Comprehensive genomic analysis of cell wall genes in Aspergillus nidulans

Knowledge of the mechanisms underlying cell wall biosynthesis in Aspergillus spp. is of high relevance to medicine and food safety, and for biotechnological applications. The cell wall of Aspergillus nidulans is composed of galactomannoproteins, 1,3-α-glucan, β-glucans, and chitin. Here, we present...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fungal genetics and biology 2009-03, Vol.46 (1), p.S72-S81
Main Authors: de Groot, Piet W.J., Brandt, Bernd W., Horiuchi, Hiroyuki, Ram, Arthur F.J., de Koster, Chris G., Klis, Frans M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
1,3-α-Glucan
1,3-β-Glucan
1,3/1,4-β-Glucan
alpha-glucanase
Aspergillus nidulans - genetics
Aspergillus nidulans - metabolism
Aspergillus nidulellus
beta-glucanase
beta-glucans
carbohydrate metabolism
Cell Wall - genetics
Cell Wall - metabolism
cell wall components
cell walls
chemical bonding
Chitin
enzymes
fungal proteins
Fungal Proteins - genetics
Fungal Proteins - metabolism
galactomannans
galactomannoproteins
genes
Genes, Fungal - genetics
genome
genomics
glucans
Glycosylphosphatidylinositols - genetics
Glycosylphosphatidylinositols - metabolism
GPI proteins
hydrolases
Hydrophobins
hyphae
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism
Mass Spectrometry
Mixed-linked glucanases
Polysaccharides - metabolism
signal peptide
Spores, Fungal
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Summary:Knowledge of the mechanisms underlying cell wall biosynthesis in Aspergillus spp. is of high relevance to medicine and food safety, and for biotechnological applications. The cell wall of Aspergillus nidulans is composed of galactomannoproteins, 1,3-α-glucan, β-glucans, and chitin. Here, we present a comprehensive inventory of the cell wall-related genes in A. nidulans. This includes glycan-synthetic and glycan-processing enzymes, spore wall maturation enzymes, GPI-anchor processing enzymes, GPI proteins and hydrophobins, and signaling proteins of the cell wall integrity pathway. All major known fungal cell wall-related genes are represented, except for Pir-CWPs. Importantly, we have identified a gene product that is possibly involved in the synthesis of 1,3/1,4-β-glucan, and we propose that four predicted GPI proteins, a mixed-linked β-glucanase and three amylase-like α-glucanases, may have transglucosidic activities pertaining to the processing of 1,3/1,4-β-glucan and 1,3/1,4-α-glucan, respectively. We further present an updated survey of putative GPI proteins. Finally, we present mass spectrometric evidence suggesting the presence of at least twelve covalently-linked cell wall proteins in the hyphal wall of A. nidulans, including ten predicted GPI proteins, most of which belong to carbohydrate-active enzyme families that are also found in the walls of ascomycetous yeasts.
ISSN:1087-1845
1096-0937
DOI:10.1016/j.fgb.2008.07.022