Fanzor is a eukaryotic programmable RNA-guided endonuclease.

RNA-guided systems, which use complementarity between a guide RNA and target nucleic acid sequences for recognition of genetic elements, have a central role in biological processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For example, the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity for bacteria and archaea against foreign genetic elements. Cas effectors such as Cas9 and Cas12 perform guide-RNA-dependent DNA cleavage1. Although a few eukaryotic RNA-guided systems have been studied, including RNA interference2 and ribosomal RNA modification3, it remains unclear whether eukaryotes have RNA-guided endonucleases. Recently, a new class of prokaryotic RNA-guided systems (termed OMEGA) was reported4,5. The OMEGA effector TnpB is the putative ancestor of Cas12 and has RNA-guided endonuclease activity4,6. TnpB may also be the ancestor of the eukaryotic transposon-encoded Fanzor (Fz) proteins4,7, raising the possibility that eukaryotes are also equipped with CRISPR-Cas or OMEGA-like programmable RNA-guided endonucleases. Here we report the biochemical characterization of Fz, showing that it is an RNA-guided DNA endonuclease. We also show that Fz can be reprogrammed for human genome engineering applications. Finally, we resolve the structure of Spizellomyces punctatus Fz at 2.7 Å using cryogenic electron microscopy, showing the conservation of core regions among Fz, TnpB and Cas12, despite diverse cognate RNA structures. Our results show that Fz is a eukaryotic OMEGA system, demonstrating that RNA-guided endonucleases are present in all three domains of life.

Identification and characterization of GH11 xylanase and GH43 xylosidase from the chytridiomycetous fungus, Rhizophlyctis rosea.

The early-lineage, aerobic, zoosporic fungi from the Chytridiomycota constitute less than 1% of the described fungi and can use diverse sources of nutrition from plant or animal products. One of the ancestral sources of fungal nutrition could be products following enzymatic degradation of plant material. However, carbohydrate-active enzymes from these ancient fungi have been less studied. A GH11 xylanase (RrXyn11A) (EC 3.2.1.8) and a GH43 xylosidase (RrXyl43A) (EC 3.2.1.37) were identified from an early-lineage aerobic zoosporic fungus, Rhizophlyctis rosea NBRC 105426. Both genes were heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris and the recombinant enzymes were purified and characterized. The optimal pH for recombinant RrXyn11A and RrXyl43A was pH 7. RrXyn11A had high stability over a wide range of pH (4-8) and temperature (25-70 °C). RrXyn11A also showed high substrate specificity on both azurine-cross-linked (AZCL) arabinoxylan and AZCL xylan. RrXyl43A had ß-xylosidase and minor α-L-arabinofuranosidase activity. This enzyme showed low product inhibition and retained 51% activity in the presence of 100 mM xylose. A combination of RrXyn11A and RrXyl43A exhibited significantly higher hydrolytic and polymer degradation capability and xylose release on wheat bran and beechwood xylan compared to treatment with commercial enzymes. This study was the first to heterologously express and characterize the GH11 xylanase (RrXyn11A) and GH43 xylosidase (RrXyl43A) from the ancient fungus, R. rosea. Meanwhile, this study also demonstrated that the enzymes from the ancient fungus R. rosea can be easily handled and heterologously expressed in Pichia, which presents a promising path to a new source of enzymes for biomass degradation.

The importance of sourcing enzymes from non-conventional fungi for metabolic engineering and biomass breakdown.

A wealth of fungal enzymes has been identified from nature, which continue to drive strain engineering and bioprocessing for a range of industries. However, while a number of clades have been investigated, the vast majority of the fungal kingdom remains unexplored for industrial applications. Here, we discuss selected classes of fungal enzymes that are currently in biotechnological use, and explore more basal, non-conventional fungi and their underexploited biomass-degrading mechanisms as promising agents in the transition towards a bio-based society. Of special interest are anaerobic fungi like the Neocallimastigomycota, which were recently found to harbor the largest diversity of biomass-degrading enzymes among the fungal kingdom. Enzymes sourced from these basal fungi have been used to metabolically engineer substrate utilization in yeast, and may offer new paths to lignin breakdown and tunneled biocatalysis. We also contrast classic enzymology approaches with emerging 'omics'-based tools to decipher function within novel fungal isolates and identify new promising enzymes. Recent developments in genome editing are expected to accelerate discovery and metabolic engineering within these systems, yet are still limited by a lack of high-resolution genomes, gene regulatory regions, and even appropriate culture conditions. Finally, we present new opportunities to harness the biomass-degrading potential of undercharacterized fungi via heterologous expression and engineered microbial consortia.

A novel subtilisin-like serine protease of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is induced by thyroid hormone and degrades antimicrobial peptides.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (B. dendrobatidis), a chytrid fungus, is one of the major contributors to the global amphibian decline. The fungus infects both tadpoles and adult amphibians. Tadpoles are infected in their keratinized mouthparts, and infected adults exhibit hyperkeratosis and loss of righting reflex. Infections of adults may result in death from cardiac arrest in susceptible species. Thyroid hormone plays a key role in amphibian metamorphosis. The occurrence of B. dendrobatidis in tadpoles during metamorphosis may result in exposure of the fungus to host morphogens including TH. This exposure may induce gene expression in the fungus contributing to invasion and colonization of the host. Here, we demonstrate movement of fungal zoospores toward TH. Additionally, expression of a subtilisin-like serine protease is up-regulated in B. dendrobatidis cells exposed to TH. A gene encoding this protease was cloned from B. dendrobatidis and expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was partially purified and characterized. The similarity between subtilases of human dermatophytes and the B. dendrobatidis subtilisin-like serine protease suggests the importance of this enzyme in B. dendrobatidis pathogenicity. Cleavage of frog skin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) by this B. dendrobatidis subtilisin-like serine protease suggests a role for this enzyme in fungal survival and colonization.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis zoospore secretions rapidly disturb intercellular junctions in frog skin.

Global amphibian declines are in part driven by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, causing superficial dermatomycosis with epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis in infected amphibians. The susceptibility to chytridiomycosis and the severity of epidermal lesions in amphibians with chytridiomycosis are not consistent across species or even among individuals. Severe infections cause death of the animal most likely through disturbance of ion homeostasis. The mechanism by which this superficial skin infection results in epidermal lesions has so far eluded precise definition. It was the aim of this study to unravel how B. dendrobatidis causes alterations that affect skin integrity. Exposure of Xenopus laevis skin to B. dendrobatidis zoospore supernatant using skin explants and Ussing chambers caused rapid disruption of intercellular junctions, demonstrated using histology and transmission electron microscopy. The loss of intercellular junctions led to detachment-induced cell apoptosis, or anoikis. The zoospore supernatant induced neither apoptosis nor necrosis in isolated primary keratinocytes of X. laevis. This supports the idea that the loss of cell contacts triggered apoptosis in the skin explants. Mass spectrometric analysis of the protein composition of the supernatant revealed a complex mixture, including several new virulence associated proteins, such as proteases, biofilm-associated proteins and a carotenoid ester lipase. Protease and lipase activity of the supernatant was confirmed with a protease and lipase assay. In conclusion, B. dendrobatidis zoospores produce a complex mixture of proteins that quickly disturbs epidermal intercellular junctions leading to anoikis in the anuran skin. The role of the identified proteins in this process remains to be determined.

Identification and partial characterization of an elastolytic protease in the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungus that causes chytridiomycosis, a disease that has been implicated as a cause of amphibian population declines worldwide. Infected animals experience hyperkeratosis and sloughing of the epidermis due to penetration of the keratinized tissues by the fungus. These symptoms have led us to postulate that Bd produces proteases that play a role in the infection process. Here, we show that Bd is capable of degrading elastin in vitro, a protein found in the extracellular matrix of the host animal. Elastolytic enzyme activity was partially purified using ion exchange chromatography and size-exclusion filtration from cultures grown in inducing media. The elastolytic activity of the purified fraction had a pH optimum of 8, was strongly inhibited by EDTA and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and was partially inhibited by an elastase-specific inhibitor. This activity was also enhanced by the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ but not Zn2+. An antiserum directed against Aspergillus fumigatus serine protease (Alp) was found to react with a polypeptide of approximately 110 kDa from the purified material. Using immunofluorescence, this antiserum was also observed to react with zoospores and sporangia grown on toad skin. These observations suggest that Bd may produce proteases similar to those produced by other pathogenic fungi that are capable of degrading proteins found in the extracellular matrix. The proteolytic activity exhibited in vitro might aid the organism in its ability to colonize and destroy the epidermis of its amphibian host.

The design of oligonucleotide primers for the universal amplification of the N-acetylglucosaminidase gene (nag1) in Chytridiomycetes with emphasis on the anaerobic Neocallimastigales.

The common feature of all chytridiomycetous fungi, aerobic as well as anaerobic, is an abundance of chitin in their cell wall. The genes coding for chitinases have therefore been widely used as phylogenetic markers in ascomycetes. As their utility for Chytridiomycetes has not been determined we chose the gene encoding an enzyme involved in chitin degradation and energy metabolism, the beta-(1,4)-N-acetylglucosaminidase (nag1). Primer pair Nag-forward and Nag-reverse was used to create PCR product from 5 strains of anaerobic and 7 strains of aerobic chytrids. However, Blast search of sequenced amplicons showed that these primers are specific only for fungus Emericella nidulans. Amino acid alignment of Nag1 proteins of fungal, protozoal and bacterial origin available in GenBank database was therefore performed. Five amino acid regions were found to be conserved enough to serve as a suitable domain for the design of a set of primers for the universal amplification of the nag1 gene in the Neocallimastigales fungi.

Characterization of chitinases of polycentric anaerobic rumen fungi.

Chitinolytic systems of anaerobic polycentric rumen fungi of genera Orpinomyces and Anaeromyces were investigated in three crude enzyme fractions - extracellular, cytosolic and cell-wall. Endochitinase was found as a dominant enzyme with highest activity in the cytosolic fraction. Endochitinases of both genera were stable at pH 4.5-7.0 with optimum at 6.5. The Orpinomyces endochitinase was stable up to 50 degrees C with an optimum for enzyme activity at 50 degrees C; similarly, Anaeromyces endochitinase was stable up to 40 degrees C with optimum at 40 degrees C. The most suitable substrate for both endochitinases was fungal cell-wall chitin. Enzyme activities were inhibited by Hg(2+) and Mn(2+), and activated by Mg(2+) and Fe(3+). Both endochitinases were inhibited by 10 mmol/L SDS and activated by iodoacetamide.

Growth characteristics and enzyme activity in Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis isolates.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a member of the phylum Chytridiomycota and the causative organism chytridiomycosis, a disease of amphibians associated with global population declines and mass mortality events. The organism targets keratin-forming epithelium in adult and larval amphibians, which suggests that keratinolytic activity may be required to infect amphibian hosts. To investigate this hypothesis, we tested 10 isolates of B. dendrobatidis for their ability to grow on a range of keratin-supplemented agars and measured keratolytic enzyme activity using a commercially available kit (bioMerieux API ZYM). The most dense and fastest growth of isolates were recorded on tryptone agar, followed by growth on frog skin agar and the slowest growth recorded on feather meal and boiled snake skin agar. Growth patterns were distinctive for each nutrient source. All 10 isolates were strongly positive for a range of proteolytic enzymes which may be keratinolytic, including trypsin and chymotrypsin. These findings support the predilection of B. dendrobatidis for amphibian skin.

The dynamics of major fibrolytic microbes and enzyme activity in the rumen in response to short- and long-term feeding of Sapindus rarak saponins.

AIMS: To investigate the short- and long-term effects of an extract of Sapindus rarak saponins (SE) on the rumen fibrolytic enzyme activity and the major fibrolytic micro-organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two feeding trials were conducted. In the short-term trial, four fistulated goats were fed a basal diet containing sugar cane tops and wheat pollard (65:35, w/w) and were supplemented for 7 days with SE at a level of 0.6 g kg(-1) body weight. Rumen liquor was taken before, during and after SE feeding. In the long-term trial, 28 sheep were fed the same basal diet as the goats and were supplemented for 105 days with 0.24, 0.48 and 0.72 g kg(-1) body mass of the extract. Rumen liquor was taken on days 98 and 100. Protozoal numbers were counted under the microscope. Cell wall degradation was determined by enzyme assays and the major fibrolytic micro-organisms were quantified by dot blot hybridization. Sapindus extract significantly depressed rumen xylanase activity in both trials and carboxymethylcellulase activity in the long-term trial (P < 0.01). Fibrobacter sp. were not affected by the SE in both trials, while ruminococci and the anaerobic fungi showed a short-term response to the application of saponins. Protozoal counts were decreased only in the long-term trial with sheep. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that there is an adaptation of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Chytridiomycetes (fungi) to saponin when fed over a long period. The fact that no correlation between the cell wall degrading enzyme activities and the cell wall degrading micro-organisms was observed suggests that the organisms tracked in this experiment are not the only key players in ruminal cell wall degradation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Sapindus rarak saponins partially defaunate the rumen flora. Their negative effect on cell wall degradation, however, is not related to rumen organisms currently recognized as the major cell wall degrading species. The adaptation of microbes in the long-term feeding experiment suggests that the results from short-term trial on the ruminal microbial community have to be interpreted carefully.

Spatial and cellular localization of calcium-dependent protease (CDP II) in Allomyces arbuscula.

Immunogold labeling of calcium-dependent neutral protease II (CDPII) with specific antibodies in near median longitudinal ultrathin sections of Allomyces arbuscula showed that the enzyme is predominantly localized in the growing hyphal and rhizoidal apices. The tips in both cell type had more enzyme than the distal regions and showed a gradient distribution. Labeling of the ultrathin sections and western blot analysis of purified subcellular fractions showed that CDPII is mainly cytosolic. Catalytic activity of the enzyme measured with synthetic substrate (Bz-Arg-pNA) showed that 90% of its activity is present in the soluble fraction, although a small amount is associated with the nuclei (0.2%), plasma membranes (0.7%) and microsomes (3.9%). This association is discussed in the context of the functional role of the enzyme and its possible localized activation. Western blot analysis of the crude extract and indirect immunofluorescence of the fixed permeabilized hypahe after treatment with CDPII showed that the alpha-tubulin is a specific target of the enzyme.

A novel N(alpha)-acetyl alanine aminopeptidase from Allomyces arbuscula.

An N(alpha)-acetyl alanine aminopeptidase has been purified from the aquatic fungus Allomyces arbuscula. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 280 kDa by gel filtration through calibrated Sephacryl S300 column. In SDS-PAGE, the purified enzyme appeared as a single band of M(r) 80 kDa. Catalytic activity of the enzyme was inhibited by specific serine protease inhibitors, 3,4-DCI and APMSF, as well as SH reacting compounds, HgCl(2) and iodoacetate, indicating that the enzyme is a serine protease with some functional SH group(s) involved in the catalytic reaction. 3H-DFP was used to label the reactive serine of the enzyme. When the labeled protein was analyzed in SDS-PAGE, most of the label appeared in the M(r) 80 kDa band, however, a few additional faster migrating minor bands were also seen, probably representing a minor degradation product of the enzyme. The enzyme cleaved mainly N(alpha)-acetlylated alanine, although a small but negligible activity was also obtained with acetylated leucine and phenylalanine. The role of the enzyme in N-end rule proteolysis is discussed.

Cloning, sequencing, and expression of an endoglucanase gene from the rumen anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3.

A cDNA clone encoding an endo-1,4-beta-glucanase from a rumen fungus, Neocallimastix frontalis MCH3, was isolated. The nucleotide sequence showed that the gene, celA, encoded a multidomain enzyme containing a family 5 catalytic domain and a reiterated sequence that is involved in the association of a multienzyme complex, the cellulosome. The enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli showed the highest activity against carboxymethylcellulose at 40 degrees C and pH 8.5.

The hydrogenosomal malic enzyme from the anaerobic fungus neocallimastix frontalis is targeted to mitochondria of the methylotrophic yeast hansenula polymorpha.

Hydrogenosomal proteins always contain an amino-terminal extension which is believed to be a hydrogenosomal targeting signal. In the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis these putative targeting signals are 27 amino acids long, are enriched in Ala, Leu, Ser and Arg, and have an Arg at position -2 relative to amino-acid 1 of the mature protein. These features are typically observed in mitochondrial targeting signals. Here we show that the 27 amino-acid leader sequence of the hydrogenosomal malic enzyme of N. frontalis was capable of targeting the enzyme to mitochondria of the methylotrophic ascomycete yeast Hansenula polymorpha. The same protein without this leader sequence remained cytosolic. These data suggest a close relationship between the protein import machineries of mitochondria and hydrogenosomes in fungi and provide further support for the notion that these two organelles share a common evolutionary origin.

Monocentric and polycentric anaerobic fungi produce structurally related cellulases and xylanases.

Cellulase and xylanase cDNAs were isolated from a cDNA library of the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces sp. strain PC-2 constructed in Escherichia coli. The cellulase cDNA (celB) was 1.8 kb long with an open reading frame (ORF) coding for a polypeptide of 471 amino acids, and the xylanase cDNA (xynA) was 1.2 kb long with an ORF encoding a polypeptide of 362 amino acids. Single transcripts of 1.9 kb for celB and 1.5 kb for xynA were detected in total RNA of Orpinomyces grown on Avicel. Genomic DNA regions coding for CelA and XynA were devoid of introns. The enzymes were highly homologous (80 to 85% identity) to the corresponding enzymes of the monocentric anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum and, like those, contained in addition to a catalytic domain, a noncatalytic repeated peptide domain (NCRPD). The Orpinomyces xylanase contained one catalytic domain and thus differed from the Neocallimastix xylanase, which had two similar catalytic domains (H. J. Gilbert, G. P. Hazlewood, J. I. Lauie, C. G. Orpin, and G. P. Xue, Mol. Microbiol. 6:2065-2072, 1992). Two peptides corresponding to the catalytic domain and the NCRPD of XynA were synthesized, and antibodies against them were raised and affinity column purified. The antibodies against the catalytic domain peptide reacted specifically with the xylanases of Orpinomyces and Neocallimastix, while the antibodies against the NCRPD reacted with many (at least eight) extracellular proteins of Orpinomyces and Neocallimastix, suggesting that the NCRPD is present in a number of polypeptides.

Purification, properties and developmental regulation of a Ca(2+)-independent serine-cysteine protease from Allomyces arbuscula.

Reproductive differentiation in Allomyces takes place against the background of substrate limitation, a sharp increase in intracellular proteolysine and the induction of at least one specific protease. The aim of this report is to describe the purification, properties and developmental regulation of this enzyme. The enzyme has been partially purified by a combination of ion exchange chromatography, ultrogel filtration and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme in SDS-PAGE appeared as a doublet of M(r) 40-43 kDa. Two bands corresponding to a relative molecular mass of 40-43 kDa were also apparent in activity gels. The protein has an apparent molecular mass in the region of 43 kDa as estimated by gel filtration. The enzyme therefore, seems to be a monomer of 43 kDa. The second band in SDS-PAGE and activity gels is probably the proteolyzed form of the enzyme. The protease recognized alanine and to a lesser extent phenylalanine in the P1 position when assayed with a range of synthetic peptides. The active site of the enzyme contains a reactive serine residue, as shown by its inhibition with PMSF and soya bean trypsin inhibitor. There is probably a reactive cysteine residue as well since the enzyme activity is strongly inhibited by HgCl2, a thiol group binding reagent. The enzyme is present in zoospores but disappears progressively during germination and hyphal growth. It reappears when actively growing cultures are transferred to dilute salt solution. In conclusion, we have purified a serine-cysteine protease of M(r) 43 kDa. This enzyme has a very restricted substrate specificity and appears to be developmentally regulated.

Adsorption characteristics of cellulolytic enzymes from the anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2 on microcrystalline cellulose.

Characteristics of the cellulolytic system of the anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2 with respect to adsorption onto microcrystalline cellulose were examined. Cellulolytic enzymes were separated by gel filtration chromatography into a high-molecular-mass complex with an apparent mass of approximately 1,200 to 1,400 kDa and proteins of lower molecular weights. Adsorption of cellulolytic enzymes was not only very fast (within 2 min, equilibrium was attained) but also very effective: Avicelase, endoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase activities from the high-molecular-mass complex were almost completely removed by Avicel. Adsorption of these enzyme activities was proportional and appeared to obey the Langmuir isotherm. For Avicelase, endoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase activities, the maximum amounts adsorbed (Amax) and apparent adsorption constants (Kad) were 16.8, 600, and 33.5 IU/g and 284, 6.93 and 126 ml/IU, respectively. The results of this study strongly support the existence of a multiprotein enzyme complex. This complex was found not to be specifically associated with cell wall fragments as judged by chitin determination.

Ca(2+)-dependent protease I from Allomyces arbuscula.

A monomeric Ca(2+)-dependent protease (CDP I) of 39 kDa active at neutral pH has been purified from the aquatic fungus Allomyces arbuscula. The enzyme elutes at NaCl molarity of 0.07 M from the DEAE (DE52)-cellulose columns in contrast to the second Ca(2+)-dependent protease (CDP II) characterized earlier which elutes at 0.18 M NaCl. The enzyme has no basal activity in the absence of Ca2+ and requires 1.7 mM Ca2+ for half maximum activation of the in vitro enzyme activity. The enzyme prefers substrates with Arg in P1 position but this specificity also depends strongly on the nature of the subsite residues, for example Pro in P2 position. The enzyme is glycosylated and contains essential cysteine residues in the active site. It appears to be an atypical cysteine protease as it is inactivated to varying degree with some serine protease inhibitors.

Alpha-(4-O-methyl)-D-glucuronidase activity produced by the rumen anaerobic fungus Piromonas communis: a study of selected properties.

The rumen anaerobic fungus Piromonas communis, unlike the rumen anaerobic fungi Neocallimastix frontalis and Neocallimastix patriciarum, produced extracellular alpha-(4-O-methyl)-D-glucuronidase when grown in cultures containing filter-paper, barley straw, birchwood xylan or birchwood sawdust as carbon source. The highest concentration of enzyme was produced in cultures containing birchwood sawdust. The aldobiouronic acid O-alpha-(4-O-methyl-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1-->2)-D-xylopyranose (MeGlcAXyl) was the best substrate of those tested: the aldotriouronic acid O-alpha-(4-O-methyl-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid (1-->2)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose (MeGlcAXyl2) and the aldotetraouronic acid O-alpha-(4-O-methyl-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1-->2)-O-beta-D- xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose (MeGlcAXyl3) were also attacked but the rate fell as the degree of polymerisation increased. When the same substituted xylo-oligosaccharides were reduced to the corresponding alditols the enzyme activity disappeared. Similarly, p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucuronide was not a substrate. Remarkably, the relative rates of attack shown by the alpha-(4-O-methyl)-D-glucuronidase on the aldouronic acids and on xylans extracted from birchwood, oat spelts and oat straw differed according to the carbon source used to produce the enzyme. The alpha-(4-O-methyl)-D-glucuronidase had a pH optimum of 5.5 and a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C. On gel filtration the enzyme was shown to be associated with proteins covering the range 100-300 kDa, but a major peak of activity in the column effluent appeared to have a molecular mass of 103 kDa.

Characterization of the "promoter region" of the enolase-encoding gene enol from the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix frontalis: sequence and promoter analysis.

The sequence of the Neocallimastix frontalis enolase gene promoter was determined up to 1800 nucleotides 5' to the major transcriptional start point. The base composition of the enolase upstream sequence revealed a very A + T-rich profile (13.5% G + C) leading to many putative hairpin structures. The functional organization of the N. frontalis enolase promoter was investigated by heterologous transient-expression assays. DNA fragments obtained by the sequential removal of sequences upstream of the translation start codon were fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene and the resulting plasmids were used to transform the ascomycetes Aspergillus nidulans and Penicillium roqueforti and the oomycete Saprolegnia monoica. Transient expression of the lacZ reporter gene was observed in regenerating proteoplasts of S. monoica when using the 0.3 kb or 1 kb upstream of the enolase coding region. In contrast no beta-galactosidase activity was detected in ascomycete protoplasts. DNA hybridization analysis revealed the integration of vector DNA in the genomic DNA of S. monoica and the presence of free copies of the transformation plasmid which could be rescued in E. coli. Our results indicate that the transcriptional machinery of the anaerobic chytrid N. frontalis may differ significantly from that of ascomycetes but that enough conservation exists within the lower fungi to allow a transient-driven expression of a reporter gene in an oomycete fungus.