The phenotypic and genomic diversity of Aspergillus strains producing glucose dehydrogenase.

Beata Rola; Anna Pawlik; Magdalena Frąc; Wanda Małek; Zdzisław Targoński; Jerzy Rogalski; Grzegorz Janusz

Beata Rola Department of Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.;
Anna Pawlik Department of Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.;
Magdalena Frąc Institute of Agrophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland.;
Wanda Małek Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.;
Zdzisław Targoński Department of Biotechnology, Human Nutrition and Food Commodities, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland.;
Jerzy Rogalski Department of Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.;
Grzegorz Janusz Department of Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland.;

Abstract

Twelve Aspergillus sp. strains producing glucose dehydrogenase were identified using ITS region sequencing. Based on the sequences obtained, the genomic relationship of the analyzed strains was investigated. Moreover, partial gdh gene sequences were determined and aligned. The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) method was applied for genomic fingerprinting of twelve Aspergillus isolates. Using one PstI restriction endonuclease and five selective primers in an AFLP assay, 556 DNA fragments were generated, including 532 polymorphic bands. The AFLP profiles were found to be highly specific for each strain and they unambiguously distinguished twelve Aspergilli fungi. The AFLP-based dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method grouped all the Aspergillus fungi studied into two major clusters. All the Aspergillus strains were also characterized using Biolog FF MicroPlates to obtain data on C-substrate utilization and mitochondrial activity. The ability to decompose various substrates differed among the analyzed strains up to three folds. All of the studied strains mainly decomposed carbohydrates.