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Published on: July 24, 2021
Bioinformatic mapping of a more precise Aspergillus niger degradome
Zixing Dong1, Shuangshuang Yang2, Byong H Lee3
1Henan Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Insect Bio-Reactor and Henan Key Laboratory of Ecological Security for Water Region of Mid-Line of South-To-North, Nanyang Normal University, 1638 Wolong Road, Nanyang, 473061, Henan, People's Republic of China. star1987.com@163.com.
This study comprehensively indexes Aspergillus niger proteases, identifying 232 putative enzymes. This refined degradome provides a crucial resource for understanding protease functions and future research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Aspergillus niger produces diverse proteases vital for numerous biological processes.
- Existing Aspergillus niger degradome data is incomplete and lacks accuracy.
- Proteases play key roles in digestion, signaling, and microbial defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive and accurate index of the Aspergillus niger degradome.
- To re-evaluate and re-characterize known and putative proteases.
- To provide a foundational resource for future protease research.
Main Methods:
- Utilized annotations from AspGD, JGI, and MEROPS databases.
- Compiled an index of at least 232 putative proteases.
- Analyzed protease distribution across catalytic classes, families, and clans.
- Re-characterized active sites and metal-binding residues for identified proteases.
Main Results:
- Identified 232 putative proteases, representing ~1.64% of the A. niger proteome.
- Classified proteases into 6 catalytic classes, 71 families/subfamilies, and 26 clans.
- Determined the composition of the degradome: 7.3% aspartic, 2.2% glutamic, 6.0% threonine, 17.7% cysteine, 31.0% serine, and 35.8% metallopeptidases.
- Reassigned 102 proteases and re-characterized 110 proteases' active sites.
Conclusions:
- This study presents a refined and comprehensive Aspergillus niger degradome.
- The findings offer a valuable resource for biochemical and physiological studies of A. niger proteases.
- Further experimental validation of protease functions and characteristics is warranted.

