Genome-wide identification of target genes of a mating-type α-domain transcription factor reveals functions beyond sexual development.
Penicillium chrysogenum is the main industrial producer of the β-lactam antibiotic penicillin, the most commonly used drug in the treatment of bacterial infections. Recently, a functional MAT1-1 locus encoding the α-box transcription factor MAT1-1-1 was discovered to control sexual development in P. chrysogenum. As only little was known from any organism about the regulatory functions mediated by MAT1-1-1, we applied chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) to gain new insights into the factors that influence MAT1-1-1 functions on a molecular level and its role in genome-wide transcriptional regulatory networks. Most importantly, our data provide evidence for mating-type transcription factor functions that reach far beyond their previously understood role in sexual development. These new roles include regulation of hyphal morphology, asexual development, as well as amino acid, iron, and secondary metabolism. Furthermore, in vitro DNA-protein binding studies and downstream analysis in yeast and P. chrysogenum enabled the identification of a MAT1-1-1 DNA-binding motif, which is highly conserved among euascomycetes. Our studies pave the way to a more general understanding of these master switches for development and metabolism in all fungi, and open up new options for optimization of fungal high production strains.
Christian Doppler Laboratory for Fungal Biotechnology, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany.
Kordula
K
Becker
Christian Doppler Laboratory for Fungal Biotechnology, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany.
Christina
C
Beer
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331-7305, USA.
Michael
M
Freitag
Christian Doppler Laboratory for Fungal Biotechnology, Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany.
Ulrich
U
Kück
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D025301:Hyphae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors