Spatial and Developmental Differentiation of Mannitol Dehydrogenase and Mannitol-1-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Aspergillus niger

ABSTRACT The presence of a mannitol cycle in fungi has been subject to discussion for many years. Recent studies have found no evidence for the presence of this cycle and its putative role in regenerating NADPH. However, all enzymes of the cycle could be measured in cultures of Aspergillus niger. In this study we have analyzed the localization of two enzymes from the pathway, mannitol dehydrogenase and mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, and the expression of their encoding genes in nonsporulating and sporulating cultures of A. niger. Northern analysis demonstrated that mpdA was expressed in both sporulating and nonsporulating mycelia, while expression of mtdA was expressed only in sporulating mycelium. More detailed studies using green fluorescent protein and dTomato fused to the promoters of mtdA and mpdA, respectively, demonstrated that expression of mpdA occurs in vegetative hyphae while mtdA expression occurs in conidiospores. Activity assays for MtdA and MpdA confirmed the expression data, indicating that streaming of these proteins is not likely to occur. These results confirm the absence of the putative mannitol cycle in A. niger as two of the enzymes of the cycle are not present in the same part of A. niger colonies. The results also demonstrate the existence of spore-specific genes and enzymes in A. niger.

The mannitol cycle in Eimeria

A metabolic pathway known as the mannitol cycle has been identified in Eimerian parasites. The pathway is a shunt off of the glycolytic pathway at fructose-6-phosphate (F6P). Two enzymes convert F6P to mannitol and two other enzymes are responsible for converting mannitol back to F6P when it is utilized. Although the pathway is present in various stages of the parasite the most apparent role of this pathway is in the sexual portion of the life cycle, particularly in the formation of oocysts. Extremely high concentrations of mannitol, approaching 0.3 M, are present in unsporulated oocysts. Mannitol functions as the endogenous energy source for oocysts to sporulate in the environment outside of the host. An inhibitory protein which inactivates the first enzyme of the mannitol cycle has been isolated from an oocyst derived inhibited enzyme complex and is believed to prevent the futile cycling of F6P during the maturation of oocysts. Evidence of the vital role of mannitol in the development and maturation of Eimeria tenella oocysts has been facilitated through the use of the drug Nitrophenide™, a known anticoccidial which has now been found to be an inhibitor of one of the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of mannitol in the parasite. This compound prevents the formation of oocysts and at lower doses reduces mannitol levels in shed oocysts. In addition, oocysts with reduced mannitol levels fail to complete the sporulation process lending further evidence for this polyol's role in the parasite.