Could the transcription factor AtnN coordinating the aspercryptin secondary metabolite gene cluster in Aspergillus nidulans be a global regulator?

Products of dormant secondary metabolite gene clusters of fungal genomes can be exploited for medical purposes as bioactive agents. These clusters can be switched on under oxidative stress and may endow fungi with a versatile chemical armory in a competitive niche. In Aspergillus nidulans, the aspercryptin gene cluster, including the synthase [atnA (AN7884)] and its transcription factor (atnN), was activated under menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB) treatment. In this study, we generated and phenotypically examined the gene deletion and overexpression mutants of atnN and studied the secondary metabolite production of the mutants. Overexpression of atnN significantly reduced the colony growth of surface cultures compared to the control. The ΔatnN gene deletion strain showed higher sensitivity to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH), while the atnNOE strain was more resistant to MSB, Congo Red, and sorbitol. Interestingly, deletion of atnN decreased cleistothecia formation of A. nidulans. Manipulation of atnN affected the synthesis of several secondary metabolites, for example, the siderophore production of A. nidulans. The extracellular triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC) production decreased, while the intracellular ferricrocin (FC) concentration of the cultures increased in the atnNOE mutant cultivating A. nidulans in a complex medium containing 1 % mycological peptone and 2 % maltose. In Czapek-Dox Broth medium, increased asperthecin production was observed in the ΔatnN mutant. The mycotoxin sterigmatocystin synthesis elevated in the ΔatnN mutant, while reduced in the atnNOE mutant on minimal medium. Our study supports previous observations that secondary metabolite production is coordinated in a complex way, and the linkage of stress response, sexual reproduction, and secondary metabolite production can be governed by several transcription factors.