Characterization of the Aspergillus nidulans monodictyphenone gene cluster.
Deletion of cclA, a component of the COMPASS complex of Aspergillus nidulans, results in the production of monodictyphenone and emodin derivatives. Through a set of targeted deletions in a cclA deletion strain, we have identified the genes required for monodictyphenone and emodin analog biosynthesis. Identification of an intermediate, endocrocin, from an mdpHDelta strain suggests that mdpH might encode a decarboxylase. Furthermore, by replacing the promoter of mdpA (a putative aflJ homolog) and mdpE (a putative aflR homolog) with the inducible alcA promoter, we have confirmed that MdpA functions as a coactivator. We propose a biosynthetic pathway for monodictyphenone and emodin derivatives based on bioinformatic analysis and characterization of biosynthetic intermediates.
Chiang
Yi-Ming
YM
Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Szewczyk
Edyta
E
Davidson
Ashley D
AD
Entwistle
Ruth
R
Keller
Nancy P
NP
Wang
Clay C C
CC
Oakley
Berl R
BR
D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000378:metabolism*; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005810:Multigene Family; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D000880:Anthraquinones