Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yaru Gao, Xinyang Du, Huanhuan Li, Ying Wang
Summary: Marine microorganisms have unique physicochemical characteristics compared to terrestrial microorganisms, producing diverse secondary metabolites (SMs). Three strains of coepiphytic Aspergillus with potential antibacterial activities were isolated from the South China Sea, with A7 showing the highest diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and superior environmental adaptability. The study provides genetic information for investigating marine Aspergillus spp., potentially elucidating their chemical diversity and adaptive strategies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dini Hu, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Kai Li, Kai Meng Mok
Summary: Mangrove-derived actinobacteria, such as Mycobacterium saopaulense, have a high potential to biosynthesize a variety of biologically active secondary metabolites, including antibiotics and bioactive compounds. Whole genome sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis of this strain revealed 81 gene clusters associated with the production of 23 secondary metabolites, among which clavulanic acid and streptomycin were identified during fermentation. This study highlights the importance of exploring the secondary metabolite production potential of actinobacteria sourced from mangroves.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bishwo N. Adhikari, Kenneth A. Callicott, Peter J. Cotty
Summary: Iron is an essential component for growth and development, but its bioavailability in filamentous fungi like Aspergillus flavus is limited due to oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. This study identified a putative iron utilization gene cluster in A. flavus and found that different genotypes exhibit diversity in the structure of the cluster, with lineage-specific loss of the iron utilization genes. Such divergence in iron acquisition capacity should be considered when selecting A. flavus active ingredients for biocontrol under changing climate conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Xuejie Li, Lianggang Huang, Lijie Pan, Bin Wang, Li Pan
Summary: The CRISPR/dCas9-mediated histone epigenetic modification system efficiently reprogrammed the expression of target genes in A. niger, leading to increased production of secondary metabolites. Targeted epigenome editing is a promising technology for regulating gene expression in filamentous fungi.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Qianliang Ming, Xiuning Huang, Yimo He, Lingyue Qin, Yu Tang, Yanxia Liu, Yuting Huang, Hongwei Zhang, Peng Li
Summary: Endophytic fungi are a rich source of natural products with vast chemical diversity. In this study, the whole genome of an endophyte, Dactylonectria alcacerensis CT-6, was sequenced for the first time. Genomic analysis revealed numerous unknown biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites in D. alcacerensis CT-6. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of the chemical constituents of D. alcacerensis CT-6 using genome-mining strategies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomohiro Furukawa, Masayo Kushiro, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Hirofumi Enomoto, Shohei Sakuda
Summary: Recent studies have shown that ethanol can be utilized by Aspergillus flavus for aflatoxin production. This study further demonstrates that both labeled ethanol and labeled 2-propanol can be incorporated into aflatoxin B-1 and B-2, and that low concentrations of ethanol and 2-propanol can upregulate aflatoxin production. The alcohol dehydrogenase gene adh1 is found to regulate aflatoxin production by controlling ethanol production and catabolism.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sandeep Sharma, Babita Choudhary, Sonam Yadav, Avinash Mishra, Vinod K. Mishra, Ramesh Chand, Chen Chen, Shree P. Pandey
Summary: The study identified pipecolic acid (Pip) as a key component in peanut resistance to Aspergillus flavus, revealing its role in protecting plants from fungal infection and the changes in gene expression related to Pip in resistant plant genotypes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nadim Ahmad, Manfred Ritz, Anjuli Calchera, Juergen Otte, Imke Schmitt, Thomas Brueck, Norbert Mehlmer
Summary: Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont and a mycobiont, and they produce unique secondary metabolites. This study identified 460 biosynthetic gene clusters in lichens, including fungi, green algae, and bacteria. The mycobionts mainly contained T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs and terpenes, while the green algae had clusters linked to terpenes, NRPSs, and T3PKSs. Other lichen-associated ascomycetes and bacteria had diverse biosynthetic gene clusters. This research provides insights into the biosynthetic potential of lichens and offers possibilities for further investigation.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jingjing Guo, You-Sheng Cai, Fangcai Cheng, Chenjie Yang, Wenqi Zhang, Wulin Yu, Jingjing Yan, Zixin Deng, Kui Hong
Summary: Genome mining of Aspergillus ustus 094102 led to the discovery of a multiproduct bifunctional terpene synthase (BTS), AuAS, which produced five new sesterterpenes when heterologously expressed. Coexpression with the CYP450 monooxygenase (AuAP450) generated four new sesterterpene alcohols. Additionally, two of the synthesized compounds, aspergilol A and aspergilol B, exhibited cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shinji Kishimoto, Ayumi Minami, Yoshimitsu Aoki, Yuya Matsubara, Shogo Watanabe, Kenji Watanabe
Summary: Pathogenic fungi of Aspergillus section Fumigati are capable of producing various secondary metabolites. This study reports the isolation of fumimycin and a new compound named lentofuranine from A. lentulus. These compounds were found to be assembled through a nonenzymatic condensation involving a polyketide intermediate from the terrein biosynthetic pathway and a highly reactive azlactone intermediate. The formation of an unusual carbon skeleton is attributed to the reactivity of azlactone.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ronglu Yu, Jia Liu, Yi Wang, Hong Wang, Huawei Zhang
Summary: Aspergillus niger, a common and important fungal species, produces various biomolecules with wide applications as secondary metabolites. This review comprehensively summarizes the biological and chemical aspects of A. niger strains, including their sources, BGCs, secondary metabolites, biological properties, and biosynthetic pathways. Future perspectives on the discovery of more functional biomolecules derived from A. niger are also provided.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ton That Huu Dat, Georg Steinert, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, Pham Viet Cuong, Hauke Smidt, Detmer Sipkema
Summary: Recent reviews have shown that sponge-associated bacteria are valuable sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with potent biological activities, making these microbial communities promising for new drug candidates. However, accessing the overall diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential in bacteria is challenging due to the difficulty in culturing the majority of bacteria in the laboratory. This study investigates the diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in metagenomes of bacterial communities associated with three different sponge species and identifies numerous potential gene clusters for the production of novel compounds.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nannan Zhang, Jin Wu, Siping Zhang, Maoran Yuan, Hang Xu, Jie Li, Pingping Zhang, Mingzhu Wang, Megan L. Kempher, Xuanyu Tao, Li-Qun Zhang, Honghua Ge, Yong-Xing He
Summary: The regulator PhlH from the rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens is able to coordinate the expression of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of multiple secondary metabolites. Structural studies and molecular dynamics simulations reveal the ligand recognition and allosteric switching mechanisms of PhlH, and demonstrate that dissociation of 2,4-DAPG triggers a conformational transition by activating the DNA-binding domain of PhlH.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Sudha Bind, Sandhya Bind, A. K. Sharma, Preeti Chaturvedi
Summary: Utilizing epigenetics to regulate gene expression can enhance the production of bioactive compounds in microorganisms. Epigenetic modifications such as histone posttranslational modifications, DNA methylation, and RNA interference can alter chromatin structure and control the expression of silent genes.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Perng-Kuang Chang, Leslie L. L. Scharfenstein, Noreen Mahoney, Qing Kong
Summary: In this study, it was found that almost all section Flavi aspergilli, except for A. avenaceus, had complete KA gene clusters. Additionally, the partial KA gene cluster was found in the Penicillium species, P. nordicum. Phylogenetic analysis based on KA gene cluster sequences revealed different evolutionary branches within section Flavi aspergilli. The transcriptional regulator KojR was shown to activate the kojA and kojT genes in Aspergillus flavus, and a critical binding motif for KojR in the kojA promoter region was identified.