The first promoter for conditional gene expression in Acremonium chrysogenum: iron starvation-inducible mir1(P).

Abstract

The filamentous fungus Acremonium chrysogenum is of enormous biotechnological importance as it represents the natural producer of the beta-lactam antibiotic cephalosporin C. However, a limitation in genetic tools, e.g. promoters for conditional gene expression, impedes genetic engineering of this fungus. Here we demonstrate that in A. chrysogenum iron starvation induces the production of the extracellular siderophores dimerumic acid, coprogen B, 2-N-methylcoprogen B and dimethylcoprogen as well as expression of the putative siderophore transporter gene, mir1. Moreover, we show that the promoter of mir1, mir1(P), is suitable for conditional expression of target genes in A. chrysogenum as shown by mir1(P)-driven and iron starvation-induced expression of genes encoding green fluorescence protein and phleomycin resistance. The obtained iron-starvation dependent phleomycin resistance indicates the potential use of this promoter for selection marker recycling. Together with easy scorable siderophore production, the co-regulation of mir1 expression and siderophore production facilitates the optimization of the inducing conditions of this expression system.

• Authors: Fabio Gsaller, Michael Blatzer, Beate Abt, Markus Schrettl, Herbert Lindner, Hubertus Haas
• Journal: Journal of biotechnology (J Biotechnol) Vol. 163 Issue 1 Pg. 77-80 (Jan 10 2013) ISSN: 1873-4863 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23089729 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Fungal Proteins
• Siderophores
• Iron

Topics

• Acremonium (genetics, metabolism)
• Fungal Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
• Genes, Fungal
• Genetic Engineering (methods)
• Iron (metabolism)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• Siderophores (metabolism)
• Stress, Physiological (genetics)