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Genome‐wide identification of target genes of a mating‐type α‐domain transcription factor reveals functions beyond sexual development
Author(s) -
Becker Kordula,
Beer Christina,
Freitag Michael,
Kück Ulrich
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.12987
Subject(s) - biology , transcription factor , genetics , gene , penicillium chrysogenum , genome , chromatin immunoprecipitation , mating type , computational biology , transcriptional regulation , chromatin , locus (genetics) , gene expression , promoter , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary Penicillium chrysogenum is the main industrial producer of the β‐lactam antibiotic penicillin, the most commonly used drug in the treatment of bacterial infections. Recently, a functional MAT 1‐1 locus encoding the α‐box transcription factor MAT 1‐1‐1 was discovered to control sexual development in P . chrysogenum . As only little was known from any organism about the regulatory functions mediated by MAT 1‐1‐1, we applied chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with next‐generation sequencing ( ChIP ‐seq) to gain new insights into the factors that influence MAT 1‐1‐1 functions on a molecular level and its role in genome‐wide transcriptional regulatory networks. Most importantly, our data provide evidence for mating‐type transcription factor functions that reach far beyond their previously understood role in sexual development. These new roles include regulation of hyphal morphology, asexual development, as well as amino acid, iron, and secondary metabolism. Furthermore, in vitro DNA –protein binding studies and downstream analysis in yeast and P . chrysogenum enabled the identification of a MAT 1‐1‐1 DNA ‐binding motif, which is highly conserved among euascomycetes. Our studies pave the way to a more general understanding of these master switches for development and metabolism in all fungi, and open up new options for optimization of fungal high production strains.