Journal of Microbiology

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Identification and Characterization of a Class III Chitin Synthase Gene of Moniliophthora perniciosa, the Fungus That Causes Witches' Broom Disease of Cacao: Catiane S. Souza , Bruno M. Oliveira , Gustavo G. L. Costa , Albert Schriefer , Alessandra Selbach-Schnadelbach , Ana Paula T. Uetanabaro , Carlos P. Pirovani , Goncalo A. G. Pereira , Alex G. Taranto , Julio Cezar de M. Cascardo , Aristoteles Goes-Neto; J. Microbiol. 2009;47(4):431-440. Published online September 9, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-008-0166-3

Abstract: Chitin synthase (CHS) is a glucosyltransferase that converts UDP-N-acetylglucosamine into chitin, one of the main components of fungal cell wall. Class III chitin synthases act directly in the formation of the cell wall. They catalyze the conversion of the immediate precursor of chitin and are responsible for the majority of chitin synthesis in fungi. As such, they are highly specific molecular targets for drugs that can inhibit the growth and development of fungal pathogens. In this work, we have identified and characterized a chitin synthase gene of Moniliophthora perniciosa (Mopchs) by primer walking. The complete gene sequence is 3,443 bp, interrupted by 13 small introns, and comprises a cDNA with an ORF with 2,739 bp, whose terminal region was experimentally determined, encoding a protein with 913 aa that harbors all the motifs and domains typically found in class III chitin synthases. This is the first report on the characterization of a chitin synthase gene, its mature transcription product, and its putative protein in basidioma and secondary mycelium stages of M. perniciosa, a basidiomycotan fungus that causes witches’ broom disease of cacao.

Phylogenetic study of penicillium chrysogenum based on the amino acid sequence analysis of chitin synthase: Park, Bum Chan , Lee, Dong Hun , Bae, Kyung Sook , Park, Hee Moon; J. Microbiol. 1997;35(3):159-164.

Abstract: The phylogenetic study of Penicilium chrysogenum was performed based on amino acid sequence comparison of chitin synthase. Phylogenetic trees were constructed with the deduced amino acid sequences of the highly conserved region of chitin synthase gene fragments amplified by PCR. The BlasP similarity search and the bootstrap analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of chitin synthase from P. chrysogenum with those form other fungi showed a close evolutionary relationship of Penicillium to ascomycetous fungi, especially to genus Aspergilus. The result from bootstrap analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the Class II chitin synthase from ascomyceteous fungi supported the usefulness of the Class II chitin synthease for phylogenetic study of filamentous fungi.

Cloning and phylogenetic analysis of chitin synthase gene from entomopathogenic fungus, beauveria brongniartii: Nam, Jin Sik , Lee, Dong Hun , Park, Ho Yong , Bae, Kyung Sook; J. Microbiol. 1997;35(3):222-227.

Abstract: DNA fragments homologous to chitin synthase gene were amplified from the genomic DNA of Beauveria brongniartii by PCR using degenerate primers. Cloning and sequencing of the PCR-amplified fragments led to the identification of a gene, designated BbCHS1. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of BbCHS1 with those of other Euacomycetes revealed that quence of BbCHS1 displayed the highest rate of similarity, 95.8%, with CHS2 or Metarhizium anisopliae. Phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequences confirmed the taxonomic and evolutionary position of B. brongiartii, which was previously derived by traditional fungel clasification based on morphological features.

Genomic Organization of Penicillium chrysogenum chs4, a Class III Chitin Synthase Gene: Yoon-Dong Park , Myung-Sook Lee , Ji-Hoon Kim , Jun Namgung , Bum Chan Park , Kyung Sook Bae , Hee-Moon Park; J. Microbiol. 2000;38(4):230-238.

Abstract: Class III chitin synthases in filamentous fungi are important for hyphal growth and differentiation of several filamentous fungi. A genomic clone containing the full gene encoding Chs4, a class III chitin synthase in Penicillium chrysogenum, was cloned by PCR screening and colony hybridization from the genomic library. Nucleotide sequence analysis and transcript mapping of chs4 revealed an open reading frame (ORF) that consisted of 5 exons and 4 introns and encoded a putative protein of 915 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5?lanking region of the ORF revealed a potential TATA box and several binding sites for transcription activators. The putative transcription initiation site at ?6 position was identified by primer extension and the expression of the chs4 during the vegetative growth was confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Amino acid sequence analysis of the Chs4 revealed at least 5 transmembrane helices and several sites for post-translational modifications. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of Chs4 with those of other fungi showed a close relationship between P. chr ysogenum and genus Aspergillus.

Cell Cycle-dependent Expression of Chitin Synthase Genes in Aspergillus nidulans: Bum-Chan Park , Pil-Jae Maeng , Hee-Moon Park; J. Microbiol. 2001;39(1):74-78.

Abstract: The transcription of the chitin synthase genes (chss) was cell cycle-regulated in Aspergillus nidulans and the expression pattern was classified into two groups. Group one, containing chsA and chsC, showed decreasing transcription level upon entry into the S-phase and no further variation during the remainder of the cell cycle. However, group two, containing chsB, chsD, and csmA, showed a sharp decrease of mRNA level upon entry into the G2-phase and an increase during the M-phase. Our results suggested that the chss, belonging to same group with the similar expression pattern during the cell cycle are functionally linked and that chsD may play a role in hyphal growth and development in A. nidulans.

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