Genome editing tools for activating silent antimicrobial agents
The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a recent molecular tool that has revolutionized genome editing of all kind of cells. In the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, the Cas9 endonuclease is guided by a single chimeric guide RNA to a specific locus, where it introduces a double strand break in the DNA sequence that can be used for enhanced homology directed repair. Recently, we have developed highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 based marker-free genome editing tools for Penicillium chrysogenum. During the ALERT program, the aim is to employ the Cas9 protein to allow for RNA-guided transcriptional regulation. This technology will be used to upregulate silent endogenous secondary metabolite genes in P. chrysogenum and will be transferred to other fungi.
Department: Molecular Microbiology, RUG
Principal investigator(s): prof. Arnold J.M. Driessen
Publications
Iacovelli, R., Mózsik, L., Bovenberg, R. A. L., & Driessen, A. J. M. (2021). Identification of a conserved N-terminal domain in the first module of ACV synthetases. MicrobiologyOpen, 10(1), e1145. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1145
Mózsik, L., Hoekzema, M., de Kok, N. A. W., Bovenberg, R. A. L., Nygård, Y., & Driessen, A. J. M. (2021). CRISPR-based transcriptional activation tool for silent genes in filamentous fungi. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1118. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80864-3
Pohl, C., Polli, F., Schütze, T., Viggiano, A., Mózsik, L., Jung, S., de Vries, M., Bovenberg, R. A. L., Meyer, V., & Driessen, A. J. M. (2020). A Penicillium rubens platform strain for secondary metabolite production. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 7630. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64893-6
Mózsik, L., Büttel, Z., Bovenberg, R. A. L., Driessen, A. J. M., & Nygård, Y. (2019). Synthetic control devices for gene regulation in Penicillium chrysogenum. Microbial Cell Factories, 18(1), 203. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-019-1253-3