A gene from Aspergillus nidulans with similarity to URE2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a glutathione S-transferase which contributes to heavy metal and xenobiotic resistance

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2002 Jun;68(6):2802-8. doi: 10.1128/AEM.68.6.2802-2808.2002.

Abstract

Aspergillus nidulans is a saprophytic ascomycete that utilizes a wide variety of nitrogen sources. We identified a sequence from A. nidulans similar to the glutathione S-transferase-like nitrogen regulatory domain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ure2. Cloning and sequencing of the gene, designated gstA, revealed it to be more similar to URE2 than the S. cerevisiae glutathione S-transferases. However, creation and analysis of a gstA deletion mutant revealed that the gene does not participate in nitrogen metabolite repression. Instead, it encodes a functional theta class glutathione S-transferase that is involved in resistance to a variety of xenobiotics and metals and confers susceptibility to the systemic fungicide carboxin. Northern analysis showed that gstA transcription is strongly activated upon exposure to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and weakly activated by oxidative stress or growth on galactose as a carbon source. These results suggest that nitrogen metabolite repression in A. nidulans does not involve a homolog of the S. cerevisiae URE2 gene and that the global nitrogen regulatory system differs significantly in these two fungi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus nidulans / enzymology
  • Aspergillus nidulans / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Metals, Heavy / pharmacology
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Prions*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Xenobiotics / pharmacology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • GstA protein, bacteria
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Prions
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Xenobiotics
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • URE2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Glutathione Transferase
  • Nitrogen