title: A PKS gene, pks-1, is involved in chaetoglobosin biosynthesis, pigmentation and sporulation in Chaetomium globosum.
abstract: Chaetomium globosum is one of the most common fungi in nature. It is best known for producing chaetoglobosins; however, the molecular basis of chaetoglobosin biosynthesis is poorly understood in this fungus. In this study, we utilized RNA interference (RNAi) to characterize a polyketide synthase gene, pks-1, in C. globosum that is involved in the production of chaetoglobosin A. When pks-1 was knocked down by RNAi, the production of chaetoglobosin A dramatically decreased. Knock-down mutants also displayed a pigment-deficient phenotype. These results suggest that the two polyketides, melanin and chaetoglobosin, are likely to share common biosynthetic steps. Most importantly, we found that pks-1 also plays a critical role in sporulation. The silenced mutants of pks-1 lost the ability to produce spores. We propose that polyketides may modulate cellular development via an unidentified action. We also suggest that C. globosum pks-1 is unique because of its triple role in melanin formation, chaetoglobosin biosynthesis and sporulation. This work may shed light on chaetoglobosin biosynthesis and indicates a relationship between secondary metabolism and fungal morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Program of Microbiology and Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaoran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Xudong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017931:DNA Primers; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D010957:Plasmids; D048630:Polyketide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013172:Spores, Fungal
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; C019290:chaetoglobosins; D048630:Polyketide Synthases