TY - JOUR
T1 - Metabolic specialization in itaconic acid production
T2 - a tale of two fungi
AU - Wierckx, Nick
AU - Agrimi, Gennaro
AU - Lübeck, Peter Stephensen
AU - Steiger, Matthias G.
AU - Mira, Nuno Pereira
AU - Punt, Peter J.
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - Some of the oldest and most established industrial biotechnology processes involve the fungal production of organic acids. In these fungi, the transport of metabolites between cellular compartments, and their secretion, is a major factor. In this review we exemplify the importance of both mitochondrial and plasma membrane transporters in the case of itaconic acid production in two very different fungal systems, Aspergillus and Ustilago. Homologous and heterologous overexpression of both types of transporters, and biochemical analysis of mitochondrial transporter function, show that these two fungi produce the same compound through very different pathways. The way these fungi respond to itaconate stress, especially at low pH, also differs, although this is still an open field which clearly needs additional research.
AB - Some of the oldest and most established industrial biotechnology processes involve the fungal production of organic acids. In these fungi, the transport of metabolites between cellular compartments, and their secretion, is a major factor. In this review we exemplify the importance of both mitochondrial and plasma membrane transporters in the case of itaconic acid production in two very different fungal systems, Aspergillus and Ustilago. Homologous and heterologous overexpression of both types of transporters, and biochemical analysis of mitochondrial transporter function, show that these two fungi produce the same compound through very different pathways. The way these fungi respond to itaconate stress, especially at low pH, also differs, although this is still an open field which clearly needs additional research.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074226234&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.09.014
DO - 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.09.014
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31689647
AN - SCOPUS:85074226234
SN - 0958-1669
VL - 62
SP - 153
EP - 159
JO - Current Opinion in Biotechnology
JF - Current Opinion in Biotechnology
ER -