The International Space Station Environment Triggers Molecular Responses in Aspergillus niger

Adriana Blachowicz; Adriana Blachowicz; Jillian Romsdahl; Abby J. Chiang; Sawyer Masonjones; Markus Kalkum; Jason E. Stajich; Tamas Torok; Clay C. C. Wang; Clay C. C. Wang; Kasthuri Venkateswaran

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071

Frontiers in Microbiology (Jun 2022)

The International Space Station Environment Triggers Molecular Responses in Aspergillus niger

Adriana Blachowicz,
Adriana Blachowicz,
Jillian Romsdahl,
Abby J. Chiang,
Sawyer Masonjones,
Markus Kalkum,
Jason E. Stajich,
Tamas Torok,
Clay C. C. Wang,
Clay C. C. Wang,
Kasthuri Venkateswaran

Affiliations

Adriana Blachowicz: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Adriana Blachowicz: Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
Jillian Romsdahl: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Abby J. Chiang: Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
Sawyer Masonjones: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
Markus Kalkum: Department of Immunology and Theranostics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
Jason E. Stajich: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
Tamas Torok: Ecology Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
Clay C. C. Wang: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Clay C. C. Wang: Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Kasthuri Venkateswaran: Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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Due to immense phenotypic plasticity and adaptability, Aspergillus niger is a cosmopolitan fungus that thrives in versatile environments, including the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first report of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alterations observed in A. niger strain JSC-093350089 grown in a controlled experiment aboard the ISS. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that ISS conditions, including microgravity and enhanced irradiation, triggered non-synonymous point mutations in specific regions, chromosomes VIII and XII of the JSC-093350089 genome when compared to the ground-grown control. Proteome analysis showed altered abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress response, and cellular amino acid and protein catabolic processes following growth aboard the ISS. Metabolome analysis further confirmed that space conditions altered molecular suite of ISS-grown A. niger JSC-093350089. After regrowing both strains on Earth, production of antioxidant—Pyranonigrin A was significantly induced in the ISS-flown, but not the ground control strain. In summary, the microgravity and enhanced irradiation triggered unique molecular responses in the A. niger JSC-093350089 suggesting adaptive responses.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

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