Cutinase-like biodegradable plastic-degrading enzymes from phylloplane yeasts have cutinase activity.

Phylloplane yeast genera Pseudozyma and Cryptococcus secrete biodegradable plastic (BP)-degrading enzymes, termed cutinase-like enzymes (CLEs). Although CLEs contain highly conserved catalytic sites, the whole protein exhibits ≤30% amino acid sequence homology with cutinase. In this study, we analyzed whether CLEs exhibit cutinase activity. Seventeen Cryptococcus magnus strains, which degrade BP at 15 °C, were isolated from leaves and identified the DNA sequence of the CLE in one of the strains. Cutin was prepared from tomato leaves and treated with CLEs from 3 Cryptococcus species (C. magnus, Cryptococcus flavus, and Cryptococcus laurentii) and Pseudozyma antarctia (PaE). A typical cutin monomer, 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid, was detected in extracts of the reaction solution via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, showing that cutin was indeed degraded by CLEs. In addition to the aforementioned monomer, separation analysis via thin-layer chromatography detected high-molecular-weight products resulting from the breakdown of cutin by PaE, indicating that PaE acts as an endo-type enzyme.

Aspergillus oryzae type III polyketide synthase CsyB uses a fatty acyl starter for the biosynthesis of csypyrone B compounds.

Csypyrones B1, B2 and B3 are α-pyrones that can be obtained from Aspergillus oryzae expressing CsyB, which is a type III polyketide synthase. We investigated the biosynthesis of the csypyrone B compounds using [1-(13)C] and [2-(13)C] acetate feeding experiments. (13)C NMR analyses of the methyl esters of the csypyrone B compounds fed with the (13)C-labeled acetates showed that the carboxyl carbons of the csypyrone B side-chains were derived from the C-2 methyl carbon of the acetate. These results indicated that fatty acyl starters are involved in the CsyB reaction and that the csypyrone B compounds are formed by the oxidation of side-chains by the host fungus.

Identification of csypyrone B2 and B3 as the minor products of Aspergillus oryzae type III polyketide synthase CsyB.

Since our first report on the identification of the fungal type III polyketide synthase (PKS) genes csyA~D in Aspergillus oryzae RIB40, type III PKS homologues have also been found in other fungal species. We previously reported the isolation and structural determination of csypyrone B1 as the main product of CsyB when inductively expressed in Aspergillus oryzae. Herein we report the isolation and identification of the two minor products of the csyB transformant in addition to csypyrone B1 as 4-(3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)butyric acid and 5-(3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)pentanoic acid. These compounds were named csypyrone B2 and B3, respectively, and both are homologues of main product csypyrone B1 with different side chain lengths. This result suggests that the carbon skeleton of the csypyrone B precursor is constructed by the condensation of fatty acyl-CoA and acetylmalonyl-CoA followed by pyrone formation. The alkyl side chain of the precursor may be oxidatively cleaved by enzyme(s) in the host fungus to give variations of csypyrone B with propanoic acid, butyric acid, or pentanoic acid side chains.

Genetic safeguard against mycotoxin cyclopiazonic acid production in Aspergillus oryzae.

Aspergillus oryzae is a fungus widely used in traditional Japanese fermentation industries. Its inability to produce mycotoxins, due to mutation or transcriptional repression of the genes responsible for their biosynthesis, is consistent with the hypothesis that A. oryzae is a domesticated species derived from A. flavus, a wild species that is a well-known producer of aflatoxin. In contrast, the cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) biosynthetic gene (cpa) cluster in A. oryzae contains genes that have been lost in A. flavus. Through targeted gene inactivation, isolation of the corresponding metabolite, and evaluation of biological activity of the metabolite, we demonstrated that an A. oryzae-specific gene-cpaH-mediates the conversion of CPA into the less toxic 2-oxocyclopiazonic acid, a new analogue of CPA. The detoxifying properties of cpaH, which have been lost in the A. flavus pathway, reflect the relationship of the two species.

Aspergillus oryzae type III polyketide synthase CsyA is involved in the biosynthesis of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid.

As a novel superfamily of type III polyketide synthases in microbes, four genes csyA, csyB, csyC, and csyD, were found in the genome of Aspergillus oryzae, an industrially important filamentous fungus. In order to analyze their functions, we carried out the overexpression of csyA under the control of alpha-amylase promoter in A. oryzae and identified 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) as the major product. Feeding experiments using (13)C-labeled acetates confirmed that the acetate labeling pattern of DHBA coincided with that of orcinol derived from orsellinic acid, a polyketide formed by the condensation and cyclization of four acetate units. Further oxidation of methyl group of orcinol by the host fungus could lead to the production of DHBA. Comparative molecular modeling of CsyA with the crystal structure of Neurospora crassa 2'-oxoalkylresorcylic acid synthase indicated that CsyA cavity size can only accept short-chain acyl starter and tetraketide formation. Thus, CsyA is considered to be a tetraketide alkyl-resorcinol/resorcylic acid synthase.

Identification of csypyrone B1 as the novel product of Aspergillus oryzae type III polyketide synthase CsyB.

As a novel superfamily of type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) in microbes, four genes, csyA, csyB, csyC, and csyD, were found in the genome of Aspergillus oryzae, an industrially important filamentous fungus. Although orthologs of csyA, csyC, and csyD genes are present in a closely related species, Aspergillus flavus, csyB gene is unique to A. oryzae. To identify its function, we carried out overexpression of csyB gene under the control of alpha-amylase promoter in A. oryzae. 3-(3-Acetyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)propanoic acid, named csypyrone B1, was identified as a CsyB product. Feeding experiments of (13)C-labeled acetate indicated that five acetate units were incorporated into csypyrone B1. Two possible mechanisms are proposed for the biosynthesis of cycpyrone B1: (1) condensation of succinyl-CoA with three acetyl/malonyl-CoAs, and the following pyrone ring cyclization; (2) condensation of butyryl-CoA with three acetyl/malonyl-CoAs, and the following pyrone ring cyclization and side-chain oxidation.

Functional expression of the Aspergillus flavus PKS-NRPS hybrid CpaA involved in the biosynthesis of cyclopiazonic acid.

alpha-Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is an indole tetramic acid mycotoxin. Based on our identification of the polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthase (PKS-NRPS) hybrid gene cpaA involved in cyclopiazonic acid biosynthesis in Aspergillus fungi, we carried out heterologous expression of Aspergillus flavuscpaA under alpha-amylase promoter in Aspergillus oryzae and identified its sole product to be the CPA biosynthetic intermediate cyclo-acetoacetyl-l-tryptophan (cAATrp). This result rationalized that the PKS-NRPS hybrid enzyme CpaA catalyzes condensation of the diketide acetoacetyl-ACP formed by the PKS module and l-Trp activated by the NRPS module. This CpaA expression system provides us an ideal platform for PKS-NRPS functional analysis, such as adenylation domain selectivity and product releasing mechanism.

Biosynthesis of steroidal antibiotic fusidanes: functional analysis of oxidosqualene cyclase and subsequent tailoring enzymes from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Three putative oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) genes exist in the genome of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus that produces a steroidal antibiotic, helvolic acid. One of these genes, Afu4g14770, designated AfuOSC3, is clustered with genes of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR), and acyltransferases, which presumably function in triterpene tailoring steps, suggesting that this gene cluster codes for helvolic acid biosynthesis. AfuOSC3 was PCR amplified from A. fumigatus IFO8866 genomic DNA and expressed in yeast. The yeast transformant accumulated protosta-17(20)Z,24-dien-3beta-ol, an established precursor for helvolic acid. Its structural isomer, (20R)-protosta-13(17),24-dien-3beta-ol, was also isolated from the transformed yeast. To further identify the function of triterpene tailoring enzymes, four P450 genes (CYP5081A1-D1) and a SDR gene (AfuSDR1) in the cluster were each coexpressed with AfuOSC3 in yeast. As a result, coexpression of AfuSDR1 gave a 3-keto derivative of protostadienol. On the other hand, coexpression with CYP5081A1 gave protosta-17(20)Z,24-diene-3beta,29-diol and protosta-17(20)Z,24-dien-3beta-ol-29-oic acid. These metabolites are in well accord with the oxidative modification involved in helvolic acid biosynthesis. AfuSDR1 and CYP5081A1 presumably function together to catalyze demethylation of C-29 methyl group. These results provided a firm ground for identification of the present gene cluster to be involved in helvolic acid biosynthesis.

Identification of a novel polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) gene required for the biosynthesis of cyclopiazonic acid in Aspergillus oryzae.

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a mycotoxin produced by several strains of Penicillium and Aspergillus species. Aspergillus oryzae strains used in fermented foods do not produce CPA; however, several wild-type A. oryzae strains produce CPA. Here, we identified a novel polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) gene involved in CPA production by comparing the telomere-adjacent region of a CPA-producing strain (A. oryzae NBRC 4177) with that of a nonproducing strain (A. oryzae RIB40). NBRC 4177 has an additional 17-18-kb sequence beyond the region corresponding to the telomere repeat in RIB40 and this additional regions contains 3' region of the PKS-NRPS gene, while RIB40 has only the 5' region of the PKS-NRPS gene. Gene disruption of the PKS-NRPS gene in NBRC 4177 resulted in elimination of CPA production. Thus, the PKS-NRPS gene is required for CPA biosynthesis, and the truncation of this gene is presumed as one of the determinants of CPA nonproductivity in A. oryzae RIB40.

Genomic evidences for the existence of a phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in Aspergillus oryzae.

Plants interact with their environment by producing a diverse array of secondary metabolites. A majority of these compounds are phenylpropanoids and flavonoids which are valued for their medicinal and agricultural properties. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway proceeds with the basic C6-C3 carbon skeleton of phenylalanine, and involves a wide range of enzymes viz., phenylalanine ammonia lyase, coumarate hydroxylase, coumarate ligase, chalcone synthase, chalcone reductase and chalcone isomerase. Recently, bacteria have also been shown to contain homodimeric polyketide synthases belonging to the plant chalcone synthase superfamily linking the capabilities of plants and bacteria in the biosynthesis of flavonoids. We report here the presence of genes encoding the core enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in an industrially useful fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. Although the assignment of enzyme function must be confirmed by further biochemical evidences, this work has allowed us to anticipate the phenylpropanoid metabolism profile in a filamentous fungus for the first time and paves way for research on identifying novel fungal flavonoid-like metabolites.

Discovery of a novel superfamily of type III polyketide synthases in Aspergillus oryzae.

Identification of genes encoding type III polyketide synthase (PKS) superfamily members in the industrially useful filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae, revealed that their distribution is not specific to plants or bacteria. Among other Aspergilli (Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus), A. oryzae was unique in possessing four chalcone synthase (CHS)-like genes (csyA, csyB, csyC, and csyD). Expression of csyA, csyB, and csyD genes was confirmed by RT-PCR. Comparative genome analyses revealed single putative type III PKS in Neurospora crassa and Fusarium graminearum, two each in Magnaporthe grisea and Podospora anserina, and three in Phenarocheate chrysosporium, with a phylogenic distinction from bacteria and plants. Conservation of catalytic residues in the CHSs across species implicated enzymatically active nature of these newly discovered homologs.

Genomics reveals traces of fungal phenylpropanoid-flavonoid metabolic pathway in the f ilamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae.

Fungal secondary metabolites constitute a wide variety of compounds which either play a vital role in agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial contexts, or have devastating effects on agriculture, animal and human affairs by virtue of their toxigenicity. Owing to their beneficial and deleterious characteristics, these complex compounds and the genes responsible for their synthesis have been the subjects of extensive investigation by microbiologists and pharmacologists. A majority of the fungal secondary metabolic genes are classified as type I polyketide synthases (PKS) which are often clustered with other secondary metabolism related genes. In this review we discuss on the significance of our recent discovery of chalcone synthase (CHS) genes belonging to the type III PKS superfamily in an industrially important fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. CHS genes are known to play a vital role in the biosynthesis of flavonoids in plants. A comparative genome analyses revealed the unique character of A. oryzae with four CHS-like genes (csyA, csyB, csyC and csyD) amongst other Aspergilli (Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus) which contained none of the CHS-like genes. Some other fungi such as Neurospora crassa, Fusarium graminearum, Magnaporthe grisea, Podospora anserina and Phanerochaete chrysosporium also contained putative type III PKSs, with a phylogenic distinction from bacteria and plants. The enzymatically active nature of these newly discovered homologues is expected owing to the conservation in the catalytic residues across the different species of plants and fungi, and also by the fact that a majority of these genes (csyA, csyB and csyD) were expressed in A. oryzae. While this finding brings filamentous fungi closer to plants and bacteria which until recently were the only ones considered to possess the type III PKSs, the presence of putative genes encoding other principal enzymes involved in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis (viz., phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamic acid hydroxylase and p-coumarate CoA ligase) in the A. oryzae genome undoubtedly prove the extent of its metabolic diversity. Since many of these genes have not been identified earlier, knowledge on their corresponding products or activities remain undeciphered. In future, it is anticipated that these enzymes may be reasonable targets for metabolic engineering in fungi to produce agriculturally and nutritionally important metabolites.