Extremely halotolerant and halophilic fungi that inhabit hypersaline environments (such as the black-yeast Hortaea werneckii) have unique mechanisms that enable their survival. High salinities trigger changes in cellular membranes of H. werneckii. We have shown that these changes can be at least partially explained by the increased expression of the newly identified six genes encoding isogenes for ?9-, ?12-desaturases and an elongase. These genes are promising targets for increasing halotolerance in receptor GMO as well as producing valuable metabolites such as PUFA.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25392345
We have isolated macrocypins, a new family of cysteine protease inhibitors, from the basidiomycete Macrolepiota procera, which based on sequence variability includes 5 groups. Heterologous expression of three different macrocypins in E. coli enabled their thorough comparative biochemical and kinetic characterization. Their inhibitory pattern includes many cysteine proteases and the serine protease trypsin. Characterization of macrocypins at the genetic and biochemical levels revealed many unique characteristics which lead to the establishment of a new family I85 in the MEROPS classification.
COBISS.SI-ID: 22806311