Epigenetic Regulation of Silent Fungal Gene Clusters Activation

Whole-genome sequencing has identified a large number of genes encoding compounds in fungi. Still, the number of compounds encoded by these genes is much larger than the number of compounds currently isolated from them. Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression without altering the gene sequence. Numerous studies have shown that epigenetic modifications are closely associated with synthesizing secondary metabolites.

Table 1. Selected compounds induced through the treatment of fungi with epigenetic modifiers. (Toghueo RMK, et al., 2020)

Epigenetic manipulation can alter the secondary metabolite profile of fungi on a large scale and activate the biosynthesis of a large number of secondary metabolites. Lifeasible can achieve activation of silenced fungal gene clusters using epigenetic small molecule inhibitors and epigenetic modifier enzyme gene knockdown or overexpression techniques and to analyze the impact of epigenetic regulation on fungal secondary metabolite profiles.

• Analysis of the role of epigenetic small molecule inhibitors. Chemical epigenetics involves using a range of small molecules to specifically or semi-specifically repress epigenetically modified enzymes. Using these epigenetic small molecule repressors solves the challenge of silencing gene clusters in a large number of non-model fungi that are difficult to apply molecular genetic means to activate. We can help our customers verify the effect of different epigenetic small molecule inhibitors or different combinations of epigenetic small molecule inhibitors on the production of fungal secondary metabolites through experimental design. We can validate the following epigenetic small molecule inhibitors, including but not limited to:

• Analysis of the role of epigenetic regulatory genes. Although epigenetic regulation using epigenetic small molecule inhibitors is simple and convenient, some epigenetic small molecule inhibitors are poorly specific and may have inhibitory effects on other enzymes. Therefore, we provide targeted knockdown or overexpression editing services for epigenetic modifier enzyme genes. By editing the genes encoding epigenetic modifying enzymes, we can tap into new compounds that the fungus can produce.

Lifeasible can facilitate chromatin network changes using epigenetic modifiers or gene editing techniques to analyze the secondary metabolite profile expressed after epigenetic regulation fully. As your trusted partner, we can meet all your fungal phylogenetic analysis needs and provide you with efficient and high-quality services. If you want to know the details, please contact us.