Components of the nitrogen regulation network in Fusarium fujikuroi

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Bettina Tudzynski
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2006 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 30944638

Fungi can rapidly and efficiently adapt their metabolism in response to the quality and concentration of nitrogen sources by the coordinated action of pathway-specific and global transcription factors. Preferred nitrogen sources (ammonium or glutamine) repress the expression of genes involved in the utilization of alternative nitrogen sources. These genes are only activated when glutamine or ammonium are limiting. This regulatory mechanism is called nitrogen metabolite repression (NMR). In fungi, the positively acting GATA transcription factor AreA activates the expression of a large number of genes involved in the utilization of alternative nitrogen sources (e.g. genes encoding nitrogen permeases and catabolic enzymes). In the rice-pathogenic fungus Fusarium fujikuroi, some secondary metabolite genes (e.g. gibberellin biosynthesis genes) are also regulated by AreA. However, not much is known about the role of the second GATA type transcription factor, AreB. Within the current proposal (18 month), we will finish our studies on the function of AreA and AreB with the special focus on their role in secondary metabolism by genome-wide transcriptional (microarrays) and ChIP analysis. Furthermore, we want to get deeper insight into the interplay between the pathway-specific regulator of nitrate metabolism, NirA, and the global regulator AreA. In addition, after the identification of the F. fujikuroi general amino acid permease (Gap) out of 68 amino acid permeases (AAPs) in the genome, we will functionally characterize four more AAPs which are phylogenetically highly related to the only yeast Gap (Gap1) in collaboration with Birgitte Regenberg (Denmark).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Denmark
• Participating Institution: Københavns Universitet; Biologisk Institut
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Brigitte Regenberg