Characterization of NpgA, a 4′-phosphopantetheinyl transferase of Aspergillus nidulans, and evidence of its involvement in fungal growth and formation of conidia and cleistothecia for development

• Published in: The journal of microbiology Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 21 - 31
• Main Authors: Kim, Jung-Mi, Song, Ha-Yeon, Choi, Hyo-Jin, So, Kum-Kang, Kim, Dae-Hyuk, Chae, Keon-Sang, Han, Dong-Min, Jahng, Kwang-Yeop
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg The Microbiological Society of Korea 01.01.2015; Springer Nature B.V; 한국미생물학회
• Subjects: Adenosine Diphosphate - analogs & derivatives; Aspergillus nidulans; Aspergillus nidulans - enzymology; Aspergillus nidulans - genetics; Aspergillus nidulans - physiology; Aspergillus nidulans - ultrastructure; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Cell Wall - metabolism; E coli; Enzymes; Escherichia; Fatty acids; Filtrate; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Fungi; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genomics and Molecular Biology; Life Sciences; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbial Genetics; Microbiology; Molecular biology; Mutation; Penicillin; Phenotype; Pigmentation; Pigmentation - genetics; Pigments; Proteins; Reproduction, Asexual; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Secondary metabolites; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Spores, Fungal - growth & development; Thionucleotides; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) - genetics; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) - metabolism; 생물학; South Korea; phosphopantetheinyl transferase; development; metabolite
• ISSN: 1225-8873; 1976-3794
• DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-4657-8

The null pigmentation mutant ( npgA1 ) in Aspergillus nidulans results in a phenotype with colorless organs, decreased branching growth, delayed of asexual spore development, and aberrant cell wall structure. The npgA gene was isolated from A. nidulans to investigate these pleiomorphic phenomena of npgA1 mutant. Sequencing analysis of the complementing gene indicated that it contained a 4′-phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase) superfamily domain. Enzymatic assay of the PPTase, encoded by the npgA gene, was implemented in vivo and itvitro . Loss-of-function of LYS5 , which encoded a PPTase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , was functionally complemented by NpgA, and Escherichia coli-derived NpgA revealed phosphopantetheinylation activity with the elaboration of 3′5′-ADP. Deletion of the npgA gene caused perfectly a lethal phenotype and the absence of asexual/sexual sporulation and secondary metabolites such as pigments in A. nidulans . However, a cross feeding effect with A. nidulans wild type allowed recovery from deletion defects, and phased-culture filtrate from the wild type were used to verify that the npgA gene was essential for formation of metabolites needed for development as well as growth. In addition, forced expression of npgA promoted the formation of conidia and cleistothecia as well as growth. These results indicate that the npgA gene is involved in the phosphopantetheinylation required for primary biological processes such as growth, asexual/sexual development, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites in A. nidulans .