Interrogation of the cell wall integrity pathway in Aspergillus niger identifies a putative negative regulator of transcription involved in chitin deposition.

ABSTRACT: Post-fermentation fungal biomass waste provides a viable source for chitin. Cell wall chitin of filamentous fungi, and in particular its de-N-acetylated derivative chitosan, has a wide range of commercial applications. Although the cell wall of filamentous fungi comprises 10-30% chitin, these yields are too low for cost-effective production. Therefore, we aimed to identify the genes involved in increased chitin deposition by screening a collection of UV-derived cell wall mutants in Aspergillus niger. This screen revealed a mutant strain (RD15.4#55) that showed a 30-40% increase in cell wall chitin compared to the wild type. In addition to the cell wall chitin phenotype, this strain also exhibited sensitivity to SDS and produces an unknown yellow pigment. Genome sequencing com

SUBMITTER: van Leeuwe TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7285910 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature