Creating value from bio-wastes: suberin extraction and biotransformation in biocompatible ionic liquids aiming on novel biomaterials and compounds

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Elucidating how the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus nidulans uses the plant polyester suberin as carbon source

Publication . Martins, Isabel; Hartmann, Diego O; Alves, Paula C; Martins, Celso; Garcia, Helga; Leclercq, Céline C; Ferreira, Rui; He, Ji; Renaut, Jenny; Becker, Jörg D; Silva Pereira, Cristina

Lipid polymers in plant cell walls, such as cutin and suberin, build recalcitrant hydrophobic protective barriers. Their degradation is of foremost importance for both plant pathogenic and saprophytic fungi. Regardless of numerous reports on fungal degradation of emulsified fatty acids or cutin, and on fungi-plant interactions, the pathways involved in the degradation and utilisation of suberin remain largely overlooked. As a structural component of the plant cell wall, suberin isolation, in general, uses harsh depolymerisation methods that destroy its macromolecular structure. We recently overcame this limitation isolating suberin macromolecules in a near-native state.

2014-07-21Journal article

Open access

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of ionic liquid stimuli unveils enhanced secondary metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans

Publication . Alves, Paula C.; Hartmann, Diego O.; Núñez, Oscar; Martins, Isabel; Gomes, Teresa L.; Garcia, Helga; Galceran, Maria Teresa; Hampson, Richard; Becker, Jörg D.; Silva Pereira, Cristina

The inherent potential of filamentous fungi, especially of Ascomycota, for producing diverse bioactive metabolites remains largely silent under standard laboratory culture conditions. Innumerable strategies have been described to trigger their production, one of the simplest being manipulation of the growth media composition. Supplementing media with ionic liquids surprisingly enhanced the diversity of extracellular metabolites generated by penicillia. This finding led us to evaluate the impact of ionic liquids' stimuli on the fungal metabolism in Aspergillus nidulans and how it reflects on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SMs).

2016-04-12Journal article

Open access