articleEukaryotic CellApr 1, 2004DIAMOND OA

LaeA, a Regulator of Secondary Metabolism in Aspergillus spp

JWJin Woo BokNPNancy P. Keller

University of Wisconsin–Madison

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

Secondary metabolites, or biochemical indicators of fungal development, are of intense interest to humankind due to their pharmaceutical and/or toxic properties. We present here a novel Aspergillus nuclear protein, LaeA, as a global regulator of secondary metabolism in this genus. Deletion of laeA (DeltalaeA) blocks the expression of metabolic gene clusters, including the sterigmatocystin (carcinogen), penicillin (antibiotic), and lovastatin (antihypercholesterolemic agent) gene clusters. Conversely, overexpression of laeA triggers increased penicillin and lovastatin gene transcription and subsequent product formation. laeA expression is negatively regulated by AflR, a sterigmatocystin Zn2Cys6 transcription…

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894
total citations
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21.09
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100%
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42
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Authors

2

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Aspergillus nidulans
  • Biology
  • Secondary metabolism
  • Sterigmatocystin
  • Transcription factor
  • Regulator
  • Gene
  • Gene expression
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