controls melanization and spore development

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (9) ◽  
pp. 1845-1854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramona Fetzner ◽  
Kristin Seither ◽  
Maximilian Wenderoth ◽  
Andreas Herr ◽  
Reinhard Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Alternaria Alternata ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Melanin Biosynthesis ◽  
Heterologous System ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Putative Transcription Factor ◽  
Hyphal Diameter

Melanin is a black pigment widely distributed across the kingdoms, from bacterial to human. The filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata is a typical ‘black fungus’, which produces melanin in its hyphal and especially its asexual spore cell walls. Its biosynthesis follows the dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) pathway with 1,8-DHN as an intermediate. Two genes, encoding a polyketide synthase (pksA) and a 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene (THN) reductase (brm2), along with a putative transcription factor, CmrA, comprise a small gene cluster. Here we show that CmrA controls the expression of pksA and brm2, but that it also controls the expression of a scytalone dehydratase encoding gene (brm1) located elsewhere in the genome. The regulatory function of CmrA was shown in a reporter assay system. Al. alternata CmrA was expressed in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans where it was able to induce the expression of a reporter construct under the control of the putative pksA promoter. This suggests direct binding of CmrA to the promoter of pksA in the heterologous system. Likewise, silencing of cmrA in Al. alternata led to white colonies due to the lack of melanin. In addition, hyphal diameter and spore morphology were changed in the mutant and the number of spores reduced. Silencing of brm2 and inhibition of melanin biosynthesis by tricyclazole largely phenocopied the effects of cmrA silencing, suggesting a novel regulatory function of melanin in morphogenetic pathways.

scholarly journals Catabolism of l-rhamnose in A. nidulans proceeds via the non-phosphorylated pathway and is glucose repressed by a CreA-independent mechanism

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. MacCabe ◽  
Elpinickie I. Ninou ◽  
Ester Pardo ◽  
Margarita Orejas
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Filamentous Fungus ◽  
Extracellular Enzymes ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Free Sugar ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Independent Mechanism ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Specific Uptake

Abstract l-rhamnose (6-deoxy-mannose) occurs in nature mainly as a component of certain plant structural polysaccharides and bioactive metabolites but has also been found in some microorganisms and animals. The release of l-rhamnose from these substrates is catalysed by extracellular enzymes including α-l-rhamnosidases, the production of which is induced in its presence. The free sugar enters cells via specific uptake systems where it can be metabolized. Of two l-rhamnose catabolic pathways currently known in microorganisms a non-phosphorylated pathway has been identified in fungi and some bacteria but little is known of the regulatory mechanisms governing it in fungi. In this study two genes (lraA and lraB) are predicted to be involved in the catabolism of l-rhamnose, along with lraC, in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Transcription of all three is co-regulated with that of the genes encoding α-l-rhamnosidases, i.e. induction mediated by the l-rhamnose-responsive transcription factor RhaR and repression of induction in the presence of glucose via a CreA-independent mechanism. The participation of lraA/AN4186 (encoding l-rhamnose dehydrogenase) in l-rhamnose catabolism was revealed by the phenotypes of knock-out mutants and their complemented strains. lraA deletion negatively affects both growth on l-rhamnose and the synthesis of α-l-rhamnosidases, indicating not only the indispensability of this pathway for l-rhamnose utilization but also that a metabolite derived from this sugar is the true physiological inducer.

scholarly journals Genomic Analysis and Assessment of Melanin Synthesis in Amorphotheca resinae KUC3009

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Jeong-Joo Oh ◽  
Young Jun Kim ◽  
Jee Young Kim ◽  
Sun Lul Kwon ◽  
Changsu Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Culture Fluid ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Melanin Production ◽  
Pigment Formation ◽  
Melanin Biosynthesis ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
The Media

This study reports the draft genome of Amorphotheca resinae KUC30009, a fungal isolate with promising industrial-scale melanin production potential. The mechanisms for melanin or melanin-related pigment formation of this strain were examined through bioinformatic and biochemical strategies. The 30.11 Mb genome of A. resinae contains 9638 predicted genes. Genomic-based discovery analyses identified 14 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated with secondary metabolite production. Moreover, genes encoding a specific type 1 polyketide synthase and 4-hydroxynaphthalene reductase were identified and predicted to produce intermediate metabolites of dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN)-melanin biosynthesis pathway, but not to DHN-melanin. These findings were further supported by the detection of increased flaviolin concentrations in mycelia and almost unchanged morphologies of the culture grown with tricyclazole. Apart from this, the formation of melanin in the culture filtrate appeared to depend on the laccase-like activity of multi-copper oxidases. Simultaneously, concentrations of nitrogen-containing sources decreased when the melanin formed in the media. Interestingly, melanin formation in the culture fluid was proportional to laccase-like activity. Based on these findings, we proposed novel strategies for the enhancement of melanin production in culture filtrates. Therefore, our study established a theoretical and methodological basis for synthesizing pigments from fungal isolates using genomic- and biochemical-based approaches.

scholarly journals Multicopy FZF1 (SUL1) Suppresses the Sulfite Sensitivity but Not the Glucose Derepression or Aberrant Cell Morphology of a grr1 Mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorina Avram ◽  
Alan T Bakalinsky
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Cell Morphology ◽  
Glucose Repression ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Aberrant Cell ◽  
Growth Defects ◽  
Putative Transcription Factor

Abstract An ssu2 mutation in Sacccharomyces cermisiae, previously shown to cause sulfite sensitivity, was found to be allelic to GRR1, a gene previously implicated in glucose repression. The suppressor rgt1, which suppresses the growth defects of grr1 strains on glucose, did not fully suppress the sensitivity on glucose or nonglucose carbon sources, indicating that it is not strictly linked to a defect in glucose metabolism. Because the Cln1 protein was previously shown to be elevated in grr1 mutants, the effect of CLN1 overexpression on sulfite sensitivity was investigated. Overexpression in GRR1 cells resulted in sulfite sensitivity, suggesting a connection between CLN1 and sulfite metabolism. Multicopy FZF1, a putative transcription factor, was found to suppress the sulfite sensitive phenotype of grr1 strains, but not the glucose derepression or aberrant cell morphology. Multicopy FZF1 was also found to suppress the sensitivity of a number of other unrelated sulfite-sensitive mutants, but not that of ssu1 or met20, implying that FZF1 may act through Ssulp and Met20p. Disruption of FZF1 resulted in sulfite sensitivity when the construct was introduced in single copy at the FZF1 locus in a GRR1 strain, providing evidence that FZF1 is involved in sulfite metabolism.

scholarly journals Genetic Relationships in the Toxin-Producing Fungal Endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis Using Polyketide Synthase and Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthase Genes

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 538
Author(s):  
Rebecca Creamer ◽  
Deana Baucom Hille ◽  
Marwa Neyaz ◽  
Tesneem Nusayr ◽  
Christopher L. Schardl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Protein Sequences ◽  
Fungal Endophyte ◽  
Melanin Synthesis ◽  
Melanin Biosynthesis ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Oxytropis Sericea ◽  
And Function

The legume Oxytropis sericea hosts a fungal endophyte, Alternaria oxytropis, which produces secondary metabolites (SM), including the toxin swainsonine. Polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) enzymes are associated with biosynthesis of fungal SM. To better understand the origins of the SM, an unannotated genome of A. oxytropis was assessed for protein sequences similar to known PKS and NRPS enzymes of fungi. Contigs exhibiting identity with known genes were analyzed at nucleotide and protein levels using available databases. Software were used to identify PKS and NRPS domains and predict identity and function. Confirmation of sequence for selected gene sequences was accomplished using PCR. Thirteen PKS, 5 NRPS, and 4 PKS-NRPS hybrids were identified and characterized with functions including swainsonine and melanin biosynthesis. Phylogenetic relationships among closest amino acid matches with Alternaria spp. were identified for seven highly conserved PKS and NRPS, including melanin synthesis. Three PKS and NRPS were most closely related to other fungi within the Pleosporaceae family, while five PKS and PKS-NRPS were closely related to fungi in the Pleosporales order. However, seven PKS and PKS-NRPS showed no identity with fungi in the Pleosporales or the class Dothideomycetes, suggesting a different evolutionary origin for those genes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document