Development and application of an assay for uranyl complexation by fungal metabolites, including siderophores.

An assay to detect UO(2)(2+) complexation was developed based on the chrome azurol S (CAS) assay for siderophores (B. Schwyn and J. B.

Glucoamylase::green fluorescent protein fusions to monitor protein secretion in Aspergillus niger.

A glucoamylase::green fluorescent protein fusion (GLA::sGFP) was constructed which allows the green fluorescent protein to be used as an in vivo reporter of protein secretion in Aspergillus niger. Two secretory fusions were designed for secretion of GLA::sGFP which employed slightly different lengths of the glucoamylase protein (GLA499 and GLA514). Expression of GLA::sGFP revealed that fluorescence was localized in the hyphal cell walls and septa, and that fluorescence was most intense at hyphal apices.

Extracellular proteases produced by the Quorn® myco-protein fungus Fusarium graminearum in batch and chemostat culture.

was grown in batch and continuous (chemostat) culture on a glucose-mineral salts medium in the presence and absence of casein. In the absence of casein no protease activity was detected in the culture filtrate from either batch or chemostat culture. For batch cultures grown on medium containing casein, most of the proteolytic activity detected in the supernatant during exponential growth had an optimum at ca pH 5.

How do highly branched (colonial) mutants of Fusarium graminearum A3/5 arise during Quorn myco-protein fermentations?

Chlorate-resistant, highly branched (colonial) mutants and auxotrophic mutants were used to study the nuclear distribution, morphology and growth of heterokaryons of the Quorn myco-protein fungus, Fusarium graminearum A3/5. The results showed that for several complementary homokaryons, even a strong selective pressure was insufficient to maintain heterokaryons in a 'balanced' condition (i.e.

Choline- and acetylcholine-induced changes in the morphology of Fusarium graminearum: evidence for the involvement of the choline transport system and acetylcholinesterase.

The response of Fusarium graminearum to choline, acetylcholine and a number of related analogues was investigated and their ability to induce a morphological response quantified. A number of mutants resistant to the alkylating agent nitrogen mustard (nim strains) were generated and found to have lost the ability to transport choline. These mutants were found to be insensitive to choline and acetylcholine but not to betaine, ethanolamine and other analogues.