The faeA genes from Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubingensis encode ferulic acid esterases involved in degradation of complex cell wall polysaccharides

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 63; no. 12; pp. 4638 - 4644
• Main Authors: Vries, R.P. de, Michelsen, B, Poulsen, C.H, Kroon, P.A, Heuvel, R.H.H. van den, Faulds, C.B, Williamson, G, Hombergh, J.P.T.W. van den, Visser, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-12-1997
• Subjects: ACIDE FERULIQUE; ACIDO FERULICO; Acids; ACTIVIDAD ENZIMATICA; ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE; Amino Acid Sequence; Aspergillus - enzymology; Aspergillus - genetics; ASPERGILLUS NIGER; Aspergillus niger - enzymology; Aspergillus niger - genetics; Base Sequence; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biology of microorganisms of confirmed or potential industrial interest; Biotechnology; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - genetics; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - metabolism; Cell Wall - metabolism; Cloning; Cloning, Molecular; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Fungal - genetics; ENZYMIC ACTIVITY; FERULIC ACID; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; GENBANK/Y09330; GENBANK/Y09331; Genes, Fungal; Genetics; Mission oriented research; Moleculaire genetica van industriële micro-organismen; Molecular Genetics of Industrial Micro-organisms; MOLECULAR SEQUENCE DATA; Mutation; NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE; POLISACARIDOS; POLYHOLOSIDE; POLYSACCHARIDES; Polysaccharides - metabolism; SECUENCIA NUCLEOTIDICA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; SEQUENCE NUCLEOTIDIQUE; Species Specificity; VLAG; Wheat; Nucleotide sequence; Enzyme; Gene product; Sequence alignment; Homology; Esterases; Gene expression; Fungi; Characterization; Enzymatic activity; Aspergillus niger; Hydrolases; Fungi Imperfecti; Molecular cloning; Comparative study; Aminoacid sequence; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/aem.63.12.4638-4644.1997

We report the cloning and characterization of a gene encoding a ferulic acid esterase faeA, from Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus tubingensis. The A. niger and A. tubingensis genes have a high degree of sequence identity and contain one conserved intron. The gene product, FAEA, was overexpressed in wild-type A. tubingensis and a protease-deficient A. niger mutant. Overexpression of both genes in wild-type A. tubingensis and an A. niger protease-deficient mutant showed that the A. tubingensis gene product is more sensitive to degradation than the equivalent gene product from A. niger. FAEA from A. niger was identical to A. niger FAE-III (C. B. Faulds and G. Williamson, Microbiology 140:779-787, 1994), as assessed by molecular mass, pH and temperature optima, pI, N-terminal sequence, and activity on methyl ferulate. The faeA gene was induced by growth on wheat arabinoxylan and sugar beet pectin, and its gene product (FAEA) released ferulic acid from wheat arabinoxylan. The rate of release was enhanced by the presence of a xylanase. FAEA also hydrolyzed smaller amounts of ferulic acid from sugar beet pectin, but the rate was hardly affected by addition of an endo-pectin lyase