Fructose induces and glucose represses chloroperoxidase mRNA levels

The fungus Caldariomyces fumago can be induced to secrete the heme protein chloroperoxidase at levels of 500 mg/liter. Chloroperoxidase synthesis is controlled at the mRNA level. Glucose strongly represses production of chloroperoxidase mRNA and protein, whereas fructose induces both to high levels. Chloroperoxidase has been partially sequenced by automated Edman degradation of tryptic peptides. Based on this amino acid sequence data, a 2-fold degenerate, 29-base oligonucleotide (29-mer) complementary to chloroperoxidase mRNA was synthesized. Polyadenylated RNA, purified from C. fumago, was used as substrate for cDNA synthesis using the 29-mer as primer. cDNAs were made double-stranded and cloned into plasmid pBR322 by conventional methods. Screening the resultant cDNA bank by colony hybridization with the 29-mer as probe showed that 18% of the clones contained the 29-mer sequence. Dideoxy sequencing of one clone (pMA340) identified it as part of the coding region for chloroperoxidase by comparison with known amino acid sequences. In addition, the amino-terminal coding region of clone pMA340 reveals a putative signal peptide for chloroperoxidase. Clone pMA340 was then used in Northern analysis of chloroperoxidase mRNA levels under conditions which induce and repress enzyme secretion.