Metabolic engineering of Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 3488 for increased production of l-malic acid

Malic acid, a petroleum-derived C4-dicarboxylic acid that is used in the food and beverage industries, is also produced by a number of microorganisms that follow a variety of metabolic routes. Several members of the genus Aspergillus utilize a two-step cytosolic pathway from pyruvate to malate known as the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) pathway. This simple and efficient pathway has a maximum theoretical yield of 2 mol malate/mol glucose when the starting pyruvate originates from glycolysis. Production of malic acid by Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 3488 was first improved by overexpression of a native C4-dicarboxylate transporter, leading to a greater than twofold increase in the rate of malate production. Overexpression of the native cytosolic alleles of pyruvate carboxylase and malate dehydrogenase, comprising the rTCA pathway, in conjunction with the transporter resulted in an additional 27 % increase in malate production rate. A strain overexpressing all three genes achieved a malate titer of 154 g/L in 164 h, corresponding to a production rate of 0.94 g/L/h, with an associated yield on glucose of 1.38 mol/mol (69 % of the theoretical maximum). This rate of malate production is the highest reported for any microbial system.     

Relationships between phosphatidylcholine content, chitin synthesis, growth, and morphology of Aspergillus nidulans choC

The phosphatidylcholine (PC) content of Aspergillus nidulans choC was varied by growing the auxotroph in medium containing various concentrations of choline chloride. Direct linear correlations were observed between PC content and in vivo chitin synthase activity, between in vivo chitin synthase activity and mean hyphal extension rate, and between mean hyphal extension rate and hyphal growth unit length; hyphal growth unit length is a measure of hyphal branching. Further, there was a correlation between PC content and colony radial growth rate. Thus, membrane composition is an important determinant of both hyphal (and colony) extension rate and mycelial morphology.     

Change in hyphal morphology of Aspergillus oryzae during fed-batch cultivation

Industrial enzymes are often produced by filamentous fungi in fed-batch cultivations. During cultivation, the different morphological forms displayed by the fungi have an impact on the overall production. The morphology of a recombinant lipase producing Aspergillus oryzae strain was investigated during fed-batch cultivations. During the exponential batch phase of the fed-batch cultivations, the average hyphal length increased as did the number of tips per hyphal element. Most striking was the finding that the diameter of the hyphal elements increased with an average factor of 1.5 during the batch phase from 2.8–2.9 up to 4.0–4.4 μm. The diameter of the hyphal elements remained constant, around 4 μm, after the feed was started. However, the diameter of the immediate hyphal tip, where the enzyme secretion is thought to take place, increased dramatically with up to a factor 2.5 during the feeding period. The expression of the recombinant lipase was induced by the feeding with maltose, and an increase in lipase activity was seen in parallel to a swelling of the tips. The results indicate that the two events are linked as a return to normal growth was observed upon cessation of production due to oxygen limitations.     

Aspergillus oryzae laeA regulates kojic acid synthesis genes

Kojic acid synthesis genes regulation was investigated in Aspergillus oryzae. Our results indicate that kojic acid production was lost in the laeA disruption strain, but was recovered in the LaeA complement strain. Real-time PCR also confirmed that expression of kojic acid biosynthesis genes decreased in the laeA disruption strain, indicating that these genes are under the control of LaeA.     

Differential repression of arylsulphatase synthesis in Aspergillus oryzae.

1. The activities of the three arylsulphatases (arylsulphate sulphohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.1) of Aspergillus oryzae produced under a variety of repressing and non-repressing conditions were determined. 2. These enzymes exhibit different sensitivities to repression by inorganic sulphate. 3. Arylsulphatase I, but not arylsulphatases II and III, exhibits a transient de-repression in the early growth phase in sulphate media. 4. When the fungus is cultured in repressing media and subsequently transferred to non-repressing media, the synthesis of the three enzymes is non-co-ordinate. 5. Growth of the fungus in media containing choline O-sulphate or tyrosine O-sulphate as the sole source of sulphur results in complete de-repression of arylsulphatase I, But the synthesis of arylsulphatases II and III is essentially fully repressed. 6. The marked similarities between the repression characteristics of arylsulphatases II and III, contrasted with those of arylsulphatase I, indicate that the genetic locus of arylsulphatase I is distinct from that of arylsulphatases II and III, suggesting that there are distinct physiological roles for the enzyme.     

Biosynthesis of L-DOPA by Aspergillus oryzae

The present investigation deals with the biosynthesis of L-DOPA by parental (GCB-6) and mutant (UV-7) strains of Aspergillus oryzae. There was a marked difference between the mycelial morphology and pellet type of parental and UV-irradiated mutant culture. The mutant strain of A. oryzae UV-6 exhibited pellet-like mycelial morphology and improved tyrosinase activity. Mould mycelium was used for biochemical conversion of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA because tyrosinase is an intracellular enzyme. The mutant was found to yield 3.72 fold higher production of L-DOPA than the parental strain. The mutant strain is stable and D-glc-resistant. The comparison of kinetic parameters was also done which showed the greater ability of the mutant to yield L-DOPA (i.e., Yp/x 40.00+/-0.01 d mg/mg with parent and 182.86+/-0.02a mg/mg in case of mutant). When cultures grown for various incubation periods, were monitored for Qp, Qs and q(p), there was significant enhancement (p < 0.0025-0.005) in these variables by the mutant strain of A. oryzae UV-7 over GCB-6 on all the rates. L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy phenyl L-alanine) is a drug of choice in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and myocardium following neurogenic injury.     

Protease and alpha-amylase synthesis by washed cells of Aspergillus oryzae 251-90

Regularities of protease and alpha-amylase production by washed cells of Aspergillus oryzae 251-90 were being studied. The results obtained enabled us to assume a constitutive character of the both enzymes synthesis by the given producer. Sources of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur take part in regulation of the protease production, whereas in the case of the alpha-amylase synthesis only carbon sources that are important. Elimination of phosphorus from the medium affects the synthesis of both enzymes. Celatin stimulates the production of the two enzymes, being a supplier of amino acids.     

Microbial degradation of monocrotophos by Aspergillus oryzae

Organophosphorus pesticides are widely used in India for protection of agricultural yields. However, these pesticides pose various threats to organisms, including humans, and hamper soil microbial activity; thus, they are a cause for concern. As a measure of bioremediation, soil fungi capable of degrading monocrotophos (MCP) were isolated from various geographical and ecological sites. Twenty-five strains were isolated by an enrichment method using MCP as a carbon and phosphorus source. On the basis of MCP tolerance capacity exhibited in gradient agar plate assay the isolate M-4, identified as Aspergillus oryzae ARIFCC 1054, was selected for further studies. The ability of the isolate to mineralize MCP was investigated under different culture conditions. The isolate was found to possess phosphatase activity. The course of the degradation process was studied using HPTLC and FTIR analyses. The results suggest that this organism could be used for bioaugmentation of soil contaminated with MCP and for treatment of aqueous wastes.     

Invasion of paranasal sinuses by Aspergillus oryzae

A 24-year-old male patient receiving chemotherapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia developed fever, right periorbital swelling and mild right proptosis. A head scan showed opacification of the right maxillary and ethmoid sinuses with adjacent soft tissue swelling. Biopsy of the nasal mucosa demonstrated the typical septate hyphae of Aspergillus species which was later shown on culture to be Aspergillus oryzae.A. oryzae has only rarely been reported in human disease and there is confusion as to its precise identification and role. We would like to confirm the pathogenicity of A. oryzae with this uncommon presentation of aspergillosis and also emphasize the need to take adequate and multiple cultures in suspected cases so that the possibility of species identification will be maximized.     

Repetitive attack by Aspergillus oryzae alpha amylase

The action of Aspergillus oryzae alpha amylase on reducing-end, and uniformly radiolabeled maltotriose through maltodecaose has been studied. The enzyme is found to hydrolyze more than a single glycosidic bond during some enzyme-substrate encounters. The extent of this repetitive attack is quantitated.     

米曲霉Aspergilus oryzae发酵生产曲酸的研究

分离到Ａｓｐｅｒｇｉｌｕｓｏｒｙｚａｅ１３个菌株,其曲酸产量变化幅度１６６—４８６ｍｇ／ｍｌ,从中选出４个高产菌株。在１％酵母提取物和１５％蔗糖培养液中３０℃发酵培养,８—１０天菌体生长量和曲酸产量达到最大值,随后曲酸产量迅速下降。蔗糖浓度对菌体生长和曲酸产量影响甚大,最适蔗糖浓度为１５％。天冬氨酸、甘氨酸、赖氨酸、谷氨酸、吡哆醇、叶酸和抗坏血酸有利于菌体生长并显著提高曲酸产量。将在ＹＥＳ培养液中培养１０天的菌体重新悬浮于含１５％蔗糖的ＹＥＳ培养液或０２Ｍ磷酸缓冲液（ｐＨ６５）中８—１０天曲酸产量仍可达到４５ｍｇ／ｍｌ以上。低温条件下制备的培养８—１０天的Ａｏｒｙｚａｅ菌体匀浆反应系统仅有痕量曲酸形成。     

Synthesis of chitin by particulate preparations from Aspergillus flavus

Cell-free extracts from Aspergillus flavus catalyzed the synthesis of chitin from UDP-GlcNAc. Most of the activity was associated with membrane-rich fractions whereas no activity was detected in the cell walls. Chitin synthetase was activated by fungal acid proteases; animal and plant proteases destroyed it. Upon incubation at 0 C and 28 C chitin synthetase was inactivated, probably by the action of proteases present in the particulate preparations. Maximal activity was obtained at pH 6.6–7.1 and 15 C. Arrhenius plot showed a biphasic curve with the transition at 7 C. E values were 3300 Kcal/mole above this temperature and 15500 Kcal/mole below it. The enzyme was activated by GlcNAc and required a divalent metal, the most active being Mg⁺⁺. By plotting v vs UDP-GlcNAc concentration a sigmoidal curve was obtained. Km calculated at high substrate concentrations was 20mm. Chitin synthetase was competitively inhibited by polyoxin D (Ki 6.5 m) and UDP (Ki 1.35mm), the latter giving complex kinetics.This work was supported by grants No. 020 and 847 of the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, México.Part of this work was carried out while the authors were research visitors at the Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside.     

Lithium chloride effect on phenylethyl-B-D-galactoside synthesis by Aspergillus oryzae B-D-galactosidase in the presence of high lactose concentration

Summary Phenylethyl--D-galactoside (PEGal) synthesis by transglycosylation can be catalysed by Aspergillus oryzae -galactosidase and was studied using high concentrations of glycosyl donor (lactose). The amount of PEGal formed reached a maximum value after 1Oh in the presence of 0.5M lactose. Beyond this time, PEGal was slowly hydrolysed. LiCl between 0.4M and 0.7M in the reaction medium prevented the progressive disappearance of the product.     

Fungal morphology and fragmentation behavior in a fed-batch Aspergillus oryzae fermentation at the production scale

It is well known that high-viscosity fermentation broth can lead to mixing and oxygen mass transfer limitations. The seemingly obvious solution for this problem is to increase agitation intensity. In some processes, this has been shown to damage mycelia, affect morphology, and decrease product expression. However, in other processes increased agitation shows no effect on productivity. While a number of studies discuss morphology and fragmentation at the laboratory and pilot scale, there are relatively few publications available for production-scale fungal fermentations. The goal of this study was to assess morphology and fragmentation behavior in large-scale, fed-batch, fungal fermentations used for the production of protein. To accomplish this, a recombinant strain of Aspergillus oryzae was grown in 80 m(3) fermentors at two different gassed, impeller power-levels (one 50% greater than the other). Impeller power is reported as energy dissipation/circulation function (EDCF) and was found to have average values of 29.3 +/- 1.0 and 22.0 +/- 0.3 kW m(-3) s(-1) at high and low power levels, respectively. In all batches, biomass concentration profiles were similar and specific growth rate was < 0.03 h(-1). Morphological data show hyphal fragmentation occurred by both shaving-off of external clump hyphae and breakage of free hyphae. The fragmentation rate constant (k(frag)), determined using a first-order model, was 5.90 and 5.80 h(-1) for high and low power batches, respectively. At the end of each batch, clumps accounted for only 25% of fungal biomass, most of which existed as small, sparsely branched, free hyphal elements. In all batches, fragmentation was found to dominate fungal growth and branching. We speculate that this behavior was due to slow growth of the culture during this fed-batch process.     

Lipid production by Aspergillus oryzae from starch substrates

Summary Reports that starch is a poor substrate for lipid production are attributed to the low available C:N ratio which occurs because starch is not directly available to the microbial cell. If cultural conditions were established which gave rapid and extensive amylase activity, sufficient starch hydrolysis would occur to give a high ratio of available C:N, conditions favourable to lipid accumulation. This hypothesis was tested experimentally with Aspergillus oryzae and mycelium with 37% lipid content was obtained with starch as sole carbon source in defined culture media.     

Alpha-galactosidase production by Aspergillus oryzae in solid-state fermentation

Comparisons were made for alpha-galactosidase production using red gram plant waste (RGPW) with wheat bran (WB) and other locally available substrates using the fungus Aspergillus oryzae under solid-state fermentation (SSF). RGPW proved to be potential substrate for alpha-galactosidase production as it gave higher enzyme titers (3.4 U/g) compared to WB (2.7 U/g) and other substrates tested. Mixing WB with RGPW (1:1, w/w) resulted enhanced alpha-galactosidase yield. The volume of moistening agent in the ratio of 1:2 (w/v), pH 5.5 and 1 ml (1 x 10(6) spores) of inoculum volume and four days incubation were optimum for alpha-galactosidase production. Increase in substrate concentration (RGPW+WB) did not decrease enzyme yield in trays.