title: Morphology engineering of Penicillium chrysogenum by RNA silencing of chitin synthase gene.
abstract: Chitin synthases, that catalyze the formation of chitin the major component of cell walls in most filamentous fungi, play crucial roles in the growth and morphogenesis. To investigate the roles of chitin synthase in Penicillium chrysogenum, we developed an RNAi system to silence the class III chitin synthase gene chs4. After transformation, mutants had a slow growth rate and shorter but highly branched hyphae. All transformants either were unable to form conidia or could form only a few. Changes in chs4 expression could lead to a completely different morphology and eventually cause distinct penicillin yields. In particular, the yield of one transformant was 41 % higher than that of the original strain.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Ion Beam Bioengineering, Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Genhai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005800:Genes, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D025301:Hyphae / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D010406:Penicillins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D034622:RNA Interference; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D002687:Chitin Synthase