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Expanding the Toolbox for Genetic Manipulation in <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i>: RNAi-Mediated Silencing and CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Disruption of a Polyketide Synthase Gene Involved in Red Pigment Production in <i>P. verrucosus</i>
oleh: Diego Palma, Vicente Oliva, Mariana Montanares, Carlos Gil-Durán, Dante Travisany, Renato Chávez, Inmaculada Vaca
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2024-02-01 |
Deskripsi
Fungi belonging to the genus <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i> have garnered increasing attention in recent years. One of the members of the genus, <i>P. destructans</i>, has been identified as the causal agent of a severe bat disease. Simultaneously, the knowledge of <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i> species has expanded, in parallel with the increased availability of genome sequences. Moreover, <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i> exhibits great potential as a producer of specialized metabolites, displaying a diverse array of biological activities. Despite these significant advancements, the genetic landscape of <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i> remains largely unexplored due to the scarcity of suitable molecular tools for genetic manipulation. In this study, we successfully implemented RNAi-mediated gene silencing and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption in <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i>, using an Antarctic strain of <i>Pseudogymnoascus verrucosus</i> as a model. Both methods were applied to target <i>azpA</i>, a gene involved in red pigment biosynthesis. Silencing of the <i>azpA</i> gene to levels of 90% or higher eliminated red pigment production, resulting in transformants exhibiting a white phenotype. On the other hand, the CRISPR/Cas9 system led to a high percentage (73%) of transformants with a one-nucleotide insertion, thereby inactivating <i>azpA</i> and abolishing red pigment production, resulting in a white phenotype. The successful application of RNAi-mediated gene silencing and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption represents a significant advancement in <i>Pseudogymnoascus</i> research, opening avenues for comprehensive functional genetic investigations within this underexplored fungal genus.