Báo cáo khoa học: Methylcitrate synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus Propionyl-CoA affects polyketide synthesis, growth and morphology of conidia

Methylcitrate synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus: Propionyl-CoA affects polyketide synthesis, growth and morphology of conidia

Tác giả: Claudia Maerker, Manfred Rohde, Axel A. Brakhage, and Matthias Brock

Lĩnh vực: Microbiology, Biochemistry

Nội dung tài liệu: This study investigates the role of methylcitrate synthase in Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic human pathogen. The enzyme is crucial for propionate degradation, and propionate itself influences polyketide synthesis, growth, and conidial morphology. The research details the purification and characterization of methylcitrate synthase from A. fumigatus, the identification of its gene, and the construction of a deletion mutant. Phenotypic analysis revealed that the mutant is unable to grow on propionate as a sole carbon source and exhibits reduced growth and altered spore color when grown on media containing both glucose and propionate, coinciding with propionyl-CoA accumulation. The study also explores the impact of propionyl-CoA on pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity, polyketide production (affecting spore color and surface ornamentation), and virulence in an insect infection model. Findings suggest that methylcitrate synthase and the resulting propionyl-CoA levels significantly influence various aspects of fungal physiology and pathogenicity.

Mục lục chi tiết:

• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• References