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PubMed1985

[The distribution of free and esterified carboxyl groups within the pectin molecule after the action of pectin esterase from Aspergillus niger and oranges].

By reaction of pectin esterase (PE) from Aspergillus niger and oranges as well as lye, with 95% esterified citrus and apple pectin we prepared series of preparations with degrees of esterification between 35 and 77%. In these partial deesterified pectins the form of distribution of the free and esterified carboxyl groups has been determined from the activity coefficient gamma Ca2+ of the calcium counterions in the solutions of the corresponding calcium pectinates, from the electrostatic free enthalpy delta (Gel/N)KCa of the ion exchange Ca2+----2K+ in these systems as well as from the relative activity of the polygalacturonase reacting with sodium pectinate. The PE from A niger hydrolyzes the esterified carboxyl groups more or less randomly, in a manner similar to the effect of lye on pectin. On the other hand PE from oranges brings about block-like groupings of free carboxyl groups in the pectin molecule. The study revealed different reaction mechanisms of the pectin deesterification by pectin esterases from Aspergillus species and higher plants.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving performance with clinical standards: the impact of feedback on compliance with the integrated management of childhood illness algorithm in Niger, West Africa.

The joint BASICS/Quality Assurance Project tested several research-based interventions in three districts in Niger, West Africa to improve case management of sick children. The research design was a non-concurrent, prospective case control design. Quality of care was determined as the degree of compliance of health care workers with the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) standards of assessment, treatment and counselling of sick children and their caretakers. The interventions tested were (1) structured feedback of health worker performance data and (2) formal IMCI training and (3) team-based quality improvement. Performance feedback had a significant effect on compliance. Performance feedback alone created a significant short-term impact on health care worker compliance, which improved between 34% and 85% in areas of assessment of sick children (p < 0.05). In addition, performance feedback was significantly cheaper than formal training ($108 per health worker versus $430 per worker for IMCI training). However, this impact was not universal over all areas of compliance following each feedback. Instead, performance feedback had the greatest effect in areas in which health care workers performed poorly, while areas in which compliance was high eventually saw declines. In settings such as Niger, which has the highest child mortality in the world according to UNICEF figures, low-cost techniques for supporting health workers once they have been trained in clinical standards are sorely needed. Performance feedback shows promise as a technique for improving quality of care with clinical algorithms such as IMCI.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1984

Two different types of intervening sequences in the glucoamylase gene from Aspergillus niger.

One single glucoamylase gene could be identified in the chromosomal DNA of Aspergillus niger by Southern blot analysis. This glucoamylase gene was isolated from a genomic library of A. niger DNA. The glucoamylase gene is situated on a 2.5-kb EcoRI-EcoRV fragment and contains five intervening sequences in the coding region. One 169-bp intron is involved in differential mRNA processing leading to the two different glucoamylase enzymes G1 and G2; the other four introns are all very small ranging from 55 to 75 bp in length. One intron has a significant homology to the coding region which immediately follows, and it contains the internal conserved sequence TACTAAC, which is also found in yeast chromosomal gene introns, and is thought to participate in mRNA splicing. Two transcription initiation sites and a typical eukaryotic promoter region with TATAAT and CAAT boxes are located upstream from the gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Role of different additives and metallic micro minerals on the enhanced citric acid production by Aspergillus niger MNNG-115 using different carbohydrate materials.

The present investigation deals with the promotry effect of different additives and metallic micro minerals on citric acid production by Aspergillus niger MNNG-115 using different carbohydrate materials. For this, sugar cane bagasse was fortified with sucrose salt medium. Ethanol and coconut oil at 3.0% (v/w) level increased citric acid productivity. Fluoroacetate at a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml bagasse enhanced the yield of citric acid significantly. However, the addition of ethanol and fluoroacetate after 6 h of growth gave the maximum conversion of available sugar to citric acid. In another study, influence of some metallic micro-minerals viz. copper sulphate, molybdenum sulphate, zinc sulphate and cobalt sulphate on microbial synthesis of citric acid using molasses medium was also carried out. It was found that copper sulphate and molybdenum sulphate remarkably enhanced the production of citric acid while zinc sulphate was not so effective. However, cobalt sulphate was the least effective for microbial biosynthesis of citric acid under the same experimental conditions. In case of CuSO(4), the strain of Aspergillus niger MNNG-115 showed enhanced citric productivity with experimental (9.80%) over the control (7.54%). In addition, the specific productivity of the culture at 30 ppm CuSO(4) (Q(p) = 0.012a g/g cells/h) was several folds higher than other all other concentrations. All kinetic parameters including yield coefficients and volumetric rates revealed the hyper productivity of citric acid by CuSO(4) using blackstrap molasses as the basal carbon source.

Alcohols↗
PubMed2006

Effects of Cymbopogon citratus L. essential oil on the growth, lipid content and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger ML2-strain.

The mycelial growth of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem was completely inhibited using 1.5 (microl/ml or 2.0 (microl/ml of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil applied by fumigation or contact method in Czapek liquid medium, respectively. This oil was found also to be fungicidal at the same concentrations. The sublethal doses 1.0 and 1.5 (microl/ml inhibited about 70% of fungal growth after five days of incubation and delayed conidiation as compared with the control. Microscopic observations using Light Microscope (LM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) were carried out to determine the ultra structural modifications of A. niger hyphae after treatment with C. citratus essential oil. The hyphal diameter and hyphal wall appeared markedly thinner. This oil also caused plasma membrane disruption and mitochondrial structure disorganization. Moreover, Ca+2, K+ and Mg+2 leakages increased from the fumigated mycelium and its total lipid content decreased, while the saturated fatty acids decreased and unsaturated fatty acids increased. These findings increase the possibility of exploiting C. citratus essential oil as an effective inhibitor of biodegrading and storage contaminating fungi and in fruit juice preservation.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1983

Lytic enzyme activity in autolysing mycelium of Aspergillus niger.

We have studied changes in the activity of some lytic enzymes contained in mycelium of Aspergillus niger in cultures relative to the autolytic phase of growth. Acid phosphatase, polygalacturonidase and alpha-amylase activity reached its highest level (40.7, and 8 U/sample, respectively) at the initiation of the autolytic phase of growth. 1.3-beta-Glucanase and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase reached its highest level (3.5 and 2 U/sample, respectively) during the first days of autolysis. Alkaline phosphatase, cellulase, invertase, esterase, chitinase and proteolytic activity is also present in autolysing mycelium of A. niger, though comparatively low. Their maximum activity coincided with the beginning of the autolytic phase of growth. In all enzymes studied here, as autolyis proceeded, enzyme activity decreased by about 90%. Only esterase activity remained nearly constant throughout the whole period of autolysis described here.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1999

Role of glycosylation in the functional expression of an Aspergillus niger phytase (phyA) in Pichia pastoris.

Economical and thermostable phytase enzymes are needed to release phytate-phosphorus in plant foods for human and animal nutrition and to reduce phosphorus pollution of animal waste. Our objectives were to determine if a methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, was able to express a phytase gene (phyA) from Aspergillus niger efficiently and if suppression of glycosylation by tunicamycin affected its functional expression. The gene (1.4 kb) was inserted into an expression vector pPICZalphaA with a signal peptide alpha-factor, under the control of AOX1 promoter. The resulting plasmid was transformed into two P. pastoris strains: KM71 (methanol utilization slow) and X33 (wild-type). Both host strains produced high levels of active phytase (25-65 units/ml of medium) that were largely secreted into the medium. The expressed enzyme was cross-reacted with the polyclonal antibody raised against the wild-type enzyme and showed two pH optima, 2.5 and 5.5, and an optimal temperature at 60 degrees C. Compared with the phyA phytase overexpressed by A. niger, this phytase had identical capacity in hydrolyzing phytate-phosphorus from soybean meal and slightly better thermostability. Deglycosylation of the secreted phytase resulted in reduction in the size from 95 to 55 kDa and in thermostability by 34%. Tunicamycin (20 microg/ml of medium) resulted in significant reductions of both intracellular and extracellular phytase activity expression. Because there was no accumulation of intracellular phytase protein, the impairment did not seem to occur at the level of translocation of phytase. In conclusion, glycosylation was vital to the biosynthesis of the phyA phytase in P. pastoris and the thermostability of the expressed enzyme.

6-Phytase↗
PubMed1998

Conservation of the active site motif in Aspergillus niger (ficuum) pH 6.0 optimum acid phosphatase and kidney bean purple acid phosphatase.

Aspergillus niger (ficuum) and the kidney bean purple acid phosphatases retained all the essential amino acids in the active site despite a low degree of total sequence homology. This high degree of homology in the sequence motif of A. niger fungal acid phosphatase (Apase6) active site with Kidney bean metallo phosphoesterase (KBPAP) and the absence of the RHG-XRXP sequence motif indicates Apase6 to be a metallophosphoesterase rather than a histidine acid phosphatase.

6-Phytase↗
PubMed2000

Construction and characterization of an oxalic acid nonproducing strain of Aspergillus niger.

Aspergillus niger produces oxalic acid as a by-product which causes problems with downstream processing of industrial enzymes. To overcome this problem the oah gene encoding oxaloacetate hydrolase (EC 3.7.1.1) was disrupted in a glucoamylase-producing strain of A. niger and the resulting strain was incapable of producing oxalic acid. The strain with the disrupted gene was compared with the wild-type strain producing oxalic acid in batch cultivations. The specific growth rate of both strains was 0.20 h(-1). The citric acid yields were identical, but the glucoamylase yield was only 50% in the disruptant compared with the wild-type strain. Batch experiments with 13C-labeled glucose as substrate were carried out to determine the metabolic fluxes through the central metabolism. The two strains had almost identical metabolic fluxes, which suggested that it was possible to disrupt the oah gene without pleiotropic consequences. The flux through the pentose phosphate pathway was around 60% of the glucose uptake for both strains, which suggested that a sufficient supply of NADPH was available for biosynthesis.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1996

A new glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger: characterization and regulation studies of enzyme and gene.

A new glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger was isolated and characterized. The enzyme showed different kinetic and stability characteristics when compared to a commercially available batch of A. niger glucose oxidase. The gene encoding the new glucose oxidase was isolated and DNA sequence analysis of the coding region showed 80% identity to the sequence of a glucose oxidase gene previously published. However, the similarity of the non-coding sequences up- and downstream of the open reading frame was much less, showing only 66% and 50% identity respectively. Despite the low degree of similarity between the promotor region of the new gene and the previously published one, the new glucose oxidase was likewise induced by calcium carbonate. In addition, we showed that this induction occurred on the transcriptional level. Observations concerning the effect of gluconolactone and the levels of glucose-6 phosphate isomerase upon calcium carbonate induction suggested that the enhancement of glucose oxidase biosynthesis by calcium carbonate was accompanied by a metabolic shift from glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Improved transformation frequency and heterologous promoter recognition in Aspergillus niger.

Wild-type strains of Aspergillus niger were transformed with integrative vectors. The number of stable transformants varied from approximately 20-30/micrograms up to 17,000/micrograms using acetamide and hygromycin B selection, respectively. The introduction of deletions of 5' and 3' non-coding regions of the acetamidase gene (amdS+) revealed that these sequences influenced the number of transformants. The molecular characterization of A. niger transformants revealed that several copies of the vectors were tandemly integrated into the nuclear DNA. These oligomers were stably inherited, even after 100 days of growth on non-selective medium. The expression of the vector-encoded genes was confirmed by evidence from the mRNAs and corresponding proteins encoded by the selectable marker genes.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1994

Metabolism of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pyrene by Aspergillus niger SK 9317.

The metabolism of pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of four rings, by Aspergillus niger SK 9317 was investigated. The metabolites formed were isolated and identified as 1-hydroxypyrene, 1,6- and 1,8-pyrenequinone, 1,6- and 1,8-dihydroxypyrene, 1-pyrenyl sulphate and 1-hydroxy-8-pyrenyl sulphate. This is the first report of 1-hydroxy-8-pyrenyl as a metabolite in the microbial metabolism of pyrene. The results suggest that A. niger metabolizes pyrene by cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase enzyme systems.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and molecular characterisation of the benzoate-para-hydroxylase gene (bphA) of Aspergillus niger: a member of a new gene family of the cytochrome P450 superfamily.

The gene coding for benzoate-para-hydroxylase (bphA) of Aspergillus niger was cloned using differential hybridisation techniques and complementation of mutants deficient in this enzyme activity. The nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined, the presence of two introns was shown and the transcription start and termination sites were determined. The structure of the mRNA upstream from the long open reading frame (ORF) is unusual. It contains two small, overlapping ORFs whose function is unknown. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein with the sequences present in the databanks, indicated a significant similarity of BPH to the superfamily of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Further analysis revealed that this protein is a member of a new P450 gene family designated P450LIII. The gene is designated CYP53. To increase the BPH activity of A. niger, multiple copies of the bphA gene were introduced into the genome of a recipient strain by transformation. Although increased intracellular levels of the BPH protein could be detected, the BPH enzyme activity was decreased, suggesting titration of another essential component.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Transformation of the filamentous fungus Gibberella fujikuroi using the Aspergillus niger niaD gene encoding nitrate reductase.

A transformation system for Gibberella fujikuroi based on the Aspergillus niger nitrate reductase gene (niaD) was developed. A strain (designated SG140) carrying a non-reverting niaD mutation (niaD11) was generated by screening mutagenised cells for non-growth on nitrate as sole nitrogen source. Transformation frequencies of 1-2 transformants per microgram DNA were observed when strain SG140 was transformed to nitrate utilisation. Southern blot analyses of niaD+ transformants showed that the vector DNA sequences were integrated into the chromosomal DNA. The results demonstrate that the A. niger niaD gene is expressed in G. fujikuroi.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of the Aspergillus niger pelB gene: structure and regulation of expression.

The nucleotide sequence of pelB, a member of the Aspergillus niger pectin lyase multigene family, has been determined. The pelB gene product, PLB, shares 65% amino acid identity with pectin lyase A (PLA) and 60% with pectin lyase D (PLD). Although growth of pelB multicopy transformants on pectin-containing media results in elevated pelB mRNA levels, pectin lyase B (PLB) is barely detectable. This is probably due to degradation of PLB by acid proteases, since multicopy transformants grown on pectin medium with a high concentration of phosphate, leading to a less rapid decline in pH, secrete detectable amounts of PLB. To produce PLB in high amounts under conditions where few other extracellular enzymes are present, we tried two strategies. Firstly, heterologous expression of the pelB gene in A. nidulans, and secondly, expression of the pelB gene under control of the constitutive A. niger pki promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Cloning, sequencing and heterologous expression of the monoamine oxidase gene from Aspergillus niger.

The gene encoding the flavin-containing monoamine oxidase (MAO-N) of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger was cloned. MAO-N is the first nonvertebrate monoamine oxidase described to date. Three partial cDNA clones, isolated from an expression library, were used to identify and clone the structural gene (maoN) from an A. niger genomic DNA library. The maoN gene was sequenced, and analysis revealed an open reading frame that codes for a protein of 495 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 55.6 kDa. Sequencing of an internal proteolytic fragment of the purified enzyme confirmed the derived amino acid sequence. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence indicates that MAO-N is structurally related to the human monoamine oxidases MAO-A and MAO-B. In particular, the regions known to be involved in the binding of the FAD cofactor show a high degree of homology; however, the conserved cysteine residue to which the flavin cofactor is covalently bound in the mammalian forms is absent in the fungal enzyme. MAO-N has the C-terminal tripeptide Ala-Arg-Leu, which corresponds to the consensus targeting sequence found in many peroxisomal enzymes. The full-length cDNA for MAO-N was expressed in Escherichia coli from the T7 promoter of the expression vector pET3a, yielding a soluble and fully active enzyme form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Expression and sequence comparison of the Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubigensis genes encoding polygalacturonase II.

The structure and expression of the polygalacturonase-encoding pgaII genes of two recently recognized species, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubigensis, was investigated. While the structure of the pgaII genes is very similar, showing 83% DNA sequence identity and 94% identity at the amino acid level, they have diverged significantly. The NH2-terminal sequence suggests that these PGs are made as pre pro-proteins and the secretory propeptide of the PGII precursors shows sequence homology with some other fungal pro-peptides. The expression of the pgaII genes is strongly regulated by the carbon source and the A. tubigensis gene is expressed and regulated in A. niger transformants. The low similarity of the fungal PGs with those of bacterial and plant origin is discussed in relation to the possible functional role of specific amino acids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Identification and characterization of a second polygalacturonase gene of Aspergillus niger.

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger produces several endopolygalacturonases that are involved in the degradation of pectin. PGI, the enzyme representing the second most abundant activity in a commercial enzyme preparation, was further characterized and the corresponding gene was isolated. The nucleotide sequence of the pgaI gene was determined and the protein coding region was found to be interrupted by two short introns, one of which has a unusual donor splice site. The deduced 368 amino acids long protein with a putative prepropeptide of 31 amino acids shows 60% sequence identity to PGII in the mature protein. PGI overproducing A. niger strains were obtained by cotransformation with the cloned gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗