Transcription factor RonA-driven GlcNAc catabolism is essential for growth, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>.

ABSTRACT: Aspergillus fumigatus, a saprophytic mold, demonstrates metabolic versatility by utilizing diverse carbon sources to sustain its growth and pathogenic potential. While N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), an ubiquitous amino sugar, serves as a vital nutrient, its catabolic pathway in A. fumigatus remains unexplored. Here, we identified core components of this pathway, including GlcNAc-6-phosphate deacetylase (DacA), glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase (NagA), and the transcription factor RonA. The expressions of dacA, nagA, and ronA were strongly induced when GlcNAc was the sole carbon source. Both ΔdacA and ΔnagA mutants exhibited abolished growth under GlcNAc condition, whereas the ΔronA mutant exhibited pleiotropic defects, including severe

SUBMITTER: Gong X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12584764 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature