Aspergillus niger
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Aspergillus niger
Classification
Higher order taxa
Cellular organisms; Eukaryota; Fungi/Metazoa group; Fungi; Dikarya; Ascomycota; Pezizomycotina; Eurotiomycetes; Eurotiomycetidae; Eurotiales; Trichocomaceae; mitosporic Trichocomaceae; Aspergillus
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Aspergillus niger
Description and significance
Aspergillus niger is a haploid filamentous fungi and is a very essential microorganism. In addition to producing extracellular enzymes and citric acid, A. niger is also used for waste management and biotransformations and is found in common mesophilic environments such as decaying vegetation or soil and plants. (2)
Genome sequencing of A. niger is important because of its involvement in producing citric acid industrial enzymes, such as amylases, proteases, and lipases. Other properties of this species include pathogens that cause the spoilage of food and production of secondary metabolites that are toxic. Analyzing the genome of A. niger is also important because of its economic impact, which is $45 billion on the U.S. economy. Understanding this economic importance as well as the effects it makes on the environment makes the genome sequencing of A. niger essential to biological applications.(4, 5)
A. niger was isolated from the plant Welwitschia mirabilis in Namibia and Angola, a plant estimated to be about 3000 years old. A. niger is easily isolated from common thing such as dust, paint, and soil. Commonly in labs, A. niger is isolated via chemostat cultures which can test positively or negatively for the fungi. (3, 6)
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology and Pathology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
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References
(1) NCBI: Aspergillus niger, Accessed August 23, 2007, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=380704&lvl=3&p=mapview&p=has_linkout&p=blast_url&p=genome_blast&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock>
Edited by Kyle Choi student of Rachel Larsen
