Project description:To investigate the roles of epigenetic regulator homologs, heterochromatin protein 1 (HepA) and a putative methyltransferase (LaeA), in the citric acid produciton by Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii, we constructed the ΔhepA and ΔlaeA strains. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii control, ΔhepA, and ΔlaeA strains.
Project description:We report that the RNA-binding protein NrdA has a significant role on the global mRNA expression in the white koji fungus, Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii. We constructed the nrdA conditional expression strain using the Tet-On system in A. kawachii. Downregulation of nrdA caused severe growth defect, indicating that NrdA is essential for proliferation of A. kawachii. Parallel RNA-seq and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-seq analysis identified potential NrdA-interacted transcripts, corresponding to 32% of predicted protein coding genes of A. kawachii. Subsequent gene ontology analysis suggested that overexpression of NrdA affects a variety of metabolic activity including secondary metabolite production.
