title: Illuminating the diversity of aromatic polyketide synthases in Aspergillus nidulans.
abstract: Genome sequencing has revealed that fungi have the ability to synthesize many more natural products (NPs) than are currently known, but methods for obtaining suitable expression of NPs have been inadequate. We have developed a successful strategy that bypasses normal regulatory mechanisms. By efficient gene targeting, we have replaced, en masse, the promoters of nonreducing polyketide synthase (NR-PKS) genes, key genes in NP biosynthetic pathways, and other genes necessary for NR-PKS product formation or release. This has allowed us to determine the products of eight NR-PKSs of Aspergillus nidulans, including seven novel compounds, as well as the NR-PKS genes required for the synthesis of the toxins alternariol (8) and cichorine (19).
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States.
authors.forename: Manmeet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Shu-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Mike B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Praseuth
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Entwistle
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Hsien-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Hsu-Hua
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Berl R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Oakley
authors.forename: Clay C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016681:Genome, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D054833:Isoindoles / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D048630:Polyketide Synthases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D061065:Polyketides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054833:Isoindoles; D007783:Lactones; D061065:Polyketides; C504968:cichorine; D048630:Polyketide Synthases; C005197:alternariol