Scientists have sequenced the genetic code of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus commonly used to make fermented foods and animal feed. This fungus produces useful enzymes that break down plant materials, making nutrients more available. The completed genome sequence helps researchers ensure the fungus is safe for food production by checking for any potential health risks.
Researchers developed new tools to make it faster and easier to discover useful compounds from fungi. They created improved genetic vectors that allow scientists to insert multiple genes into Aspergillus oryzae more conveniently, and developed a quick screening method using mass spectrometry to identify successful transformants directly on culture plates. This approach saves about 10 days compared to traditional methods, significantly accelerating the discovery of new natural products with potential medical and agricultural applications.
This study compared how two types of A. oryzae fungi ferment broad beans to make koji, a starter ingredient for Chinese broad bean paste. Researchers tested the same fungi in small laboratory batches and large factory batches to see if what works in the lab also works in industry. They found that the factory’s larger scale and different environment actually had a bigger impact on the final product than which specific fungus strain was used, though the PN strain was still efficient overall.
Researchers studied how Aspergillus oryzae fungi make ergosterol, a key ingredient in fungal cell membranes. They found that this process is much more complex in this mold than in baker’s yeast, with 49 genes involved. By selectively increasing expression of specific genes, they were able to boost ergosterol production by up to 2.3 times, which could have applications in producing fungal-derived medicines and improving fermented foods.