English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Secondary metabolism in the model fungus  Aspergillus nidulans  is controlled by the conserved global regulator VeA, which also governs morphological differentiation. Among the secondary metabolites regulated by VeA is the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (ST). The presence of VeA is necessary for the biosynthesis of this carcinogenic compound. We identified a revertant mutant able to synthesize ST intermediates in the absence of VeA. The point mutation occurred at the coding region of a gene encoding a novel putative C 2 H 2  zinc finger domain transcription factor that we denominated  mtfA . The  A. nidulans mtfA  gene product localizes at nuclei independently of the illumination regime. Deletion of the  mtfA  gene restores mycotoxin biosynthesis in the absence of  veA,  but drastically reduced mycotoxin production when  mtfA  gene expression was altered, by deletion or overexpression, in  A. nidulans  strains with a  veA  wild-type allele. Our study revealed that  mtfA  regulates ST production by affecting the expression of the specific ST gene cluster activator  aflR . Importantly,  mtfA  is also a regulator of other secondary metabolism gene clusters, such as genes responsible for the synthesis of terrequinone and penicillin. As in the case of ST, deletion or overexpression of  mtfA  was also detrimental for the expression of terrequinone genes. Deletion of  mtfA  also decreased the expression of the genes in the penicillin gene cluster, reducing penicillin production. However, in this case, over-expression of  mtfA  enhanced the transcription of penicillin genes, increasing penicillin production more than 5 fold with respect to the control. Importantly, in addition to its effect on secondary metabolism,  mtfA  also affects asexual and sexual development in  A. nidulans.  Deletion of  mtfA  results in a reduction of conidiation and sexual stage. We found  mtfA  putative orthologs conserved in other fungal species.

The Putative C2H2 Transcription Factor MtfA Is a Novel Regulator of Secondary Metabolism and Morphogenesis in Aspergillus nidulans