CRISPR-Mediated Activation of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters for Bioactive Molecule Discovery in Filamentous FungiClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Indra RouxIndra RouxSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Indra Roux
- Clara WoodcraftClara WoodcraftSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Clara Woodcraft
- Jinyu HuJinyu HuSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Jinyu Hu
- Rebecca WoltersRebecca WoltersSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Rebecca Wolters
- Cameron L. M. GilchristCameron L. M. GilchristSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Cameron L. M. Gilchrist
- Yit-Heng Chooi*Yit-Heng Chooi*Email: [email protected]School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaMore by Yit-Heng Chooi
Abstract

Accessing the full biosynthetic potential encoded in the genomes of fungi is limited by the low expression of most biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) under common laboratory culture conditions. CRISPR-mediated transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) of fungal BGCs could accelerate genomics-driven bioactive secondary metabolite discovery. In this work, we established the first CRISPRa system for filamentous fungi. First, we constructed a CRISPR/dLbCas12a-VPR-based system and demonstrated the activation of a fluorescent reporter in Aspergillus nidulans. Then, we targeted the native nonribosomal peptide synthetase-like (NRPS-like) gene micA in both chromosomal and episomal contexts, achieving increased production of the compound microperfuranone. Finally, multigene CRISPRa led to the discovery of the mic cluster product as dehydromicroperfuranone. Additionally, we demonstrated the utility of the variant dLbCas12aD156R-VPR for CRISPRa at room temperature culture conditions. Different aspects that influence the efficiency of CRISPRa in fungi were investigated, providing a framework for the further development of fungal artificial transcription factors based on CRISPR/Cas.
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