Identification of Mga1, a G-protein α-subunit gene involved in regulating citrinin and pigment production in Monascus ruber M7

作者：Li Li, Yanchun Shao, Qi Li, Sha Yang, Fusheng Chen · 发表于：FEMS Microbiology Letters · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1111/j.1574-6968.2010.01992.x · 被引用次数：45 · 研究领域：Microbial Metabolism and Applications、Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis、Biochemical and Structural Characterization

The filamentous fungi Monascus spp., which have been used in traditional fermented food in Asia for centuries, are well-known producers of a group of bioactive metabolites that are widely used as food additives and nutraceutical supplements worldwide. However, its potential to produce the mycotoxin citrinin poses a threat to food safety. Here, a G-protein alpha-subunit-encoding gene, Mga1 (Monascus G-protein alpha-subunit 1), which encodes a protein showing a high degree of identity to Group I alpha-subunits of fungal heterotrimeric G-proteins, was cloned from Monascus ruber M7. An Mga1-disrupted strain was obtained by homologous recombination. The disruptant produced approximately nine times more citrinin and 71% more pigments than the wild-type strain M7, indicating that the G-protein alpha-subunit encoded by Mga1 is involved in a signal transduction pathway regulating citrinin and pigment biosynthesis in M. ruber M7.