The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1
<i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i>, known as the major ochratoxin A (OTA) producer, usually occurs on agricultural crops, fruits, and dry-cured meats. Microorganisms produce OTA to adapt to the high osmotic pressure environment that is generated during food processing and storage. To inves...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/15/7/432 |
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| author | Yufei Wang Fei Liu Jingying Pei Hao Yan Yan Wang |
| author_facet | Yufei Wang Fei Liu Jingying Pei Hao Yan Yan Wang |
| author_sort | Yufei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i>, known as the major ochratoxin A (OTA) producer, usually occurs on agricultural crops, fruits, and dry-cured meats. Microorganisms produce OTA to adapt to the high osmotic pressure environment that is generated during food processing and storage. To investigate the relationship between OTA biosynthesis and the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, the transcription factor <i>AwHog1</i> gene in <i>A. westerdijkiae</i> was functionally characterised by means of a loss-of-function mutant. Our findings demonstrated that the growth and OTA production of a mutant lacking <i>AwHog1</i> decreased significantly and was more sensitive to high osmotic media. The <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant displayed a lower growth rate and a 73.16% reduction in OTA production in the wheat medium compared to the wild type. After three days of culture, the growth rate of the <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant in medium with 60 g/L NaCl and 150 g/L glucose was slowed down 19.57% and 13.21%, respectively. Additionally, the expression of OTA biosynthesis genes was significantly reduced by the deletion of the <i>AwHog1</i> gene. The infection ability of the <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant was decreased, and the scab diameter of the pear was 6% smaller than that of the wild type. These data revealed that transcription factor AwHog1 plays a key role in the osmotic response, growth, OTA production, and pathogenicity in <i>A. westerdijkiae</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:53Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:53Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-1157849b903f445c9c4acbff66ef38af2023-11-18T21:38:05ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512023-06-0115743210.3390/toxins15070432The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1Yufei Wang0Fei Liu1Jingying Pei2Hao Yan3Yan Wang4College of Food Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou 310014, ChinaInstitute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou 310014, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, ChinaCollege of Food Science and Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou 310014, China<i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i>, known as the major ochratoxin A (OTA) producer, usually occurs on agricultural crops, fruits, and dry-cured meats. Microorganisms produce OTA to adapt to the high osmotic pressure environment that is generated during food processing and storage. To investigate the relationship between OTA biosynthesis and the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, the transcription factor <i>AwHog1</i> gene in <i>A. westerdijkiae</i> was functionally characterised by means of a loss-of-function mutant. Our findings demonstrated that the growth and OTA production of a mutant lacking <i>AwHog1</i> decreased significantly and was more sensitive to high osmotic media. The <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant displayed a lower growth rate and a 73.16% reduction in OTA production in the wheat medium compared to the wild type. After three days of culture, the growth rate of the <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant in medium with 60 g/L NaCl and 150 g/L glucose was slowed down 19.57% and 13.21%, respectively. Additionally, the expression of OTA biosynthesis genes was significantly reduced by the deletion of the <i>AwHog1</i> gene. The infection ability of the <i>ΔAwHog1</i> mutant was decreased, and the scab diameter of the pear was 6% smaller than that of the wild type. These data revealed that transcription factor AwHog1 plays a key role in the osmotic response, growth, OTA production, and pathogenicity in <i>A. westerdijkiae</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/15/7/432transcription factor AwHog1ochratoxin Aosmotic response<i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> |
| spellingShingle | Yufei Wang Fei Liu Jingying Pei Hao Yan Yan Wang The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 Toxins transcription factor AwHog1 ochratoxin A osmotic response <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> |
| title | The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 |
| title_full | The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 |
| title_fullStr | The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 |
| title_short | The AwHog1 Transcription Factor Influences the Osmotic Stress Response, Mycelium Growth, OTA Production, and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> fc-1 |
| title_sort | awhog1 transcription factor influences the osmotic stress response mycelium growth ota production and pathogenicity in i aspergillus westerdijkiae i fc 1 |
| topic | transcription factor AwHog1 ochratoxin A osmotic response <i>Aspergillus westerdijkiae</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/15/7/432 |
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