Overexpression of a novel endogenous NADH kinase in Aspergillus nidulans enhances growth
Journal article, 2009

The complete genome sequence of the filamentous fungi Aspergillus nidulans has paved the way for fundamental research on this industrially important species. To the best of your knowledge, this is the first time a gene encoding for ATP-dependent NADH kinase (ATP:NADH 2ยด-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.86) has been identified. The enzyme has a predicted molecular weight of 49 kDa. We characterised the role of this NADH kinase by genomic integration of the putative gene AN8837.2 under a strong constitutive promoter. The physiological effects of overexpressed NADH kinase in combination with defferent aeration rates were studied in well-controlled glucose batch fermentations. Metabolite profiling and metabolic network analysis with [1-13C] glucose were used for characterisation of the strains, and the results demonstrated that NADH kinase activity has paramount influence on growth physiology. Biomass yield on glucose and the maximum specific growth rate increased from 0.47 g/g and 0.22 h-1 (wild type) to 0.54 g/g and 0.26 h-1 (NADH kinase overexpressed), respectively. The results suggest that over-expression of NADH kinase improves the growth efficiency of the cell by increasing the access to NADPH. Our findings indicate that A. nidulans is not optimised for growth in nutrient-rich conditions typically found in laboratory and industrial fermentors. This conclusion may impact the design of new strains capable of generating reducing power in the form of NADPH, which is crucial for efficient production of many industrially important metabolities and enzymes.

NADH kinase

Metabolic engineering

Maximum specific growth rate

Aspergillus nidulans

Metabolic network analysis

Author

Gianni Panagiotou

Thomas Grotkjær

G. Hofmann

Prashant M. Bapat

Lisbeth Olsson

Metabolic Engineering

1096-7176 (ISSN) 1096-7184 (eISSN)

11 31-39

Subject Categories

Industrial Biotechnology

DOI

10.1016/j.ymben.2008.08.008

More information

Created

10/10/2017