Light regulation of metabolic pathways in fungi

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 85; no. 5; pp. 1259 - 1277
• Main Authors: Tisch, Doris, Schmoll, Monika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.02.2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carbohydrate metabolism; Carbohydrates; Carotenoids; Cell cycle; Circadian rhythm; energy; Enzymes; fatty acid metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal Proteins; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Fungi; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; genes; Genes, Fungal; genetics; habitats; Industrial Microbiology; Influence; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Light; Light Signal Transduction; lighting; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - genetics; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Mini-Review; Nucleotides; Organisms; Photons; Physiology; Polysaccharides; Regulation; reproduction; Secondary metabolites; Studies; Translating; Light response; Metabolic pathways; Strain improvement; Biotechnological processes; Fungi; Biotechnology; Regulation(control); Light; Genetic improvement; Metabolic pathway; Operating process
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-009-2320-1

Light represents a major carrier of information in nature. The molecular machineries translating its electromagnetic energy (photons) into the chemical language of cells transmit vital signals for adjustment of virtually every living organism to its habitat. Fungi react to illumination in various ways, and we found that they initiate considerable adaptations in their metabolic pathways upon growth in light or after perception of a light pulse. Alterations in response to light have predominantly been observed in carotenoid metabolism, polysaccharide and carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, nucleotide and nucleoside metabolism, and in regulation of production of secondary metabolites. Transcription of genes is initiated within minutes, abundance and activity of metabolic enzymes are adjusted, and subsequently, levels of metabolites are altered to cope with the harmful effects of light or to prepare for reproduction, which is dependent on light in many cases. This review aims to give an overview on metabolic pathways impacted by light and to illustrate the physiological significance of light for fungi. We provide a basis for assessment whether a given metabolic pathway might be subject to regulation by light and how these properties can be exploited for improvement of biotechnological processes.