Carbon Catabolite Repression Governs Diverse Physiological Processes and Development in Aspergillus nidulans
Yingying Chen, Liguo Dong, Md Ashiqul Alam, Lakhansing Pardeshi, Zhengqiang Miao, Fang Wang, Kaeling Tan, Michael J. Hynes, Joan M. Kelly, Koon Ho Wong
Abstract
The ability to scavenge and use a wide range of nutrients for growth is crucial for microorganisms' survival in the wild. Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a transcriptional regulatory phenomenon of both bacteria and fungi to coordinate the expression of genes required for preferential utilization of carbon sources. Since carbon metabolism is essential for growth, CCR is central to the fitness of microorganisms. In filamentous fungi, CCR is mediated by the conserved transcription factor CreA/Cre1, whose function in carbon metabolism has been well established. However, the global roles and regulatory mechanism of CreA/Cre1 are poorly defined. This study uncovers the direct and indirect functions of CreA in the model organism Aspergillus nidulans over diverse physiological processes and development and provides mechanistic insights into how CreA controls different regulatory networks. The work also reveals an interesting functional divergence between filamentous fungal and yeast CreA/Cre1 orthologues.