Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research Paper
  • Published:

High Level Expression of Recombinant Genes in Aspergillus Oryzae

Abstract

We have modified a method for transformation of Aspergillus nidulans1 to work for Aspergillus oryzae using selection for the amdS and argB genes from Aspergillus nidulans. To direct the expression of recombinant genes in A. oryzae we have used an alpha-amylase promoter cloned from a high yielding strain of A. oryzae. The amounts of heterologous protein obtained make this system attractive for even moderately priced industrial enzymes. As an example, the Rhizomucor miehei derived aspartic proteinase was secreted with yields in excess of three grams per liter. The proteinase was slightly overglycosylated, which did not, however, alter the specific activity of the enzyme.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yelton, M.M., Hamer, J.E., Timberlake, W.E. 1984. Transformation of Aspergillus nidulans by using a trpC plasmid. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 81:1470–1474.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tilburn, J.T., Scazzocchio, C., Taylor, G.G., Zabicky-Zissman, J.H., Lockington, R.A., Davies, R.W. 1983. Transformation by integration in Aspergillus nidulans. Gene 26:205–221.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ballance, D.J., Buxton, F.P., Turner, G. 1983. Transformation of Aspergillus nidulans by the orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase gene of Neurospora crassa. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 112:284–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kelly, J.M., Hynes, M. 1985. Transformation of Aspergillus niger by the amdS gene of Aspergillus nidulans. EMBO J. 4:475–479.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Buxton, F.P., Gwynne, D.I., Davies, R.W. 1985. Transformation of Aspergillus niger using the argB gene of Aspergillus nidulans. Gene 37:207–214.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gomi, K., Iimura, Y., Hara, S. 1987. Integrative transformation of Aspergillus oryzae with a plasmid containing the Aspergillus nidulans argB gene. Agric. Biol. Chem. 51:2549–2555.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mattern, I.E., Unkles, S., Kinghorn, J.R., Pouwels, P.H., Van den Hondel, C.A.M.J.J. 1987. Transformation of Aspergillus oryzae using the A. niger pryG gene. Mol. Gen. Genet. 210:460–461.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Berse, B., Dmochowska, A., Skrzypek, M., Weglenski, P., Bates, M.A., Weiss, R.L. 1983. Cloning and characterization of the ornithine carbamoyltransferase gene from Aspergillus nidulans. Gene 25:109–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hynes, M.J., Corrick, C.M., King, J.A. 1983. Isolation of genomic clones containing the amdS gene of Aspergillus nidulans and their use in the analysis of structural and regulatory mutations. Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:1430–1439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. John, M.A., Peberdy, J.F. 1984. Transformation of Aspergillus nidulans using the argB gene. Enzyme Microb. Technol. 6:386–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Akabori, S., Ikenaka, T., Hagihara, B. 1954. Isolation of crystalline Taka-amylase A from Takadiastase Sankyo. J. Biochem. 41:577–582.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Toda, H., Kondo, K., Narita, K. 1982. The complete amino acid sequence of Taka-amylase A. Proc. Japan Acad. 58(B):208–212.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Boel, E., Bech, A-M., Randrup, K., Draeger, B., Fiil, N.P., Foltmann, B. 1986. Primary structure of a precursor to the aspartic proteinase from Rhizomucor miehei shows that the enzyme is synthesized as a Zymogen. Proteins: Struc. Func. Gen. 1:363–369.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sherman, F., Fink, G.R., Hicks, J.B. 1981. Methods in Yeast Genetics. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Spring harbor, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boel, E., Hansen, M.T., Hjort, I., Hoegh, L., Fiil, N.P. 1984. Two different types of intervening sequences in the glucoamylase gene from Aspergillus niger. EMBO J. 3:1581–1585.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Punt, P.J., Oliver, R.P., Dingemanse, M.A., Pouwels, P.H., van den Hondel, C.A.M.J.J. 1987. Transformation of Aspergillus based on the hygromycin B resistance marker from Escherichia coli. Gene 56:117–124.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. van Hartingsveldt, W., Mattern, I.E., van Zeijl, C.M.J., Pouwels, P.H., van den Hondel, C.A.M.J.J. 1987. Development of a homologous transformation system for Aspergillus niger based on the pyrG gene. Mol. Gen. Genet. 206:71–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gray, G.L., Hayenga, K., Cullen, D., Willson, L.J., Norton, S. 1986. Primary structure of Mucor miehei aspartyl protease: evidence for a zymogen intermediate. Gene 48:41–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Foltmann, B. 1981. Gastric proteinases structure, function, evolution and mechanism of action. Essays Biochem. 17:52–84.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pâquet, D., Lorient, D., Mejean, L., Alais, C. 1981. Structural study of a Mucor miehei acid proteinase from strain NRRL 3169. Determination of the N-terminal sequence. Neth. Milk Dairy J. 35:358–360.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Cove, D.J. 1966. The induction and repression of nitrate reductase in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 113:51–56.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Maniatis, T., Fritsch, E.F., Sambrook, J. 1982 Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Vieira, H., Messing, J. 1982. The pUC plasmids, an M13mp-derived system for insertion mutagenesis and sequencing with synthetic universal primers. Gene 19:259–268.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Henikoff, S. 1984. Unidirectional digestion with exonuclease III creates targeted breakpoints for DNA sequencing. Gene 28:351:359.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kozak, M. 1984. Compilation and analysis of sequences upstream from the translational start site in eukaryotic mRNAs. Nucl. Acids Res. 12:857–872.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Marsh, J.L., Erfle, M., Wykes, E.J. 1984. The pIC plasmid and phage vectors with versatile cloning sites for recombinant selection by insertional inactivation. Gene 32:481–485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Stephanov, V.M., Rudenskaya, G.N., Gaida, A.V., Osterman, A.I. 1981. Affinity chromatography of proteolytic enzymes on silica-based biospecific sorbents. J. Biochem. Biophys. Met. 5:177–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Nilsson, K., Mosbach, K. 1981. Immobilization of enzymes and affinity ligands to various hydroxyl group carrying supports using highly reactive sulfonyl chlorides. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 102:449–457.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Thim, L., Hansen, M.T., Soerensen, A.R. 1987. Secretion of human insulin by a transformed yeast cell. FEBS Lett. 212:307–312.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rauscher, E., Neumann, U., Schaich, E., von Bulow, S., Wahlefeld, A.W. 1985. Optimized condition for determining activity concentration of alpha-amylase in serum, with 1, 4-alpha-D-4-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside as substrate. Clin. Chem. 31:14–19.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Towbin, H., Staehelin, T., Gordon, J. 1979. Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gets to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some applications. Proc. Natl. Sci. USA 76:4350–4354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Christensen, T., Woeldike, H., Boel, E. et al. High Level Expression of Recombinant Genes in Aspergillus Oryzae. Nat Biotechnol 6, 1419–1422 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1288-1419

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1288-1419

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing