Genencor International, Inc.

Beecham Group Plc

Danisco US Inc.

The University of Sheffield

Geoffrey Turner

Nigel S Dunn-Coleman

Michael C Ward

Elizabeth Ann Bodie

Ali R Akin

Shirley M Burrow

Stephen D Memmott

Sarah E Pollerman

Alison Jane Earl

David John Smith

John Henry Bull

Martin Karl Russell Burnham

The present invention generally relates to hyphal growth in fungi and in particular describes the modulation of genes associated with hyphal growth in filamentous fungi. The present invention provides methods and systems for the production of proteins and/or chemicals from filamentous fungi which comprise modulation of genes associated with hyphal growth. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a full length cotA gene, its gene product and methods of use.

Regulatable growth of filamentous fungi

The present invention provides a method for producing desired proteins or chemicals in fungal host cells, which comprise modulating the nucleic acid encoding proteins associated with hyphal growth. The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of hbrA and hbrB are provided.

Hyphal growth in fungi

The present invention provides a method for producing desired proteins or chemicals in fungal host cells which comprise modulating the nucleic acid encoding proteins associated with hyphal growth. The amino acid and nucleic acid sequence of hbrA is provided.

DNA encoding the gene for the synthetase enzyme capable of generating &dgr; (L-a-aminoadipyl)-L-crysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) from its constituent amino acids was obtained from several penicillin and cephalosporin producing organisms, e.g.,, cephalosporium and a Flavobacterium species. The DNA was used to prepare recombinant vectors comprising the ACV synthetase gene and hosts transformed with such vectors. The ACV synthetase gene can form part of a gene cluster comprising other genes involved in -&bgr;-lactam biosynthesis and the production of penicillin by expression of the entire biosynthetic gene cluster for the synthesis of penicillin from primary amino acids is described. Suitable hosts in which expression can take place include heterologous hosts which are naturally non-producers of penicillin.

DNA encoding ACV synthetase

Growing community of inventors

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Geoffrey Turner