Experimental validation of a central carbon metabolic model in Aspergillus niger to enable metabolic engineering of this fungal cell factory
EMSL Project ID
50463
Abstract
Sugar conversion through central carbon catabolism in filamentous fungi is a complex progress that involves many pathways. During growth on plant biomass, multiple 5- and 6-carbon monomeric sugars become simultaneously available to the fungus. Whether these sugars are also converted simultaneously or sequentially is not known. Using the high quality manually curated genome sequence of Aspergillus niger NRRL 3 and a large transcriptomic dataset on individual monomeric sugars, we have constructed a model for central carbon metabolism together with collaborators at DTU and Concordia University. In this project we aim to characterize deletion strains for pentose catabolism during growth on plant biomass. By combining analysis of phenotype, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome we will obtain an in-depth view of this part of central carbon metabolism. Recently found backup enzymes will be heterologously produced and characterized. The data of the cultures on plant biomass substrates will be used to determine how metabolism on these complex substrates is altered, when this pathway is blocked at different steps and reveal the relative contribution of this pathway to growth on crude substrates. The data from this project will validate the current sugar metabolic model for A. niger, which will be of high value for metabolic engineering studies in this and other filamentous fungi as it will provide an understanding of the organization of central carbon metabolism far beyond our current knowledge.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2018-10-21
End Date
2019-11-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members