[SCAN] Catabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons in Aspergillus nidulans

Scan Seminar

Title: Catabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons in Aspergillus nidulans

Speaker: Tiago Martins

From: Applied and Environmental Mycology Lab, ITQB

Abstract:

Aspergilli play major roles in the natural turnover of elements, especially through the decomposition of
plant litter, but the end catabolism of lignin aromatic hydrocarbons remains largely unresolved. The 3-
oxoadipate pathway of their degradation combines the catechol and the protocatechuate branches, each
using a set of specific genes. However, annotation for most of these genes is lacking or attributed to
poorly- or un-characterised families. Aspergillus nidulans can utilise as sole carbon/energy source either
benzoate or salicylate (upstream aromatic metabolites of the protocatechuate and the catechol branches,
respectively). Using this cultivation strategy and combined analyses of comparative proteomics, gene
mining, gene expression and characterisation of particular gene-replacement mutants, we precisely
assigned most of the steps of the 3-oxoadipate pathway to specific genes in this fungus. Our findings
disclose the genetically encoded potential of saprophytic Ascomycota fungi to utilise this pathway and
provide means to untie associated regulatory networks, which are vital to heightening their ecological
significance.