Draft Genome Sequence of NYR20, a Red Pigment-Secreting Mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A mutant strain, NYR20, produces a red pigment owing to adenine auxotrophy. Unlike other yeast adenine biosynthetic mutants, this strain not only produces but also secretes this pigment. Here, we report the NYR20 draft genome sequence, thereby advancing our understanding of pigment secretion mechanisms.

Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain P-684, Isolated from Prunus verecunda.

strain P-684 is a yeast isolated from the flowers of 'Antiqua,' producing high quantities of malic and succinic acids in sake brewing. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of P-684, enlightening the mechanisms of biosynthesis of these organic acids by this strain.

Draft Genome Sequence of Glycoside Hydrolase-Producing Trichoderma asperellum Strain IC-1.

Glycoside hydrolases capable of degrading lignocellulose are important for effectively utilizing cellulosic biomass as a next-generation chemical resource. IC-1 produces various glycoside hydrolases. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of IC-1 to better understand its gene structures and gene regulatory mechanisms.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Aspergillus terreus High-Itaconic-Acid-Productivity Strain IFO6365.

Itaconic acid is an important organic acid used in the chemical industry. strain IFO6365 is one of the highest-yielding itaconic acid-producing wild-type strains. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of IFO6365, enhancing the understanding of the role and biosynthesis of itaconic acid in this fungus.

Effect of Escherichia coli on phospholipid monolayers: surface tensiometry and Brewster angle microscopy measurements.

The effect of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells on two phospholipids [dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC)] monolayers at the surface of a 1.5 wt% NaCl salt solution has been investigated using surface tension measurement and Brewster angle microscopy.

Draft Genome Sequence of Aspergillus terreus High-Itaconic-Acid-Productivity Mutant TN-484.

Itaconic acid is an important organic acid used in the chemical industry. strain TN-484 is a high-itaconic-acid-productivity mutant derived from strain IFO6365. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of strain TN-484, advancing the understanding of the biosynthesis of itaconic acid in filamentous fungi.

Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain Pf-1, Isolated from Prunus mume.

strain Pf-1 is a yeast isolated from ; it potentially can be used to produce wine and traditional Japanese sake. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain. The genomic information will provide a deeper understanding of the brewing characteristics of this strain.

Draft Genome Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain Hm-1, Isolated from Cotton Rosemallow.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Hm-1 is a yeast isolated from the flower of cotton rosemallow. This yeast is used for the production of Seishu, a traditional Japanese refined sake. Here, we report the strain's draft genome sequence.

Improved reaction pattern of an endoglycanase from Paenibacillus cookii for chitosan oligosaccharide production.

The reaction pattern of an endoglycanase from Paenibacillus cookii SS-24 (Pgl8A) was improved to facilitate chitosan oligosaccharide production. Based on the sequence alignment with chitosanase of a known structure, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of possible substrate-binding residues in Pgl8A. The mutants were expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and their cellulase and chitosanase activities were then characterised.

XlnR-independent signaling pathway regulates both cellulase and xylanase genes in response to cellobiose in Aspergillus aculeatus.

The expression levels of the cellulase and xylanase genes between the host strain and an xlnR disruptant were compared by quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) to identify the genes controlled by XlnR-independent signaling pathway. The cellulose induction of the FI-carboxymethyl cellulase (cmc1) and FIb-xylanase (xynIb) genes was controlled by XlnR; in contrast, the cellulose induction of the FIII-avicelase (cbhI), FII-carboxymethyl cellulase (cmc2), and FIa-xylanase (xynIa) genes was controlled by an XlnR-independent signaling pathway. To gain deeper insight into the XlnR-independent signaling pathway, the expression profile of cbhI was analyzed as a representative target gene.

Improvement of the transcriptional strength of baculovirus very late polyhedrin promoter by repeating its untranslated leader sequences and coexpression with the primary transactivator.

Modified polyhedrin promoter (Ppolh) was designed by repeating burst sequences (BSs) and adopted to overexpress rat α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) in silkworm. Modified Ppolh of five BSs with VLF-1 coexpression yielded 2.9 U/ml ST6Gal I activity and 32.

Cloning of an endoglycanase gene from Paenibacillus cookii and characterization of the recombinant enzyme.

An endoglycanase gene of Paenibacillus cookii SS-24 was cloned and sequenced. This Pgl8A gene had an open reading frame of 1,230 bp that encoded a putative signal sequence (31 amino acids) and mature enzyme (378 amino acids: 41,835 Da). The enzyme was most homologous to a β-1,3-1,4-glucanase of Bacillus circulans WL-12 with 84% identity.

Enhanced gene expression in insect cells and silkworm larva by modified polyhedrin promoter using repeated Burst sequence and very late transcriptional factor-1.

The Burst of expression from polyhedrin (polh) promoter during very late phase of baculovirus infection requires a sequence located between TAAG and the translation initiation site, typically referred to as burst sequence (BS). The expression of polh promoter is stimulated by specifically binding of very late transcriptional factor 1 (VLF-1) to BS. In order to enhance the production of recombinant proteins the polh promoter was modified via a multiple BS bacmid system in which the number of BSs was increased.

Biotechnological production of itaconic acid and its biosynthesis in Aspergillus terreus.

More than 80,000 tons of itaconic acid (IA) is produced worldwide each year and is sold at a price of around US$ 2/kg. The IA production yield from sugar is higher than 80 g/l. The widespread use of IA in synthetic resins, synthetic fibers, plastics, rubbers, surfactants, and oil additives has resulted in an increased demand for this product.

Development of a homologous transformation system for Aspergillus aculeatus based on the sC gene encoding ATP-sulfurylase.

A homologous transformation system was developed using the endogenous ATP-sulfurylase gene, AasC, as a selectable marker in Aspergillus aculeatus. Spontaneous mutation was proved to be beneficial in isolating AasC-deficient mutants. Molecular analysis of sC(+) transformants revealed that the frequency of single copy integration at ATP-sulfurylase locus was more than 40%.

Molecular chaperone-assisted production of human alpha-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase in silkworm larvae using recombinant BmNPV bacmids.

In this study, human alpha-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (alpha4GnT) fused with GFP(uv) (GFP(uv)-alpha4GnT) was expressed using both a transformed cell system and silkworm larvae. A Tn-pXgp-GFP(uv)-alpha4GnT cell line, isolated after expression vector transfection, produced 106 mU/ml of alpha4GnT activity in suspension culture. When Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus containing a GFP(uv)-alpha4GnT fusion gene (BmNPV-CP (-)/GFP(uv)-alpha4GnT) bacmid was injected into silkworm larvae, alpha4GnT activity in larval hemolymph was 352 mU/ml, which was 3.

Importance of malate synthase in the glyoxylate cycle of Ashbya gossypii for the efficient production of riboflavin.

The glyoxylate cycle is an anabolic pathway that is necessary for growth on nonfermentable carbon sources such as vegetable oils and is important for riboflavin production by the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii. The aim of this study was to identify malate synthase in the glyoxylate cycle of A. gossypii and to investigate its importance in riboflavin production from rapeseed oil.

Structure of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase from the heavy-metal-tolerant yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6.

The deep-sea yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6 shows high tolerance towards heavy metals, and can grow in the presence of high concentrations of copper ions. Enzymatic analysis indicated that copper ions induced the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity of strain N6 (Cl-SOD1). In this study, the 1.

Cloning and functional characterization of the cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase (CAD) gene from Aspergillus terreus.

A filamentous fungus Aspergillus terreus produces itaconic acid, which is predicted to be derived from cis-aconitic acid via catalysis by cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase (CAD) in the carbon metabolism of the fungus. To clarify the enzyme's function and a pathway for itaconic acid biosynthesis, we cloned a novel gene encoding the enzyme. The open reading frame of this gene (CAD1) consists of 1,529 bp encoding 490 amino acids and is interrupted by a single intron.

Cloning and functional characterization of the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene from the heavy-metal-tolerant yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6.

The deep-sea yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6 possesses high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a high tolerance toward metal ions. To clarify the relationship between metal tolerance and SOD activity in this strain, we cloned the Cu/Zn SOD gene. This gene (Cl-SOD1) consists of 471 bp encoding 157 amino acids; the associated protein had 59.

Overexpression of Aspergillus aculeatus cellobiohydrolase I in Aspergillus oryzae.

To express the cbhI gene, encoding Aspergillus aculeatus cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI), in Aspergillus oryzae, a plasmid was constructed. The strain that displayed the strongest CBHI activity among the transformants produced about 941 mg/l in liquid culture. It was confirmed by a PCR method that the plasmid was integrated at the niaD locus.

Transformation of Aspergillus aculeatus using the drug resistance gene of Aspergillus oryzae and the pyrG gene of Aspergillus nidulans.

Transformation systems for Aspergillus aculeatus has been developed, based on the use of the pyrithiamine resistance gene of Aspergillus oryzae and the orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase gene (pyrG) of Aspergillus nidulans. An A. aculeatus mutant which can be transformed effectively by the A.