Qing-Qing Zhi, Zhen-Long Wang, Pei-Bo Yuan, Lei He, Zhu-Mei He
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The GATA factor AreB regulates nitrogen metabolism, fungal development, and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus.
Nitrogen is important for fungal growth and development, and the GATA transcription factor AreA has been widely studied as a key regulator of nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) in many fungi. However, AreB, another GATA transcription factor in the NCR pathway, remains less studied, and its role in Aspergillus flavus is still unclear. In this study, we characterized areB in A. flavus and investigates its role in regulating nitrogen utilization, fungal growth, and aflatoxin production. The areB gene produces three transcripts, with areB-α being the most abundantly expressed, particularly under nitrogen-limited conditions. Gene expression analysis via qPCR confirmed that areB acts as a negative regulator of NCR, as its deletion led to the upregulation of NCR-related genes under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Gene function analysis of areB revealed that its deletion impaired hyphal growth, reduced conidia production, and delayed conidial germination. Additionally, deletion of areB led to increased aflatoxin production, particularly under less favorable nitrogen sources, while overexpression of areB reduced aflatoxin levels. Furthermore, areB influenced sclerotia formation in a nitrogen-source-dependent manner. These findings reveal the multifaceted role of areB in nitrogen regulation, fungal development, and secondary metabolism, offering insights for controlling aflatoxin contamination and fungal growth.
期刊介绍:
FEMS Microbiology Letters gives priority to concise papers that merit rapid publication by virtue of their originality, general interest and contribution to new developments in microbiology. All aspects of microbiology, including virology, are covered.
2019 Impact Factor: 1.987, Journal Citation Reports (Source Clarivate, 2020)
Ranking: 98/135 (Microbiology)
The journal is divided into eight Sections:
Physiology and Biochemistry (including genetics, molecular biology and ‘omic’ studies)
Food Microbiology (from food production and biotechnology to spoilage and food borne pathogens)
Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology
Pathogens and Pathogenicity (including medical, veterinary, plant and insect pathogens – particularly those relating to food security – with the exception of viruses)
Environmental Microbiology (including ecophysiology, ecogenomics and meta-omic studies)
Virology (viruses infecting any organism, including Bacteria and Archaea)
Taxonomy and Systematics (for publication of novel taxa, taxonomic reclassifications and reviews of a taxonomic nature)
Professional Development (including education, training, CPD, research assessment frameworks, research and publication metrics, best-practice, careers and history of microbiology)
If you are unsure which Section is most appropriate for your manuscript, for example in the case of transdisciplinary studies, we recommend that you contact the Editor-In-Chief by email prior to submission. Our scope includes any type of microorganism - all members of the Bacteria and the Archaea and microbial members of the Eukarya (yeasts, filamentous fungi, microbial algae, protozoa, oomycetes, myxomycetes, etc.) as well as all viruses.