title: Effect of low shear modeled microgravity on phenotypic and central chitin metabolism in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum.
abstract: Phenotypic and genotypic changes in Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum, spore forming filamentous fungi, with respect to central chitin metabolism were studied under low shear modeled microgravity, normal gravity and static conditions. Low shear modeled microgravity (LSMMG) response showed a similar spore germination rate with normal gravity and static conditions. Interestingly, high ratio of multiple germ tube formation of A. niger in LSMMG condition was observed. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images of calcofluor flurophore stained A. niger and P. chrysogenum showed no significant variations between different conditions tested. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed number of mitochondria increased in P. chrysogenum in low shear modeled microgravity condition but no stress related-woronin bodies in fungal hyphae were observed. To gain additional insight into the cell wall integrity under different conditions, transcription level of a key gene involved in cell wall integrity gfaA, encoding the glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase enzyme, was evaluated using qRT-PCR. The transcription level showed no variation among different conditions. Overall, the results collectively indicate that the LSMMG has shown no significant stress on spore germination, mycelial growth, cell wall integrity of potentially pathogenic fungi, A. niger and P. chrysogenum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yesupatham
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sathishkumar
authors.forename: Natarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Velmurugan
authors.forename: Hyun Mi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kalyanaraman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
authors.forename: Chan Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Yang Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005945:Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D005945:Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)