Correlation between the regulation of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and asexual and sexual sporulation in Emericella nidulans.
We analyzed the regulation of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in wild type and mutant strains of Emericella nidulans (= Aspergillus nidulans). A positive correlation between both asexual and sexual sporulation and synthesis of the mycotoxin was observed. Those conditions which favored sporulation stimulated sterigmatocystin formation, and vice versa. Both processes were stimulated by light in a veA+ genetic background. In contrast, they were inhibited by diaminobutanone, an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. The effect of this inhibitor was partially reverted by putrescine addition. Partial supplementation of specific requirements to auxotrophic mutants allowed normal vegetative growth, but interfered with asexual sporulation and sterigmatocystin biosynthesis. Synthesis of the mycotoxin was neither affected in a brlA mutant or in developmental mutants blocked at later steps in sporulation. As in wild type strain, diaminobutanone inhibited sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and cleisthotecia formation in the brlA mutant, and its effect was reverted by addition of putrescine. The inhibitor also affected the transcription of brlA. Our results indicate that sporulation and the synthesis of sterigmatocystin are co-regulated at a step previous to the brlA execution point.
Departamentos de Genética y Biología Molecular (Unidad México, D.F., Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato, Gto, México. dguzmán@irapuato.ira.cinvestav.mx
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D
Guzmán-de-Peña
J
J
Aguirre
J
J
Ruiz-Herrera
D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008027:Light; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D011700:Putrescine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000502:physiology; D013241:Sterigmatocystin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014157:Transcription Factors
C063497:BRLA protein, Emericella nidulans; D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013241:Sterigmatocystin; C014458:1,4-diaminobutanone; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; D011700:Putrescine