The Contribution of Melanin to Spore Surface Characteristics in Aspergillus niger

Ref ID: 18516

Author:

Ewald Priegnitz,
Andreas Wargenau,
Ulrike Brandt,
Manfred Rohde,
Sylvia Dietrich,
Rainer Krull,
André
Fleißner

Author address:

Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106 Braunschweig
Institut für Partikeltechnik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106 Braunschweig  Â 
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforsc

Full conference title:

11 th European Conference on Fungal Genetics

Abstract:

Fungi grow on a great variety of organic and anorganic materials. Usually spore adhesion to solid surfaces
comprises the first step of colony establishment or biofilm formation. In liquid culture, many filamentous fungi
grow as hyphal aggregates or pellets, a process depending on cell8208;to8208;cell interactions of spores and/or hyphae.
Pellet formation has been described as two8208;step processes, comprised of initial aggregation of ungerminated
conidia followed by further attachment of spores, germ tubes and hyphae. To test the contribution of the initial
aggregation/adhesion of ungerminated spores to pellet and biofilm formation in Aspergillus niger, we altered the
physical and chemical surface characteristics of conidia by inactivating melanin biosynthesis. Albino mutants were
constructed by the deletion of the alb1 gene, encoding a polyketide synthase essential for pigment biosynthesis.
916;alb1 conidia exhibit an altered surface structure and changed physiochemical properties. Spore aggregation in
liquid culture differs significantly in a pH dependent manner between wild type and mutant. However, further
pellet formation and enzyme productivity is unaffected, suggesting a minor role of initial spore adhesion in pellet
formation. In contrast, under biofilm promoting conditions,  916;alb1 mycelium adhere more stably to polymer
surfaces, suggesting that initial conidia adhesion promotes sessile growth. Since enzyme productivity of biofilms
was significantly increased compared to pellet cultures, we will further focus on biofilm analysis

Abstract Number: PR8.15

Conference Year: 2012

Link to conference website: http://www.ecfg.info/images/Abstract_Book_Electronic.pdf

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