CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GENE ENCODING ACETYL-COA SYNTHETASE IN PENICILLIUM-CHRYSOGENUM - CONSERVATION OF INTRON POSITION IN PLECTOMYCETES

Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase (ACS; EC 6.2.1.1) from some plectomycete fungi is possibly involved in an accesory step of penicillin biosynthesis, in addition to its role in primary metabolism. We present the characterisation of the gene encoding this enzyme in Penicillium chrysogenum, which we designated acuA. Sequencing of genomic and cDNA clones showed that the coding region was interrupted by five introns, located at the same positions as those present in the Aspergillus nidulans homologue. This supports the possibility that the gene acquired its definitive mosaic organisation before the Penicillium/Aspergillus divergence. The mature transcript encodes a polypeptide with an M(r) of 74 287 which is 89.4% identical to its A. nidulans counterpart.