Open AccessCharacterisation and expression of a gene encoding a mutarotase from the fungus Rhizopus nigricans ⋆
Author(s) -
Vilfan Tanja,
Črešnar Bronislava,
Fournier Didier,
Stojan Jure,
Breskvar Katja
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2004.tb09573.x
Subject(s) - gene , biology , gene expression , coding region , transcription (linguistics) , fungus , pathogenic fungus , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , biochemistry , botany , philosophy , linguistics
A gene coding for a mutarotase was isolated and characterised from the filamentous fungus Rhizopus nigricans . In order to determine the encoded enzyme's activity a recombinant protein was prepared in the baculovirus expression system and the mutarotase activity was determined. Expression studies showed that the gene is repressed by high as well as low concentrations of glucose and derepressed during deficiency of glucose. Besides the regulation at the level of transcription, an accelerative effect of glucose in growth medium on the mutarotase mRNA decay was also demonstrated. Moreover, a Southern hybridisation performed at lower temperatures suggested that the R. nigricans genome harbours a nucleotide sequence, that is homologous to the isolated gene.