Generation and phenotypic characterization of Aspergillus nidulans methylisocitrate lyase deletion mutants: methylisocitrate inhibits growth and conidiation.

ABSTRACT: Propionate is a very abundant carbon source in soil, and many microorganisms are able to use this as the sole carbon source. Nevertheless, propionate not only serves as a carbon source for filamentous fungi but also acts as a preservative when added to glucose containing media. To solve this contradiction between carbon source and preservative effect, propionate metabolism of Aspergillus nidulans was studied and revealed the methylcitrate cycle as the responsible pathway. Methylisocitrate lyase is one of the key enzymes of that cycle. It catalyzes the cleavage of methylisocitrate into succinate and pyruvate and completes the alpha-oxidation of propionate. Previously, methylisocitrate lyase was shown to be highly specific for the substrate (2R,3S)-2-methylisocitrate. Here, the identificatio

SUBMITTER: Brock M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1214605 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature