Effect of a heterotrimeric G protein α subunit on conidia germination, stress response, and roquefortine C production in Penicillium roqueforti

Authors

  • Ramón O. García-Rico Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia
  • Renato Chávez Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Santiago de Chile University (USACH), Santiago, Chile
  • Francisco Fierro Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Biotechnology, Division of Biological Sciences and Health, Metropolitan Autonomous University Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Juan F. Martín Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain 2Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, León, Spain

Keywords:

Penicillium roqueforti, G-protein, roquefortine production, conidial germination, stress

Abstract

Summary. Heterotrimeric G protein signaling regulates many processes in fungi, such as development, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. For example, the Gα subunit Pga1 from Penicillium chrysogenum regulates conidiation and secondary metabolite production in this fungus. The dominant activating allele, pga1G42R, encoding a constitutively active Pga1 Gα subunit, was introduced in Penicillium roqueforti by transformation, resulting in a phenotype characterized by low sporulation and slow growth. In this work, the effect of the constitutively active Pga1G42R Gα subunit on conidial germination, stress tolerance, and roquefortine C production of P. roqueforti was studied. Pga1G42R triggered germination in the absence of a carbon source, in addition to negatively regulating thermal and osmotic stress tolerance. The presence of the Pga1G42R Gα subunit also had an important effect on roquefortine C biosynthesis, increasing production and maintaining high levels of the mycotoxin throughout a culture period of 30 days. Together, the results suggest that G protein-mediated signaling participates in the regulation of these three processes in P. roqueforti. [Int Microbiol 2009; 12(2):123-129]

Author Biographies

Ramón O. García-Rico, Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia

Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia

Renato Chávez, Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Santiago de Chile University (USACH), Santiago, Chile

Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Santiago de Chile University (USACH), Santiago, Chile

Francisco Fierro, Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Biotechnology, Division of Biological Sciences and Health, Metropolitan Autonomous University Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico

Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Department of Biotechnology, Division of Biological Sciences and Health, Metropolitan Autonomous University Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico

Juan F. Martín, Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain 2Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, León, Spain

Institute of Biotechnology of León (INBIOTEC), León, Spain Area of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of León, León, Spain

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Published

2010-01-13

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Section

Research Articles