A heterologous expression platform in Aspergillus nidulans for the elucidation of cryptic secondary metabolism biosynthetic gene clusters: discovery of the Aspergillus fumigatus sartorypyrone biosynthetic pathway.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a serious human pathogen causing life-threatening Aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. Secondary metabolites (SMs) play an important role in pathogenesis, but the products of many SM biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) remain unknown. In this study, we have developed a heterologous expression platform in Aspergillus nidulans, using a newly created genetic dereplication strain, to express a previously unknown BGC from A. fumigatus and determine its products. The BGC produces sartorypyrones, and we have named it the spy BGC. Analysis of targeted gene deletions by HRESIMS, NMR, and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) enabled us to identify 12 products from the spy BGC. Seven of the compounds have not been isolated previously. We also individually expressed the polyketide synthase (PKS) gene spyA and demonstrated that it produces the polyketide triacetic acid lactone (TAL), a potentially important biorenewable platform chemical. Our data have allowed us to propose a biosynthetic pathway for sartorypyrones and related natural products. This work highlights the potential of using the A. nidulans heterologous expression platform to uncover cryptic BGCs from A. fumigatus and other species, despite the complexity of their secondary metabolomes.

Branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis in fungi.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)-isoleucine, leucine, and valine-are synthesized by fungi. These amino acids are important components of proteins and secondary metabolites. The biochemical pathway for BCAA biosynthesis is well-characterized in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The biosynthesis of these three amino acids is interconnected. Different precursors are metabolized in multiple steps through shared enzymes to produce isoleucine and valine, and the valine biosynthesis pathway branches before the penultimate step to a series of leucine biosynthesis-specific steps to produce leucine. Recent efforts have made advances toward characterization of the BCAA biosynthesis pathway in several fungi, revealing diversity in gene duplication and functional divergence in the genes for these enzymatic steps in different fungi. The BCAA biosynthesis pathway is regulated by the transcription factor LEU3 in S. cerevisiae, and LeuB in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus, and the activity of these transcription factors is modulated by the leucine biosynthesis pathway intermediate α-isopropylmalate. Herein, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the BCAA pathway and its regulation, focusing on filamentous ascomycete fungi and comparison with the well-established process in yeast.

Co-option of an extracellular protease for transcriptional control of nutrient degradation in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans.

Nutrient acquisition is essential for all organisms. Fungi regulate their metabolism according to environmental nutrient availability through elaborate transcription regulatory programs. In filamentous fungi, a highly conserved GATA transcription factor AreA and its co-repressor NmrA govern expression of genes involved in extracellular breakdown, uptake, and metabolism of nitrogen nutrients. Here, we show that the Aspergillus nidulans PnmB protease is a moonlighting protein with extracellular and intracellular functions for nitrogen acquisition and metabolism. PnmB serves not only as a secreted protease to degrade extracellular nutrients, but also as an intracellular protease to control the turnover of the co-repressor NmrA, accelerating AreA transcriptional activation upon nitrogen starvation. PnmB expression is controlled by AreA, which activates a positive feedback regulatory loop. Hence, we uncover a regulatory mechanism in the well-established controls determining the response to nitrogen starvation, revealing functional evolution of a protease gene for transcriptional regulation and extracellular nutrient breakdown.

Duplication and Functional Divergence of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Biosynthesis Genes in Aspergillus nidulans.

Fungi, bacteria, and plants, but not animals, synthesize the branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. While branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis has been well characterized in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it is incompletely understood in filamentous fungi. The three BCAAs share several early biosynthesis steps before divergence into specific pathways. In Aspergillus nidulans, the genes for the first two dedicated steps in leucine biosynthesis have been characterized, but the final two have not. We used sequence searches of the A. nidulans genome to identify two genes encoding ß-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the penultimate step of leucine biosynthesis, and six genes encoding BCAA aminotransferase, which catalyzes the final step in biosynthesis of all three BCAA. We have used combinations of gene knockouts to determine the relative contribution of each of these genes to BCAA biosynthesis. While both ß-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase genes act in leucine biosynthesis, the two most highly expressed BCAA aminotransferases are responsible for BCAA biosynthesis. We have also characterized the expression of leucine biosynthesis genes using reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR and found regulation in response to leucine availability is mediated through the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor LeuB. IMPORTANCE Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis is important for pathogenic fungi to successfully cause disease in human and plant hosts. The enzymes for their production are absent from humans and, therefore, provide potential antifungal targets. While BCAA biosynthesis is well characterized in yeasts, it is poorly understood in filamentous fungal pathogens. Developing a thorough understanding of both the genes encoding the metabolic enzymes for BCAA biosynthesis and how their expression is regulated will inform target selection for antifungal drug development.

Biodegradable Drug-Delivery Peptide Nanocapsules.

Branched amphiphilic peptide capsules (BAPCs) are an efficient transport system that can deliver nucleic acids, small proteins, and solutes. The ability of BAPCs to break down is essential to their adoption as a delivery vehicle for human and agricultural applications. Until now, however, BAPCs were shown to be inert to mammalian degradation systems. Here, we demonstrate, using BAPCs encapsulating the toxic urea analogue thiourea, that the common soil fungus Aspergillus nidulans can degrade BAPCs. We provide evidence that this degradation is extracellular through the action of secreted proteases. Our data indicate that BAPCs are likely biodegradable in the environment.

Hybrid Transcription Factor Engineering Activates the Silent Secondary Metabolite Gene Cluster for (+)-Asperlin in Aspergillus nidulans.

Fungi are a major source of valuable bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs). These compounds are synthesized by enzymes encoded by genes that are clustered in the genome. The vast majority of SM biosynthetic gene clusters are not expressed under normal growth conditions, and their products are unknown. Developing methods for activation of these silent gene clusters offers the potential for discovering many valuable new fungal SMs. While a number of useful approaches have been developed, they each have limitations, and additional tools are needed. One approach, upregulation of SM gene cluster-specific transcription factors that are associated with many SM gene clusters, has worked extremely well in some cases, but it has failed more often than it has succeeded. Taking advantage of transcription factor domain modularity, we developed a new approach. We fused the DNA-binding domain of a transcription factor associated with a silent SM gene cluster with the activation domain of a robust SM transcription factor, AfoA. Expression of this hybrid transcription factor activated transcription of the genes in the target cluster and production of the antibiotic (+)-asperlin. Deletion of cluster genes confirmed that the cluster is responsible for (+)-asperlin production, and we designate it the aln cluster. Separately, coinduction of expression of two aln cluster genes revealed the pathway intermediate (2 Z,4 Z,6 E)-octa-2,4,6-trienoic acid, a compound with photoprotectant properties. Our findings demonstrate the potential of our novel synthetic hybrid transcription factor strategy to discover the products of other silent fungal SM gene clusters.

Distinct roles for the p53-like transcription factor XprG and autophagy genes in the response to starvation.

Autophagy and autolysis are two cannibalistic pathways which allow filamentous fungi to obtain nutrients once environmental nutrient sources are exhausted. In Aspergillus nidulans, the effects of mutations in two key autophagy genes, atgA, the ATG1 ortholog, and atgH, the ATG8 ortholog, were compared with mutations in xprG, which encodes a transcriptional activator that plays a key role in autolysis. The anti-fungal drug rapamycin induces autophagy in a range of organisms. Mutations in atgA and atgH did not alter sensitivity to rapamycin, which inhibits growth and asexual spore production (conidiation), indicating that autophagy is not required for rapamycin sensitivity in A. nidulans. In contrast, inhibition of conidiation by rapamcyin was partially suppressed by the xprG1 gain-of-function mutation, indicating that XprG acts in the pathway(s) affected by rapamycin. It was anticipated that the absence of an intact autophagy pathway would accelerate the response to starvation. However, extracellular and intracellular protease production in response to carbon or nitrogen starvation was not increased in the atgAΔ and atgHΔ mutants, and the onset of autolysis was not accelerated. Compared to wild-type strains and the xprGΔ and xprG1 mutants, conidiation of the autophagy mutants was reduced in carbon- or nitrogen-limiting conditions but not during growth on nutrient-sufficient medium. Nuclear localization of the global nitrogen regulator AreA in response to nitrogen starvation was blocked in the xprG2 loss-of-function mutant, but not in the atgHΔ mutant. Conversely, the atgAΔ mutation but not the xprGΔ mutation prevented vacuolar accumulation of GFP-AtgH, a hallmark of autophagy. These results indicate that in A. nidulans there is little interaction between autophagy and autolysis and the two pathways are activated in parallel during starvation.

Spatial differentiation of gene expression in Aspergillus niger colony grown for sugar beet pulp utilization.

Degradation of plant biomass to fermentable sugars is of critical importance for the use of plant materials for biofuels. Filamentous fungi are ubiquitous organisms and major plant biomass degraders. Single colonies of some fungal species can colonize massive areas as large as five soccer stadia. During growth, the mycelium encounters heterogeneous carbon sources. Here we assessed whether substrate heterogeneity is a major determinant of spatial gene expression in colonies of Aspergillus niger. We analyzed whole-genome gene expression in five concentric zones of 5-day-old colonies utilizing sugar beet pulp as a complex carbon source. Growth, protein production and secretion occurred throughout the colony. Genes involved in carbon catabolism were expressed uniformly from the centre to the periphery whereas genes encoding plant biomass degrading enzymes and nitrate utilization were expressed differentially across the colony. A combined adaptive response of carbon-catabolism and enzyme production to locally available monosaccharides was observed. Finally, our results demonstrate that A. niger employs different enzymatic tools to adapt its metabolism as it colonizes complex environments.

Characterization of the mutagenic spectrum of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) in Aspergillus nidulans by whole genome sequencing.

4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) is a highly carcinogenic chemical that induces mutations in bacteria, fungi, and animals through the formation of bulky purine adducts. 4-NQO has been used as a mutagen for genetic screens and in both the study of DNA damage and DNA repair. In the model eukaryote Aspergillus nidulans, 4-NQO-based genetic screens have been used to study diverse processes, including gene regulation, mitosis, metabolism, organelle transport, and septation. Early work during the 1970s using bacterial and yeast mutation tester strains concluded that 4-NQO was a guanine-specific mutagen. However, these strains were limited in their ability to determine full mutagenic potential, as they could not identify mutations at multiple sites, unlinked suppressor mutations, or G:C to C:G transversions. We have now used a whole genome resequencing approach with mutant strains generated from two independent genetic screens to determine the full mutagenic spectrum of 4-NQO in A. nidulans. Analysis of 3994 mutations from 38 mutant strains reveals that 4-NQO induces substitutions in both guanine and adenine residues, although with a 19-fold preference for guanine. We found no association between mutation load and mutagen dose and observed no sequence bias in the residues flanking the mutated purine base. The mutations were distributed randomly throughout most of the genome. Our data provide new evidence that 4-NQO can potentially target all base pairs. Furthermore, we predict that current practices for 4-NQO-induced mutagenesis are sufficient to reach gene saturation for genetic screens with feasible identification of causative mutations via whole genome resequencing.

Dual DNA binding and coactivator functions of Aspergillus nidulans†TamA, a Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor.

Transcription factors containing DNA binding domains generally regulate transcription by direct interaction with DNA. For most transcription factors, including the fungal Zn(II)2Cys6 zinc binuclear cluster transcription factors, the DNA binding motif is essential for function. However, Aspergillus nidulans TamA and the related Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dal81p protein contain Zn(II)2Cys6 motifs shown to be dispensable for function. TamA acts at several promoters as a coactivator of the global nitrogen GATA transcription factor AreA. We now show that TamA is the major transcriptional activator of gdhA, encoding the key nitrogen metabolism enzyme NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase. Moreover, activation of gdhA by TamA occurs primarily by a mechanism requiring the TamA DNA binding motif. We show that the TamA DNA binding motif is required for DNA binding of FLAG-epitope-tagged TamA to the gdhA promoter. We identify a conserved promoter element required for TamA activation, and show that TamA and AreA are reciprocally required for full binding at the gdhA promoter under conditions where AreA is inactive at most promoters but active at gdhA. Therefore TamA has dual functions as a DNA-binding transcription factor and a non-DNA-binding coactivator. Dual DNA-binding and coactivator functions provide an additional level of combinatorial control to mediate gene-specific expression.

Prevalence of transcription factors in ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi.

BACKGROUND: Gene regulation underlies fungal physiology and therefore is a major factor in fungal biodiversity. Analysis of genome sequences has revealed a large number of putative transcription factors in most fungal genomes. The presence of fungal orthologs for individual regulators has been analysed and appears to be highly variable with some regulators widely conserved and others showing narrow distribution. Although genome-scale transcription factor surveys have been performed before, no global study into the prevalence of specific regulators across the fungal kingdom has been presented. RESULTS: In this study we have analysed the number of members for 37 regulator classes in 77 ascomycete and 31 basidiomycete fungal genomes and revealed significant differences between ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. In addition, we determined the presence of 64 regulators characterised in ascomycetes across these 108 genomes. This demonstrated that overall the highest presence of orthologs is in the filamentous ascomycetes. A significant number of regulators lacked orthologs in the ascomycete yeasts and the basidiomycetes. Conversely, of seven basidiomycete regulators included in the study, only one had orthologs in ascomycetes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a significant difference in the regulatory repertoire of ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi, at the level of both regulator class and individual regulator. This suggests that the current regulatory systems of these fungi have been mainly developed after the two phyla diverged. Most regulators detected in both phyla are involved in central functions of fungal physiology and therefore were likely already present in the ancestor of the two phyla.

Multiple nuclear localization signals mediate nuclear localization of the GATA transcription factor AreA.

The Aspergillus nidulans GATA transcription factor AreA activates transcription of nitrogen metabolic genes in response to nitrogen limitation and is known to accumulate in the nucleus during nitrogen starvation. Sequence analysis of AreA revealed multiple nuclear localization signals (NLSs), five putative classical NLSs conserved in fungal AreA orthologs but not in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae functional orthologs Gln3p and Gat1p, and one putative noncanonical RRX33RXR bipartite NLS within the DNA-binding domain. In order to identify the functional NLSs in AreA, we constructed areA mutants with mutations in individual putative NLSs or combinations of putative NLSs and strains expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-AreA NLS fusion genes. Deletion of all five classical NLSs individually or collectively did not affect utilization of nitrogen sources or AreA-dependent gene expression and did not prevent AreA nuclear localization. Mutation of the bipartite NLS conferred the inability to utilize alternative nitrogen sources and abolished AreA-dependent gene expression likely due to effects on DNA binding but did not prevent AreA nuclear localization. Mutation of all six NLSs simultaneously prevented AreA nuclear accumulation. The bipartite NLS alone strongly directed GFP to the nucleus, whereas the classical NLSs collaborated to direct GFP to the nucleus. Therefore, AreA contains multiple conserved NLSs, which show redundancy and together function to mediate nuclear import. The noncanonical bipartite NLS is conserved in GATA factors from Aspergillus, yeast, and mammals, indicating an ancient origin.

Regulation of the NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase gene gdhA in Aspergillus nidulans by the Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor LeuB.

NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) is a key enzyme in the assimilation of alternative nitrogen nutrient sources through ammonium in fungi. In Aspergillus nidulans, NADP-GDH is encoded by gdhA. Several transcription factors are known to regulate gdhA expression, including AreA, the major transcription activator of nitrogen metabolic genes, and TamA, a co-activator of AreA. TamA also interacts with LeuB, the regulator of leucine biosynthesis. We have investigated the effects of leucine biosynthesis on gdhA regulation, and found that leucine regulates the levels of NADP-GDH activity and gdhA expression. We show, using mutants with perturbed levels of α-isopropylmalate (α-IPM), that this leucine biosynthesis intermediate affects gdhA regulation. Leucine regulation of gdhA requires a functional LeuB with an intact Zn(II)2Cys6 DNA-binding domain. By analysing the prevalence of putative LeuB DNA-binding sites in promoters of gdhA orthologues we predict broad conservation of leucine regulation of NADP-GDH expression within ascomycetes except in the fusaria and fission yeasts. Using promoter mutations in gdhA-lacZ reporter genes we identified two sites of action for LeuB within the A. nidulans gdhA promoter. These two sites lack sequence identity, with one site conforming to the predicted LeuB DNA-binding site consensus motif, whereas the second site is a novel regulatory sequence element conserved in Aspergillus gdhA promoters. These data suggest that LeuB regulates NADP-GDH expression in response to leucine levels, which may act as an important sensor of nitrogen availability.

Deletion and overexpression of the Aspergillus nidulans GATA factor AreB reveals unexpected pleiotropy.

The Aspergillus nidulans transcription factor AreA is a key regulator of nitrogen metabolic gene expression. AreA contains a C-terminal GATA zinc finger DNA-binding domain and activates expression of genes necessary for nitrogen acquisition. Previous studies identified AreB as a potential negative regulator of nitrogen catabolism showing similarity with Penicillium chrysogenum NreB and Neurospora crassa ASD4. The areB gene encodes multiple products containing an N-terminal GATA zinc finger and a leucine zipper motif. We deleted the areB gene and now show that AreB negatively regulates AreA-dependent nitrogen catabolic gene expression under nitrogen-limiting or nitrogen-starvation conditions. AreB also acts pleiotropically, with functions in growth, conidial germination and asexual development, though not in sexual development. AreB overexpression results in severe growth inhibition, aberrant cell morphology and reduced AreA-dependent gene expression. Deletion of either the DNA-binding domain or the leucine zipper domain results in loss of both nitrogen and developmental phenotypes.

Inducer-dependent nuclear localization of a Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) transcriptional activator, AmyR, in Aspergillus nidulans.

AmyR is a Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) transcriptional activator that regulates expression of the amylolytic genes in Aspergillus species. Subcellular localization studies of GFP-fused AmyR in A. nidulans revealed that the fusion protein preferentially localized to the nucleus in response to isomaltose, the physiological inducer of the amylolytic genes. The C-terminal domains of AmyR, designated MH3 (residues 419-496) and MH4 (residues 516-542), were essential for sensing the inducing stimulus and regulating the subcellular localization. The MH2 domain (residues 234-375) located in the middle of AmyR was required for transcriptional activation of the target genes, and the nuclear localization signals were identified within the N-terminal Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) DNA binding motif.

Sumoylation in Aspergillus nidulans: sumO inactivation, overexpression and live-cell imaging.

Sumoylation, the reversible covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) peptides has emerged as an important regulator of target protein function. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but not in Schizosaccharyomes pombe, deletion of the gene encoding SUMO peptides is lethal. We have characterized the SUMO-encoding gene, sumO, in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The sumO gene was deleted in a diploid and sumODelta haploids were recovered. The mutant was viable but exhibited impaired growth, reduced conidiation and self-sterility. Overexpression of epitope-tagged SumO peptides revealed multiple sumoylation targets in A. nidulans and SumO overexpression resulted in greatly increased levels of protein sumoylation without obvious phenotypic consequences. Using five-piece fusion PCR, we generated a gfp-sumO fusion gene expressed from the sumO promoter for live-cell imaging of GFP-SumO and GFP-SumO-conjugated proteins. Localization of GFP-SumO is dynamic, accumulating in punctate spots within the nucleus during interphase, lost at the onset of mitosis and re-accumulating during telophase.

Transcriptional control of nmrA by the bZIP transcription factor MeaB reveals a new level of nitrogen regulation in Aspergillus nidulans.

Fungi can use a diverse range of nitrogen sources. Some nitrogen sources sustain a rapid growth rate and are used in preference to less readily metabolized nitrogen sources. The mechanisms involved in this control of nitrogen utilization have been studied in the model filamentous ascomycete, Aspergillus nidulans. The GATA transcription factor AreA is necessary for the expression of nitrogen-catabolic permeases and enzymes. AreA activity is controlled by multiple mechanisms including regulated areA transcript levels and regulated AreA nuclear export. During nitrogen sufficiency, AreA activation is also prevented by the co-repressor NmrA. We have investigated nitrogen signalling to NmrA. NmrA overexpression prevents AreA function irrespective of the nitrogen status. The mRNA levels of areA and nmrA are inversely regulated, suggesting that the relative levels of AreA and NmrA are critical in determining AreA activation. The bZIP transcription factor MeaB was found to activate nmrA expression and a conserved element, TTGCACCAT, bound by MeaB in vitro is present in the promoters of NmrA homologues in other filamentous ascomycetes. Expression of meaB was not strongly regulated suggesting that transcriptional activation by MeaB is modulated by the nitrogen status. This work highlights a new level of complexity in the regulation of nitrogen catabolism.

Genetic manipulation of Aspergillus nidulans: meiotic progeny for genetic analysis and strain construction.

The multicellular microbial eukaryote Aspergillus nidulans is an excellent model for the study of a wide array of biological processes. Studies in this system contribute significantly to understanding fundamental biological principles and are relevant for biotechnology and industrial applications, as well as human, animal and plant fungal pathogenesis. A. nidulans is easily manipulated using classical and molecular genetics. Here, we describe the storage and handling of A. nidulans and procedures for genetic crossing, progeny analysis and growth testing. These procedures are used for Mendelian analysis of segregation of alleles to show whether a mutant phenotype segregates as a single gene and independent assortment of genes to determine the linkage relationship between genes. Meiotic crossing is used for construction of multiple mutant strains for genetic analysis. Genetic crossing and analysis of progeny can be undertaken in 2-3 weeks and growth testing takes 2-3 days.

Genetic manipulation of Aspergillus nidulans: heterokaryons and diploids for dominance, complementation and haploidization analyses.

The haploid microbial eukaryote Aspergillus nidulans is a powerful genetic system, which allows analysis of a broad range of biological phenomena. In addition to conventional analysis of meiotic progeny in a single generation, parasexual analysis affords a rapid and convenient method for genetic analysis. We describe the construction of A. nidulans heterokaryons and diploids for use in genetic analysis to determine dominance and conduct complementation tests. We also describe the rapid mapping of mutations to chromosomes by haploidization of diploids carrying marked chromosomes. Balanced heterokaryons may be established within 10 days and diploids may be constructed in 2-3 weeks. Dominance tests and complementation tests using balanced heterokaryons or diploids may be completed in 2-3 days. Haploidization analysis of heterozygous diploids can be achieved within 10 days. These protocols should be adaptable for use in related Aspergilli and Penicillia, which lack a known meiotic cycle.