Among fungi, secondary metabolites are primary sources of drug lead candidates. In the past, secondary metabolites have been sources of antiviral agents, antifungals, antibacterials, immunosuppressants and the popular cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.

In the Jan. 20 of Journal of Chemistry and Biology, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reports of a new method that may speed up the search for useful compounds in fungi. By turning off the production of a single fungal protein called LaeA, the research team claims to have found the switch that controls the production of secondary metabolites in Aspergillus nidulans a significant number of which yield potentially useful medical agents.

Thirty or so secondary metabolites await analysis in Aspergillus nidulans alone. Additionally, scientists suspect LaeA may play a similar role in all Aspergillus species, meaning there are over 180 fungi that can be mined using this technique. Keller also believes the mining strategy might work outside the Aspergillus genus with some modifications.

Source: Univ Winsconsin-Madison

Photo Credit: A. nidulans mutants. Courtesy of Ron Morris, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, via Broad Institute