Novel regulators of fungal gene expression

Abstract

The invention relates to regulators of fungal gene expression and their use in commercial and medical applications. More particularly, the invention relates to regulators of fungal genes involved in production of enzymes, secondary metabolites and other useful products, as well as to regulators of genes involved in fungal invasion. The invention provides novel regulators of fungal gene expression, and methods for using regulator genes in commercial and medical applications.

1 - 68 . (canceled).  
     
     
         69 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a polypeptide that when compared to SEQ ID NO:8 (residues 1-315) using BLASTP with the default parameters elicits an E score that is less than 1 e −5.    
     
     
         70 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein that increases FLO11 expression when expressed in  S. cerevisiae.    
     
     
         71 . A method for increasing expression of a secondary metabolite in a fungal cell, the method comprising transforming the fungal cell with the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69 .  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein that increases FL11 expression when expressed in  S. cerevisiae.    
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the secondary metabolite is a polyketide.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the secondary metabolite is a polysaccharide.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the secondary metabolite is mevalonic acid.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the secondary metabolite is lovastatin.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the secondary metabolite is penicillin.  
     
     
         78 . A method for producing a secondary metabolite comprising: 
 (a) providing a cell that has been transformed with the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69;     (b) culturing the cells; and    (c) isolating the secondary metabolite from the cultured cells or the culture medium.    
     
     
         79 . A purified polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69 .  
     
     
         80 . A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69 .  
     
     
         81 . The vector of  claim 81 , wherein the vector is a fungal expression vector.  
     
     
         82 . An isolated cell harboring the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 69 .  
     
     
         83 . An isolated cell harboring the vector of  claim 80 .  
     
     
         84 . The isolated cell of  claim 82  or  83 , wherein the cell is a fungal cell.  
     
     
         85 . A method for producing a secondary metabolite comprising: 
 (a) providing a cell that has been transformed with the vector of  claim 80;     (b) culturing the cells; and    (c) isolating the secondary metabolite from the cultured cells or the culture medium.    
     
     
         86 . A method for producing a secondary metabolite comprising: 
 (a) providing a cell that has been transformed with the vector of  claim 81;     (b) culturing the cells; and    (c) isolating the secondary metabolite from the cultured cells or the culture medium.