Essential genes encoded by the mating-type locus of the human fungal pathogen .

Fungal sexual reproduction is controlled by the mating-type () locus. In contrast to a majority of species in the phylum Basidiomycota that have tetrapolar mating-type systems, the opportunistic human pathogen employs a bipolar mating-type system, with two mating types ( and α) determined by a single locus that is unusually large (~120 kb) and contains more than 20 genes. While several genes are associated with mating and sexual development, others control conserved cellular processes (e.

The RNAi Machinery in the Fungus Is Not Very Active in Synthetic Medium and Is Related to Transposable Elements.

Small RNAS (sRNAs) participate in regulatory RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms, including fungi. The fungus , a model for the study of secondary metabolism, contains a complete set of genes for RNAi pathways. We have analyzed by high-throughput sequencing the content of sRNAs in total RNA samples of grown in synthetic medium in the dark or after 1 h of illumination, using libraries below 150 nt, covering sRNAs and their precursors.

Uncontrolled transposition following RNAi loss causes hypermutation and antifungal drug resistance in clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Cryptococcus neoformans infections cause approximately 15% of AIDS-related deaths owing to a combination of limited antifungal therapies and drug resistance. A collection of clinical and environmental C. neoformans isolates were assayed for increased mutation rates via fluctuation analysis, and we identified two hypermutator C.

A Straightforward Approach to Synthesize 7-Aminocephalosporanic Acid In Vivo in the Cephalosporin C Producer .

The pharmaceutical industry has developed various highly effective semi-synthetic cephalosporins, which are generated by modifying the side chains of the core molecule 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA). In industrial productions, the 7-ACA nucleus is obtained in vitro from cephalosporin C (CPC) by chemical or enzymatic processes, which are waste intensive and associated with high production costs. Here, we used a transgenic in vivo approach to express bacterial genes for cephalosporin C acylase (CCA) in the CPC producer .

The master regulator MAT1-1-1 of fungal mating binds to its targets via a conserved motif in the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.

Mating-type transcription factors are master regulators of sexually related signal transduction pathways in fungi; however, their recognition of specific DNA sequences from target genes is widely undetermined. Here, we identified and characterized the DNA-binding sequence of the MAT1-1-1 alpha-box domain transcription factor from the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. In order to explore MAT1-1-1 DNA-binding targets, we used the previously reported MAT1-1-1 binding motif from Penicillium chrysogenum, in a bioinformatics approach.

Golden Gate vectors for efficient gene fusion and gene deletion in diverse filamentous fungi.

The cloning of plasmids can be time-consuming or expensive. Yet, cloning is a prerequisite for many standard experiments for the functional analysis of genes, including the generation of deletion mutants and the localization of gene products. Here, we provide Golden Gate vectors for fast and easy cloning of gene fusion as well as gene deletion vectors applicable to diverse fungi.

Molecular analysis of mating type loci from the mycophenolic acid producer Penicillium brevicompactum: Phylogeny and MAT protein characterization suggest a cryptic sexual life cycle.

The mycophenolic acid producing ascomycete Penicillium brevicompactum is considered to be an anamorphic (asexual) species, for which a sexual cycle was never observed. However, since recent reports of otherwise asexually propagating filamentous fungi have demonstrated a sexual cycle controlled by mating type loci, we carried out a molecular analysis of mating type loci from P. brevicompactum.

Mating-Type-Specific Ribosomal Proteins Control Aspects of Sexual Reproduction in .

The locus of has a bipolar organization characterized by an unusually large structure, spanning over 100 kb. genes have been characterized by functional genetics as being involved in sexual reproduction and virulence. However, classical gene replacement failed to achieve mutants for five genes (, , , , and ), indicating that they are likely essential.

Penicillin production in industrial strain Penicillium chrysogenum P2niaD18 is not dependent on the copy number of biosynthesis genes.

Background: Multi-copy gene integration into microbial genomes is a conventional tool for obtaining improved gene expression. For Penicillium chrysogenum, the fungal producer of the beta-lactam antibiotic penicillin, many production strains carry multiple copies of the penicillin biosynthesis gene cluster. This discovery led to the generally accepted view that high penicillin titers are the result of multiple copies of penicillin genes.

A MAT1-2 wild-type strain from Penicillium chrysogenum: functional mating-type locus characterization, genome sequencing and mating with an industrial penicillin-producing strain.

In heterothallic ascomycetes, mating is controlled by two nonallelic idiomorphs that determine the 'sex' of the corresponding strains. We recently discovered mating-type loci and a sexual life cycle in the penicillin-producing fungus, Penicillium chrysogenum. All industrial penicillin production strains worldwide are derived from a MAT1-1 isolate.

Genome Sequence and Annotation of Acremonium chrysogenum, Producer of the β-Lactam Antibiotic Cephalosporin C.

The filamentous fungus Acremonium chrysogenum is the industrial producer of the β-lactam antibiotic cephalosporin C. Here, we present the genome sequence of strain ATCC 11550, which contains genes for 8,901 proteins, 127 tRNAs, and 22 rRNAs. Genome annotation led to the prediction of 42 gene clusters for secondary metabolites.

Complete Sequencing and Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of the Industrial Progenitor Strain P2niaD18 from the Penicillin Producer Penicillium chrysogenum.

Penicillium chrysogenum is the major industrial producer of the β-lactam antibiotic penicillin. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the industrial progenitor strain P. chrysogenum P2niaD18 in a chromosome-scale genome assembly.