scholarly journals LaeA, a Regulator of Secondary Metabolism in Aspergillus spp

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Woo Bok ◽  
Nancy P. Keller
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Nuclear Protein ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Product Formation ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Metabolic Gene

ABSTRACT Secondary metabolites, or biochemical indicators of fungal development, are of intense interest to humankind due to their pharmaceutical and/or toxic properties. We present here a novel Aspergillus nuclear protein, LaeA, as a global regulator of secondary metabolism in this genus. Deletion of laeA (ΔlaeA) blocks the expression of metabolic gene clusters, including the sterigmatocystin (carcinogen), penicillin (antibiotic), and lovastatin (antihypercholesterolemic agent) gene clusters. Conversely, overexpression of laeA triggers increased penicillin and lovastatin gene transcription and subsequent product formation. laeA expression is negatively regulated by AflR, a sterigmatocystin Zn2Cys6 transcription factor, in a unique feedback loop, as well as by two signal transduction elements, protein kinase A and RasA. Although these last two proteins also negatively regulate sporulation, ΔlaeA strains show little difference in spore production compared to the wild type, indicating that the primary role of LaeA is to regulate metabolic gene clusters.

scholarly journals Genetic and Genomic Insights into the Role of Benzoate-Catabolic Pathway Redundancy in Burkholderia xenovorans LB400

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 585-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Denef ◽  
J. A. Klappenbach ◽  
M. A. Patrauchan ◽  
C. Florizone ◽  
J. L. M. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Large Chromosome ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Burkholderia Xenovorans ◽  
Burkholderia Xenovorans Lb400 ◽  
Cell Assays ◽  
Aromatic Degradation ◽  
Proteomic Analyses

ABSTRACT Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400, a potent polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrader, have implicated growth substrate- and phase-dependent expression of three benzoate-catabolizing pathways: a catechol ortho cleavage (ben-cat) pathway and two benzoyl-coenzyme A pathways, encoded by gene clusters on the large chromosome (boxC ) and the megaplasmid (boxM ). To elucidate the significance of this apparent redundancy, we constructed mutants with deletions of the ben-cat pathway (the ΔbenABCD::kan mutant), the boxC pathway (the ΔboxABC ::kan mutant), and both pathways (the ΔbenABCDΔ boxABC ::kan mutant). All three mutants oxidized benzoate in resting-cell assays. However, the ΔbenABCD::kan and ΔbenABCD ΔboxABC ::kan mutants grew at reduced rates on benzoate and displayed increased lag phases. By contrast, growth on succinate, on 4-hydroxybenzoate, and on biphenyl was unaffected. Microarray and proteomic analyses revealed that cells of the ΔbenABCD::kan mutant growing on benzoate expressed both box pathways. Overall, these results indicate that all three pathways catabolize benzoate. Deletion of benABCD abolished the ability of LB400 to grow using 3-chlorobenzoate. None of the benzoate pathways could degrade 2- or 4-chlorobenzoate, indicating that the pathway redundancy does not directly contribute to LB400's PCB-degrading capacities. Finally, an extensive sigmaE-regulated oxidative stress response not present in wild-type LB400 grown on benzoate was detected in these deletion mutants, supporting our earlier suggestion that the box pathways are preferentially active under reduced oxygen tension. Our data further substantiate the expansive network of tightly interconnected and complexly regulated aromatic degradation pathways in LB400.

scholarly journals EvolClust: automated inference of evolutionary conserved gene clusters in eukaryotes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Marcet-Houben ◽  
Toni Gabaldón
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Computational Prediction ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Automated Inference ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Conserved Gene ◽  
Genome Comparisons

Abstract Motivation The evolution and role of gene clusters in eukaryotes is poorly understood. Currently, most studies and computational prediction programs limit their focus to specific types of clusters, such as those involved in secondary metabolism. Results We present EvolClust, a python-based tool for the inference of evolutionary conserved gene clusters from genome comparisons, independently of the function or gene composition of the cluster. EvolClust predicts conserved gene clusters from pairwise genome comparisons and infers families of related clusters from multiple (all versus all) genome comparisons. Availability and implementation https://github.com/Gabaldonlab/EvolClust/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

scholarly journals Role of the ssu and seu Genes of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 in Utilization of Sulfonates and Sulfonate Esters as Sulfur Sources

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (10) ◽  
pp. 6104-6114 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Koch ◽  
C. Rückert ◽  
D. A. Rey ◽  
A. Mix ◽  
A. Pühler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corynebacterium Glutamicum ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Flavin Mononucleotide ◽  
Gene Products ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Similarity Searches

ABSTRACT Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was found to be able to utilize a broad range of sulfonates and sulfonate esters as sulfur sources. The two gene clusters potentially involved in sulfonate utilization, ssuD1CBA and ssuI-seuABC-ssuD2, were identified in the genome of C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 by similarity searches. While the ssu genes encode proteins resembling Ssu proteins from Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis, the seu gene products exhibited similarity to the dibenzothiophene-degrading Dsz monooxygenases of Rhodococcus strain IGTS8. Growth tests with the C. glutamicum wild-type and appropriate mutant strains showed that the clustered genes ssuC, ssuB, and ssuA, putatively encoding the components of an ABC-type transporter system, are required for the utilization of aliphatic sulfonates. In C. glutamicum sulfonates are apparently degraded by sulfonatases encoded by ssuD1 and ssuD2. It was also found that the seu genes seuA, seuB, and seuC can effectively replace ssuD1 and ssuD2 for the degradation of sulfonate esters. The utilization of all sulfonates and sulfonate esters tested is dependent on a novel putative reductase encoded by ssuI. Obviously, all monooxygenases encoded by the ssu and seu genes, including SsuD1, SsuD2, SeuA, SeuB, and SeuC, which are reduced flavin mononucleotide dependent according to sequence similarity, have SsuI as an essential component. Using real-time reverse transcription-PCR, the ssu and seu gene cluster was found to be expressed considerably more strongly during growth on sulfonates and sulfonate esters than during growth on sulfate.

Role of the N-terminal region and of β-sheet residue Thr29 on the activity of the ω2 global regulator from the broad-host range Streptococcus pyogenes plasmid pSM19035

2005 ◽  
Vol 386 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Welfle ◽  
Florencia Pratto ◽  
Rolf Misselwitz ◽  
Joachim Behlke ◽  
Juan C. Alonso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Streptococcus Pyogenes ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Terminal Region ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Β Sheet

AbstractThe dimeric regulatory protein wild-type ω (wt ω

scholarly journals Legionellashows a diverse secondary metabolism dependent on a broad spectrum Sfp-type phosphopantetheinyl transferase

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Tobias ◽  
Tilman Ahrendt ◽  
Ursula Schell ◽  
Melissa Miltenberger ◽  
Hubert Hilbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Fatty Acid Biosynthesis ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Clusters ◽  
Legionnaires Disease ◽  
Huge Variety

Several members of the genusLegionellacause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially debilitating form of pneumonia. Studies frequently focus on the abundant number of virulence factors present in this genus. However, what is often overlooked is the role of secondary metabolites fromLegionella. Following whole genome sequencing, we assembled and annotated theLegionella parisiensisDSM 19216 genome. Together with 14 other members of theLegionella, we performed comparative genomics and analysed the secondary metabolite potential of each strain. We found thatLegionellacontains a huge variety of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are potentially making a significant number of novel natural products with undefined function. Surprisingly, only a single Sfp-like phosphopantetheinyl transferase is found in allLegionellastrains analyzed that might be responsible for the activation of all carrier proteins in primary (fatty acid biosynthesis) and secondary metabolism (polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide synthesis). Using conserved active site motifs, we predict some novel compounds that are probably involved in cell-cell communication, differing to known communication systems. We identify several gene clusters, which may represent novel signaling mechanisms and demonstrate the natural product potential ofLegionella.

scholarly journals Evolclust: automated inference of evolutionary conserved gene clusters in eukaryotes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Marcet-Houben ◽  
Toni Gabaldón
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Computational Prediction ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Automated Inference ◽  
Or Gene ◽  
Conserved Gene ◽  
Genome Comparisons

AbstractMotivationThe evolution and role of gene clusters in eukaryotes is poorly understood. Currently, most studies and computational prediction programs limit their focus to specific types of clusters, such as those involved in secondary metabolism.ResultsWe present Evolclust, a python-based tool for the inference of evolutionary conserved gene clusters from genome comparisons, independently of the function or gene composition of the cluster. Evolclust predicts conserved gene clusters from pairwise genome comparisons and infers families of related clusters from multiple (all vs all) genome comparisons.Availabilityhttps://github.com/Gabaldonlab/EvolClust/[email protected]

scholarly journals Genome Wide Analysis Reveals the Role of VadA in Stress Response, Germination, and Sterigmatocystin Production in Aspergillus nidulans Conidia

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye-Eun Son ◽  
Hee-Soo Park
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Secondary Metabolism ◽  
Aspergillus Nidulans ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Tube Formation ◽  
Spore Viability ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Trehalose Biosynthesis

In the Aspergillus species, conidia are asexual spores that are infectious particles responsible for propagation. Conidia contain various mycotoxins that can have detrimental effects in humans. Previous study demonstrated that VadA is required for fungal development and spore viability in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. In the present study, vadA transcriptomic analysis revealed that VadA affects the mRNA expression of a variety of genes in A. nidulans conidia. The genes that were primarily affected in conidia were associated with trehalose biosynthesis, cell-wall integrity, stress response, and secondary metabolism. Genetic changes caused by deletion of vadA were related to phenotypes of the vadA deletion mutant conidia. The deletion of vadA resulted in increased conidial sensitivity against ultraviolet stress and induced germ tube formation in the presence and absence of glucose. In addition, most genes in the secondary metabolism gene clusters of sterigmatocystin, asperfuranone, monodictyphenone, and asperthecin were upregulated in the mutant conidia with vadA deletion. The deletion of vadA led to an increase in the amount of sterigmatocystin in the conidia, suggesting that VadA is essential for the repression of sterigmatocystin production in conidia. These results suggest that VadA coordinates conidia maturation, stress response, and secondary metabolism in A. nidulans conidia.

scholarly journals Stress-induced Cdk5 activity enhances cytoprotective basal autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster by phosphorylating acinus at serine437

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilay Nandi ◽  
Lauren K Tyra ◽  
Drew Stenesen ◽  
Helmut Krämer
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Nuclear Protein ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Alpha Synuclein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gain Of Function ◽  
Mitotic Kinase

Cdk5 is a post-mitotic kinase with complex roles in maintaining neuronal health. The various mechanisms by which Cdk5 inhibits and promotes neurodegeneration are still poorly understood. Here, we show that in Drosophila melanogaster Cdk5 regulates basal autophagy, a key mechanism suppressing neurodegeneration. In a targeted screen, Cdk5 genetically interacted with Acinus (Acn), a primarily nuclear protein, which promotes starvation-independent, basal autophagy. Loss of Cdk5, or its required cofactor p35, reduces S437-Acn phosphorylation, whereas Cdk5 gain-of-function increases pS437-Acn levels. The phospho-mimetic S437D mutation stabilizes Acn and promotes basal autophagy. In p35 mutants, basal autophagy and lifespan are reduced, but restored to near wild-type levels in the presence of stabilized AcnS437D. Expression of aggregation-prone polyQ-containing proteins or the Amyloid-β42 peptide, but not alpha-Synuclein, enhances Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of S437-Acn. Our data indicate that Cdk5 is required to maintain the protective role of basal autophagy in the initial responses to a subset of neurodegenerative challenges.

scholarly journals Aggregation via the Red, Dry, and Rough Morphotype Is Not a Virulence Adaptation in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 1048-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. White ◽  
D. L. Gibson ◽  
G. A. Grassl ◽  
W. W. Kay ◽  
B. B. Finlay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Cell Densities ◽  
Two Populations

ABSTRACT The Salmonella rdar (red, dry, and rough) morphotype is an aggregative and resistant physiology that has been linked to survival in nutrient-limited environments. Growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was analyzed in a variety of nutrient-limiting conditions to determine whether aggregation would occur at low cell densities and whether the rdar morphotype was involved in this process. The resulting cultures consisted of two populations of cells, aggregated and nonaggregated, with the aggregated cells preferentially displaying rdar morphotype gene expression. The two groups of cells could be separated based on the principle that aggregated cells were producing greater amounts of thin aggregative fimbriae (Tafi or curli). In addition, the aggregated cells retained some physiological characteristics of the rdar morphotype, such as increased resistance to sodium hypochlorite. Competitive infection experiments in mice showed that nonaggregative ΔagfA cells outcompeted rdar-positive wild-type cells in all tissues analyzed, indicating that aggregation via the rdar morphotype was not a virulence adaptation in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Furthermore, in vivo imaging experiments showed that Tafi genes were not expressed during infection but were expressed once Salmonella was passed out of the mice into the feces. We hypothesize that the primary role of the rdar morphotype is to enhance Salmonella survival outside the host, thereby aiding in transmission.

scholarly journals FNR Regulates Expression of Important Virulence Factors Contributing to Pathogenicity of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 5086-5098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle L. Barbieri ◽  
Bryon Nicholson ◽  
Ashraf Hussein ◽  
Wentong Cai ◽  
Yvonne M. Wannemuehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Type I ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Global Regulator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACTUropathogenicEscherichia coli(UPEC) is responsible for the majority of urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are some of the world's most common bacterial infections of humans. Here, we examined the role of FNR (fumarate andnitratereduction), a well-known global regulator, in the pathogenesis of UPEC infections. We constructed anfnrdeletion mutant of UPEC CFT073 and compared it to the wild type for changes in virulence, adherence, invasion, and expression of key virulence factors. Compared to the wild type, thefnrmutant was highly attenuated in the mouse model of human UTI and showed severe defects in adherence to and invasion of bladder and kidney epithelial cells. Our results showed that FNR regulates motility and multiple virulence factors, including expression of type I and P fimbriae, modulation of hemolysin expression, and expression of a novel pathogenicity island involved in α-ketoglutarate metabolism under anaerobic conditions. Our results demonstrate that FNR is a key global regulator of UPEC virulence and controls expression of important virulence factors that contribute to UPEC pathogenicity.

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