| Auxotrophy for uridine increases the sensitivity of Aspergillus niger to weak-acid preservatives. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 18375817 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Weak-acid preservatives such as sorbic acid are added to foods to prevent fungal spoilage. The modes of action of weak-acid preservatives are only partially understood and, in this paper, further insight is presented into the mechanisms by which weak acids inhibit the growth of fungi. Uridine-requiring strains of Aspergillus niger were shown to be more sensitive to weak acids (including sorbic, acetic and benzoic acids) than wild-type (WT) strains. In contrast, sensitivity to other, non-acidic, antifungal substances was similar in mutant and WT strains. By complementing a pyrG(-) strain of A. niger with an intact pyrG gene, WT-like resistance to weak-acid preservatives was restored. Using (14)C-labelled uridine, sorbic acid was shown to completely inhibit uridine uptake in germinating conidia in a non-competitive manner. It is therefore proposed that the additional weak-acid sensitivity of the pyrG(-) strains was caused by weak-acid inhibition of uridine uptake. Several other auxotrophic strains of A. niger were screened for sensitivity to acetic, sorbic and decanoic acids. Strains auxotrophic for either adenine or uridine were found to have enhanced sensitivity but, in contrast, amino acid auxotrophs showed resistance comparable to that of the WT. Uridine auxotrophs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were not more sensitive to weak acids compared to WT strains. In conclusion, this study describes a previously unknown mechanism of action of weak acids against the filamentous fungus A. niger, which may fundamentally affect our understanding of the preservation of food against spoilage fungi. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Petter Melin; Malcolm Stratford; Andrew Plumridge; David B Archer |
Related Documents
:
|
22313587 - Effect of different long-chain fatty acids on cholecystokinin release in vitro and ener... 8472927 - Carnitine acetyltransferase is absent from acuj mutants of aspergillus nidulans. 11559807 - Molecular determinants of species specificity in the coronavirus receptor aminopeptidas... 16415067 - Ozone-induced expression of the arabidopsis fad7 gene requires salicylic acid, but not ... 18373647 - Roles of organic anion transporters in the renal excretion of perfluorooctanoic acid. 11983887 - The crystal structure of rabbit phosphoglucose isomerase complexed with 5-phospho-d-ara... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Microbiology (Reading, England) Volume: 154 ISSN: 1350-0872 ISO Abbreviation: Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) Publication Date: 2008 Apr |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2008-03-31 Completed Date: 2008-06-03 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9430468 Medline TA: Microbiology Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 1251-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK. petter.melin@mikrob.slu.se |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Antifungal Agents
/
pharmacology* Aspergillus niger / drug effects*, genetics, growth & development, metabolism* Carbon Radioisotopes / metabolism Carboxylic Acids / pharmacology* Food Preservatives / pharmacology* Genes, Fungal Genetic Complementation Test Microbial Sensitivity Tests Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects, genetics Sorbic Acid Spores, Fungal / metabolism Uridine / metabolism* |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
|
FQS69//Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
0/Antifungal Agents; 0/Carbon Radioisotopes; 0/Carboxylic Acids; 0/Food Preservatives; 110-44-1/Sorbic Acid; 58-96-8/Uridine |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: NADPH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase in Penicillium chrysogenum is involved in regulation of beta...
Next Document: The Sinorhizobium meliloti MsbA2 protein is essential for the legume symbiosis.