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Resolving the fungal velvet domain architecture by Aspergillus nidulans VelB

Summary

Scientists studied how fungi use special proteins called velvet regulators to control their growth and produce protective chemicals. By examining these proteins in different fungi and using genetic techniques, they found that two specific amino acids are critical for these proteins to interact with each other. This discovery helps explain how fungi coordinate their development with the production of important chemicals, which could eventually help control harmful fungi or improve industrial fungal applications.

Background

Velvet transcription factors are master regulators found throughout the fungal kingdom that control secondary metabolism, development, and differentiation. These proteins share a common velvet domain with structural similarity to animal NF-κB and function as homo- or heterodimeric regulators. Understanding their molecular mechanisms remains incomplete despite their widespread occurrence and functional significance.

Objective

To resolve the conserved architecture of fungal velvet domains by comparing 4,999 velvet proteins across the fungal kingdom and to identify critical amino acid residues essential for velvet protein interactions and function using Aspergillus nidulans VelB as a model.

Results

Analysis revealed a conserved velvet domain architecture consisting of an N-terminal DNA-binding region (~30 amino acids), variable region, and C-terminal dimerization region (~100 amino acids) with α- and β-subunits separated by a flexible linker. Glycine 240 and leucine 331 in VelB dimerization region were identified as critical for interactions with velvet proteins and essential for normal development and secondary metabolism. These residues are highly conserved across fungal velvet proteins and are also required for full function of VeA and VosA.

Conclusion

The study establishes a common architectural framework for fungal velvet domains and identifies conserved residues critical for velvet protein dimerization and function. These findings enhance understanding of fungal velvet regulatory networks and their role in coordinating development with secondary metabolism, with potential applications for controlling pathogenic and industrial fungi.
  • Published in:mBio,
  • Study Type:Functional genomics study,
  • Source: PMID: 40162796, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00261-25
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