Purification and properties of aldehyde dehydrogenase from Aspergillus nidulans

Creaser, E. H.; Porter, Robyn L.; Pateman, John

doi:10.1016/0020-711x(87)90185-6

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…We presume that this inducer is acetaldehyde formed for instance by L-threonine turnover (38) or by constitutive pyruvate decarboxylase activity (39). Acetaldehyde is the main substrate for A. nidulans ALDH in vitro (17). A similar situation occurs in case of the A. nidulans purine utilization pathway.…”

Section: Structural Mutations In Alda Give Rise To Induction Of the Amentioning

confidence: 90%

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Regulation of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Gene (aldA) and Its Role in the Control of the Coinducer Level Necessary for Induction of the Ethanol Utilization Pathway in Aspergillus nidulans

Flipphi

Mathieu

Cirpus

et al. 2001

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Expression of the structural genes for alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcA and aldA, respectively, enables the fungus Aspergillus nidulans to grow on ethanol. The pathway-specific transcriptional activator AlcR mediates the induction of ethanol catabolism in the presence of a coinducing compound. Ethanol catabolism is further subject to negative control mediated by the general carbon catabolite repressor CreA. Here we show that, in contrast to alcA and alcR, the aldA gene is not directly subject to CreA repression. A single cisacting element mediates AlcR activation of aldA. Furthermore, we show that the induction of the alc gene system is linked to in situ aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. In aldA loss-of-function mutants, the alc genes are induced under normally noninducing conditions. This pseudo-constitutive expression correlates with the nature of the mutations, suggesting that this feature is caused by an intracellular accumulation of a coinducing compound. Conversely, constitutive overexpression of aldA results in suppression of induction in the presence of ethanol. This shows unambiguously that acetaldehyde is the sole physiological inducer of ethanol catabolism. We hypothesize that the intracellular acetaldehyde concentration is the critical factor governing the induction of the alc gene system.

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Section: Structural Mutations In Alda Give Rise To Induction Of the Amentioning

confidence: 90%

“…it is unable to reduce acetate (16). This irreversible conversion drives ethanol catabolism (17). Moreover, acetaldehyde is the first intermediate common to ethanol, L-threonine, and ethylamine utilization, all processes provoking induction of the alc gene system (1,3,5,18,19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Regulation of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Gene (aldA) and Its Role in the Control of the Coinducer Level Necessary for Induction of the Ethanol Utilization Pathway in Aspergillus nidulans

Flipphi

Mathieu

Cirpus

et al. 2001

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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“…It is generally recognized that enzyme activities depending on essential thiol groups are extremely susceptible to aldehyde inactivation. A. nidulans ALDH itself is inhibited in itro at concentrations above 350 µM [23], which could match the intracellular concentration at which acetaldehyde starts to affect cellular functioning. Note here that formaldehyde, the smallest aldehyde, proved to be too toxic at all concentrations tested.…”

Section: Aldehydes Induce Alc Gene Transcription At Low External Concmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…-Threonine can also serve as a sole source of both carbon and nitrogen for A. nidulans. This amino acid is converted into acetaldehyde and glycine by threonine aldolase (EC 4.1.2.5) [23], this conversion being common in mammals and in yeasts. In baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cereisiae), this enzyme is essential for the biosynthesis of glycine when cells are grown on -glucose [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of physiological inducers of the ethanol utilization (alc) pathway in Aspergillus nidulans

Flipphi

Kocialkowska

Felenbok

2002

Biochemical Journal

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The ethanol utilization (alc) pathway in Aspergillus nidulans is one of the strongest expressed gene systems in filamentous fungi. The pathway-specific activator AlcR requires the presence of an inducing compound to activate transcription of genes under its control. We have demonstrated recently that acetaldehyde is the sole physiological inducer of ethanol catabolism. In the present study we show that compounds with catabolism related to that of ethanol, i.e. primary alcohols, primary monoamines and l-threonine, act as inducers because their breakdown results in the production of inducing aliphatic aldehydes. Such aldehydes were shown to induce the alc genes efficiently at low external concentrations. When ethanol is mixed with representatives of another class of strong direct inducers, ketones, the physiological inducer, acetaldehyde, prevails as effector. Although direct inducers essentially carry a carbonyl function, not all aldehydes and ketones act as inducers. Structural features discriminating non-inducing from inducing compounds concern: (i) the length of the aliphatic side group(s); (ii) the presence and nature of any non-aliphatic substituent. These characteristics enable us to predict whether or not a given carbonyl compound will induce the alc genes.

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“…Alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDH) activities were determined as described (10)(11)(12), except that cell-free protein extracts were made by using lyophilized cells. Protein concentrations were determined by the Bradford procedure (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%