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Colonies of the fungus Aspergillus niger are highly differentiated to adapt to local carbon source variation

Summary

This research reveals how fungal colonies can adapt to their local environment in sophisticated ways. Instead of operating as one uniform entity, different parts of the same fungal colony can produce different enzymes and metabolic processes depending on the nutrients available in their immediate surroundings. This is similar to how different neighborhoods in a city might develop different specialties based on local resources and needs. Impacts on everyday life: • Improved understanding of fungal growth could lead to better methods for preventing food spoilage • More efficient production of industrial enzymes used in food processing, detergents, and biofuels • Better strategies for controlling fungal growth in agriculture and medicine • Enhanced understanding of natural decomposition processes in ecosystems • Potential applications in biotechnology for producing valuable compounds

Background

Saprobic fungi like Aspergillus niger grow as colonies of branching and fusing hyphae networks that are often considered uniform entities where nutrients can freely move through the hyphae. In nature, different parts of a colony are frequently exposed to different nutrients. The extent to which fungal colonies can adapt and differentiate to local conditions remains unknown.

Objective

To investigate how A. niger colonies adapt and differentiate when different parts are exposed to spatially separated and compositionally different plant biomass substrates, using a multi-omics approach.

Results

The study revealed high levels of intra-colony differentiation that closely matched locally available substrates. Parts of the colony exposed to pectin-rich sugar beet pulp showed high pectinolytic transcript and protein levels, while sections exposed to xylan-rich wheat bran displayed high xylanolytic transcript and protein levels. The differentiation was observed across a broad range of physiological processes, including extracellular enzyme production, sugar transport, and metabolism.

Conclusion

A. niger colonies demonstrate remarkable ability to adapt and differentiate based on local substrate availability. Different parts of the same colony can maintain distinct physiological states, producing specific enzyme sets and metabolic pathways matching the local nutrients. This suggests that fungal colonies prioritize local adaptation over maintaining uniform physiology, enabling efficient use of available nutrients.
  • Published in:Environmental Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1111/1462-2920.14907
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