mrskn7, a putative response regulator gene of Monascus ruber M7, is involved in oxidative stress response, development, and mycotoxin production

Abstract

Skn7, a response regulator (RR), is associated with oxidative stress adaptation, hypo-osmotic stress response, fungicide sensitivity, cell wall biosynthesis, cell cycle regulation, sexual mating, and sporulation in many filamentous fungi and yeasts. In this study a Skn7-like protein gene mrskn7 (Monascus ruber skn7) was isolated, sequenced, and disrupted to investigate its function in M. ruber. Bioinformatics predicted that the deduced protein encoded by mrskn7 contained the conserved DNA-binding and signal-receiver domains similar to the Skn7-like protein structure in other filamentous fungi. The Δmrskn7 strain produced fewer conidia and less mycotoxin, demonstrated increased sensitivity to peroxide but the same level of osmotic resistance to NaCl and glycerol with the wild-type. Additionally, cleistothecia observed at different time point showed a different morphology between the wild-type and the Δmrskn7 strain, suggesting the involvement of mrskn7 in sexual development of M. ruber. These results indicated that mrskn7 plays important roles in asexual and sexual development, the production of mycotoxin as well as regulation of oxidative stress signal in M. ruber.

• citrinin
• development
• Monascus ruber
• oxidative stress
• response regulator

Acknowledgments

We thank Neena Leggett and Will Storck in Eric Selker’s lab from the University of Oregon for comments and corrections on the manuscript. Research in Monascus spp. is supported by Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31330059) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31271834, 31171649, 31371824).