Aspergillus niger
Cell structure and metabolism
A. niger is a fungus, but it is specified as a mold.
[1] The possibility of sexual reproduction allows for recombination of genes to have the opportunity to repair naturally occurring mutations and results in new genotypes and phenotypes for natural selection. Asexual reproduction has beneficial traits as well, it allows for dispersion of many genetically identical spores that do not require much metabolism in comparison to sexual reproduction.[2] In 2007, the genome of strain CBS 513.88 was analyzed by Pel HJ et al, and genes that are associated with sexual reproduction were discovered.[3] However, those sexual reproduction related genes are not yet determined if deemed functional in fungi that is known to carry out only asexual reproduction.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wadman, M., de Vries, RP., Kalkhove, SIC., Veldink, GA., Vliegenthart JFG. (2009) Characterization of oxylipins and dioxygenase genes in the asexual fungus Aspergillus niger. BMC Microbiology. v.9:59. DOI 10.1186/1471-2180-9-59 It is an ascomycetous fungus which is fungus that produces microscopic spores inside sacs or elongated cells called asci. A. niger is known to reproduce through asexual spores only, no sexual reproduction. As this microbe is an important host for production of various proteins and metabolites; it would be beneficial for strain improvement if there was an available sexual reproduction cycle.
- ↑ Taylor J.W., Jacobson D.J., Fisher M.C. (1999). The evolution of asexual fungi: reproduction, speciation and classification. Ann Rev Phytopathology. Volume 37. pages 197–246. DOI 10.1146/annurev.phyto.37.1.197.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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