Aspergillus niger genome unravelled
DSM is publishing a paper in the February 2007 issue of the renowned scientific journal “Nature Biotechnology” announcing the release of the DNA sequence of the fungus Aspergillus niger. The article – which has 69 co-authors – is the result of a research project carried out by DSM in which twenty-nine international research groups participated.
Aspergillus niger is a micro-organism that DSM uses for the production of
enzymes and other compounds, such as citric acid. At the beginning of this
century, DSM started work on the determination of the complete DNA sequence of
Aspergillus niger and the identification of the functions of the different
genes. The research grew into one of the most important industrial genomics
projects in Europe.
New products and uses
Dr Herman Pel,
Principal Scientist Genomics and Bioinformatics at DSM who coordinated the
execution of the sequencing project: “The unravelling of the DNA sequence not
only accelerates the development of new products, but also enables us to study
the highly complex physiological behaviour of Aspergillus niger with the help of
the most advanced biological analysis techniques such as DNA micro-array
analysis, proteomics and bio-informatics and use the insights gained to improve
production processes.” Dr Hein Stam, Principal Scientist Applied Genomics and
Fermentation who coordinated the publication of the genome: “Further research on
Aspergillus niger could help identify other possible uses of this micro-organism
(such as in the sustainable use of raw materials). With the functions of some
7,500 genes still unknown, scientific researchers have plenty of challenges to
deal with in the future.”
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