Skip to main content

The Chemical Identification and Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans Secondary Metabolites

  • Protocol
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 944))

Abstract

Filamentous fungi have long been recognized to be a rich source of secondary metabolites with potential medicinal applications. The recent genomic sequencing of several Aspergillus species has revealed that many secondary metabolite gene clusters are apparently silent under standard laboratory conditions. Several successful approaches have been utilized to upregulate these genes and unearth the corresponding natural products. A straightforward, reliable method to purify and characterize new metabolites therefore should be useful. Details are provided herein on the cultivation of Aspergillus nidulans and the LC/MS analysis of the metabolic profile. Following is an explanation of silica gel chromatography, HPLC, and preparative TLC. Finally, the NMR characterization of previously unknown A. nidulans metabolites is detailed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Protocol
USD   49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Springer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more

References

  1. Kennedy J, Auclair K, Kendrew SG, Park C, Vederas JC, Hutchinson CR (1999) Modulation of polyketide synthase activity by accessory proteins during lovastatin biosynthesis. Science 284:1368–1372

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Payne GA, Nystrom GJ, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Woloshuk CP (1993) Cloning of the afl-2 gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis from Aspgergillus flavus. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:156–162

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Galagan JE, Calvo SE, Cuomo C, Ma LJ, Wortman JR, Batzoglou S et al (2005) Sequencing of Aspergillus nidulans and comparative analysis with A-fumigatus and A-oryzae. Nature 438:1105–1115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Machida M, Asai K, Sano M, Tanaka T, Kumagai T, Terai G et al (2005) Genome sequencing and analysis of Aspergillus oryzae. Nature 438:1157–1161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Nierman WC, Pain A, Anderson MJ, Wortman JR, Kim HS, Arroyo J et al (2005) Genomic sequence of the pathogenic and allergenic filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Nature 438:1151–1156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pel HJ, de Winde JH, Archer DB, Dyer PS, Hofmann G, Schaap PJ et al (2007) Genome sequencing and analysis of the versatile cell ­factory Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88. Nat Biotechnol 25:221–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bok JW, Chiang YM, Szewczyk E, Reyes-Dominguez Y, Davidson AD, Sanchez JF et al (2009) Chromatin-level regulation of biosynthetic gene clusters. Nat Chem Biol 5:462–464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sanchez JF, Chiang YM, Szewczyk E, Davidson AD, Ahuja M, Oakley CE et al (2010) Molecular genetic analysis of the orsellinic acid/F9775 gene cluster of Aspergillus nidulans. Mol Biosyst 6:587–593

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Szewczyk E, Chiang YM, Oakley CE, Davidson AD, Wang CCC, Oakley BR (2008) Identification and characterization of the asperthecin gene cluster of Aspergillus nidulans. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:7607–7612

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chiang YM, Szewczyk E, Davidson AD, Keller N, Oakley BR, Wang CCC (2009) A gene cluster containing two fungal polyketide synthases encodes the biosynthetic pathway for a polyketide, asperfuranone, in Aspergillus nidulans. J Am Chem Soc 131:2965–2970

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Still WC, Kahn M, Mitra A (1978) Rapid chromatographic technique for preparative separations with moderate resolution. J Org Chem 43:2923–2925

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clay C. C. Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Sanchez, J.F., Wang, C.C.C. (2012). The Chemical Identification and Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans Secondary Metabolites. In: Keller, N., Turner, G. (eds) Fungal Secondary Metabolism. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 944. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-122-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-122-6_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-121-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-122-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics