Fungal mechanisms for tolerance and adaptation to environmental stresses

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H02487
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied molecular and cellular biology
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Takaya Naoki 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 教授 (50282322)
• Research Collaborator: MASUO Shunsuke
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 糸状菌 / 一酸化窒素 / サーチュイン / 二次代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Some filamentous fungi persist under the severe environment. This study investigated fungal mechanisms that tolerate the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans to environmental stress. We identified novel genes required for normal growth tolerance to one of the stressors, nitric oxide. These genes included napA, rbgA, rcoD and snaD. They also included proC, argB, and cpcA, which are related to the fungal amino acid biosynthesis, suggesting that relationship between fungal NO-tolerance and amino acids metabolisms. Secondary metabolite production is a fungal mechanism and often induced by environmental stresses through activity of sirtuins. This study also characterized functions of the sirtuin isozymes SirE, SirC, and SirD of this fungus on the secondary metabolite production. Inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity of the sirtuin (SirA) were identified in a library of fungal culture extracts.

Free Research Field

微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

解明されたA. nidulansの一酸化窒素耐性機構の知見は、動植物の病原菌の一酸化窒素耐性の理解につながり、治療法や植物病害の防除法の開発に役立つと期待できる。A. nidulansの類縁菌には、産業上重要なものが多く、本研究成果はこれらのカビの生育の制御に役立つ。動植物のNO応答の重要性は広く認識されている。本研究によって解明された新たな一酸化窒素耐性機構は、真核生物に普遍的な生命活動の新たな原理の提案につながる意義を持つ。