In the fungus where it happens: history and future propelling Aspergillus nidulans as the archetype of natural products research.

In the fungus where it happens: history and future propelling Aspergillus nidulans as the archetype of natural products research. Fungal Genet Biol. 2020 Oct 06;:103477 Authors: Caesar LK, Kelleher NL, Keller NP Abstract In 1990 the first fungal secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene was cloned in Aspergillus nidulans. Thirty years later, >30 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) have been linked to specific natural products in this one fungal species. While impressive, over half of the BGCs in A. nidulans remain uncharacterized and their compounds structurally and functionally unknown. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of past advances that have enabled A. nidulans to rise to its current status as a natural product powerhouse focusing on the discovery and annotation of secondary metabolite clusters. From genome sequencing, heterologous expression, and metabolomics to CRISPR and epigenetic manipulations, we present a guided tour through the evolution of technologies developed and utilized in the last 30 years. These insights provide perspective to future efforts to fully unlock the biosynthetic potential of A. nidulans and, by extension, the potential of other filamentous fungi. PMID: 33035657 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Fungal Genetics and Biology - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: Fungal Genet Biol Source Type: research