O'Hanlon, Karen and Gallagher, Lorna and Schrettl, Markus and Jöchl, Christoph and Kavanagh, Kevin and Larsen, Thomas O. and Doyle, Sean (2012) Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Genes pesL and pes1 Are Essential for Fumigaclavine C Production in Aspergillus fumigatus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology , 78 (10). pp. 3166-3176. ISSN 0099-2240

Download (1MB)

Abstract

The identity of metabolites encoded by the majority of nonribosomal peptide synthetases in the opportunistic pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, remains outstanding.Wefound that the nonribosomal peptide (NRP) synthetases PesL and Pes1 were essential for fumigaclavine C biosynthesis, the end product of the complex ergot alkaloid (EA) pathway in A. fumigatus. Deletion of either pesL (pesL) or pes1 (pes1) resulted in complete loss of fumigaclavineCbiosynthesis, relatively increased production of fumitremorgins such as TR-2, fumitremorginCand verruculogen, increased sensitivity toH2O2, and increased sensitivity to the antifungals, voriconazole, and amphotericin B. Deletion of pesL resulted in severely reduced virulence in an invertebrate infection model (P<0.001). These findings indicate that NRP synthesis plays an essential role in mediating the final prenylation step of the EA pathway, despite the apparent absence of NRP synthetases in the proposed EA biosynthetic cluster for A. fumigatus. Liquid chromatography/diode array detection/ mass spectrometry analysis also revealed the presence of fumiquinazolines A to F in both A. fumigatus wild-type andpesL strains. This observation suggests that alternative NRP synthetases can also function in fumiquinazoline biosynthesis, since PesL has been shown to mediate fumiquinazoline biosynthesis in vitro. Furthermore, we provide here the first direct link between EA biosynthesis and virulence, in agreement with the observed toxicity associated with EA exposure. Finally, we demonstrate a possible cluster crosstalk phenomenon, a theme which is beginning to emerge in the literature.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Genes; pesL; pes1; Fumigaclavine C Production; Aspergillus fumigatus;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Institute of Immunology
Item ID:	3632
Depositing User:	Dr. Sean Doyle
Date Deposited:	02 May 2012 14:49
Journal or Publication Title:	Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Publisher:	American Society for Microbiology
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads