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Aspergillus niger RhaR, a regulator involved in l-rhamnose release and catabolism

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Abstract

The genome of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is rich in genes encoding pectinases, a broad class of enzymes that have been extensively studied due to their use in industrial applications. The sequencing of the A. niger genome provided more knowledge concerning the individual pectinolytic genes, but little is known about the regulatory genes involved in pectin degradation. Understanding regulation of the pectinolytic genes provides a tool to optimize the production of pectinases in this industrially important fungus. This study describes the identification and characterization of one of the activators of pectinase-encoding genes, RhaR. Inactivation of the gene encoding this regulator resulted in down-regulation of genes involved in the release of l-rhamnose from the pectin substructure rhamnogalacturonan I, as well as catabolism of this monosaccharide. The rhaR disruptant was unable to grow on l-rhamnose, but only a small reduction in growth on pectin was observed. This is likely caused by the presence of a second, so far unknown regulator that responds to the presence of d-galacturonic acid.

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Acknowledgements

BS was supported by a grant of the Dutch Technology Foundation STW, Applied Science division of NWO and the Technology Program of the Ministry of Economic Affairs UGC 07938 to RPdV. MZ was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Netherlands Genomics Initiative 93511035 to RPdV.

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Correspondence to Ronald P. de Vries.

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Gruben, B.S., Zhou, M., Wiebenga, A. et al. Aspergillus niger RhaR, a regulator involved in l-rhamnose release and catabolism. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 5531–5540 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5607-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5607-9

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