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Glycerol catabolism in Aspergillus nidulans
D H Hondmann1, R Busink, C F Witteveen
1Department of Genetics, Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Journal of General Microbiology
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Aspergillus nidulans catabolizes glycerol using specific enzymes, with levels regulated by carbon catabolite repression and induction. New glycerol non-utilizing mutants (glcE, glcF, glcG) were identified, with glcG impacting sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Mycology
Background:
- Glycerol catabolism in Aspergillus nidulans involves glycerol kinase and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
- Enzyme levels are regulated by carbon catabolite repression and specific induction.
- Dihydroxyacetone and D-glyceraldehyde are precursors to glycerol within this pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic and biochemical regulation of glycerol catabolism in Aspergillus nidulans.
- To identify novel genes involved in glycerol utilization.
- To characterize the function of newly discovered glycerol non-utilizing mutants.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical analyses of enzyme activities.
- Genetic analysis of glycerol non-utilizing mutants.
- Enzyme assays for glycerol kinase and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Main Results:
- Identified three new loci (glcE, glcF, glcG) controlling glycerol utilization.
- Demonstrated that dihydroxyacetone and D-glyceraldehyde are converted to glycerol for catabolism.
- Showed that mutations in glcG significantly reduce sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.
- D-Glyceraldehyde can be reduced by NADP(+)-dependent glycerol dehydrogenase or alcohol dehydrogenase I.
Conclusions:
- The glycerol catabolic pathway in Aspergillus nidulans is subject to complex regulation.
- The identified genes glcE, glcF, and glcG are crucial for glycerol utilization.
- The glcG gene product is essential for sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase function.