Promoters from the itaconate cluster of are induced by nitrogen depletion.

BACKGROUND

is known for its natural potential to produce a broad range of valuable chemicals, such as itaconate, from both industrial carbon waste streams and renewable biomass. Production of itaconate, and many other secondary metabolites, is induced by nitrogen limitation in . The clustered genes responsible for itaconate production have recently been identified, enabling the development of new expression tools that are compatible with biotechnological processes.

RESULTS

Here we report on the investigation of two of the native promoters, P and P , from the itaconate cluster of   MB215. For both promoters the specific activation upon nitrogen limitation, which is known to be the trigger for itaconate production in , could be demonstrated by expression. The promoters cover a broad range of expression levels, especially when combined with the possibility to create single- and multicopy construct integration events. In addition, these reporter constructs enable a functional characterization of gene induction patterns associated with itaconate production.

CONCLUSIONS

The promoters are well suited to induce gene expression in response to nitrogen limitation, coupled to the itaconate production phase, which contributes towards the further improvement of organic acid production with .