Inactivation of the global regulator LaeA in Monascus ruber results in a species-dependent response in sporulation and secondary metabolism

The nuclear regulator LaeA has been proven to globally govern fungal development and secondary metabolism, but its function may be species-dependent, even though its amino acid sequences are well conserved in numerous fungi. Herein we identified the LaeA in Monascus ruber M7 (MrLaeA), and verified its role to mediate growth, sporulation and secondary metabolism. Results showed that the radial growth rate of the selected MrlaeA knock-out mutant (Mr Delta laeA-22) was significantly faster than that of the parental strain M. ruber M7, and growth was accompanied by the formation of an abnormal colony phenotype with more abundant aerial hyphae. Interestingly, conidia production of the Mr Delta laeA22 strain was about thrice that of M. ruber M7, but ascospores were not observed in the Mr Delta laeA-22 strain. Additionally, compared to M. ruber M7, Mr Delta laeA-22 exhibited drastically reduced production of multiple secondary metabolites, especially those of the six wellknown Monascus pigments and citrinin. Simultaneously, the selected MrlaeA complementation strain (Mr Delta laeA::laeA-45) nearly recovered the capacity for sporulation and secondary metabolism observed in the parental strain. These results demonstrate that MrLaeA regulates not only secondary metabolism, but also asexual and sexual differentiation in M. ruber, but some of its regulation appears to differ from other fungi. (C) 2015 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.