Comparative Study on Whole Genome Sequences of Aspergillus terreus (Soil Fungus) and Diaporthe ampelina (Endophytic Fungus) with Reference to Lovastatin Production.

Lovastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) in cholesterol biosynthetic pathway and hence used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. In a previous study, we report a tropical soil isolate, Aspergillus terreus (KM017963), which produces ample amount of lovastatin than its counterpart that are endophytic in origin. Bioinformatic analysis of whole genome sequence of A. terreus (AH007774.1), a soil isolate revealed the presence of gene cluster (AF141924.1 & AF141925.1) responsible for lovastatin production, whereas endophytic fungi including a strain of A. terreus showed no homology with the lovastatin gene cluster. The molecular study was also carried out targeting PCR amplification of the two important genes, lovE (a regulatory gene) and lovF (transcriptional regulatory factor) in genomic and c-DNA of soil and endophytic fungi. Expression of the two genes was successful in A. terreus (KM017963), whereas the same was not achieved in endophytic fungi. To further validate our above findings, in the present study, the whole genome sequencing of A. terreus and a selected endophytic fungus, Diaporthe ampelina (Phomopsis) was performed. Lovastatin gene cluster, when aligned on the consensus sequence of both genomes, the entire lovastatin gene cluster was detected in a single scaffold (1.16) of A.terreus genome. On the contrary, there was a complete absence of lovastatin gene cluster in the genome of D. ampelina (an endophyte). The probable reasons for the absence of lovastatin gene cluster in endophytic fungi are discussed.

Complete Genome Sequence of Soil Fungus Aspergillus terreus (KM017963), a Potent Lovastatin Producer.

We report the complete genome of Aspergillus terreus (KM017963), a tropical soil isolate. The genome sequence is 29 Mb, with a G+C content of 51.12%. The genome sequence of A. terreus shows the presence of the complete gene cluster responsible for lovastatin (an anti-cholesterol drug) production in a single scaffold (1.16).

Complete Genome Sequence of the Endophytic Fungus Diaporthe (Phomopsis) ampelina.

Diaporthe ampelina was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the root of Commiphora wightii, a medicinal plant collected from Dhanvantri Vana, Bangalore University, Bangalore, India. The whole genome is 59 Mb, contains a total of 905 scaffolds, and has a G+C content of 51.74%. The genome sequence of D. ampelina shows a complete absence of lovastatin (an anticholesterol drug) gene cluster.

Arsenate resistant Penicillium coffeae: a potential fungus for soil bioremediation.

Bioremediation is an effective method for the treatment of major metal contaminated sites. Fungi were isolated from soil samples collected from different arsenate contaminated areas across India. An isolate, Penicillium coffeae, exhibited resistance to arsenate up to 500 mM. Results indicated that pretreatment of biomass with alkali (NaOH) enhanced the percentage of adsorption to 66.8% as compared to that of live and untreated dead biomass whose adsorption was 22.9% and 60.2% respectively. The physiological parameters evaluated in this study may help pilot studies aimed at bioremediation of arsenate contaminated effluents using arsenate resistant fungus P. coffeae.