Anindita Sarkar

Personal Data:
Country of Origin: India
Start of PhD: August 2006

PhD Project:
Characterization of Silent Secondary metabolite Gene Clusters in the filamentous fungi: Aspergillus nidulans

Abstract:
Genome sequencing of the model organism Aspergillus nidulans speculates presence of 54 nonribosomal peptide synthetases, polyketide synthases and hybrid synthetases. However only a handful of compounds have been identified from this organism and fewer compounds have been ascribed to the gene locus. It is believed that the secondary metabolites serve as defense arsenal to ensure survival of the producing organism. In the native environment the organisms face threats in the form of depleting nutritional sources and allopathic agents from the competitor organism. Thus specific cues are required for the activation of each gene clusters. The objective of this dissertation is to:
1. systematically study the influence of single nutrient limitation on the fungi at transcriptomic and metabolome level. Various fermentation regime viz continuous and batch are being combined with the Microarray Chip technology. Further the comparative metabolic analysis is done with the aid of sophisticated LCMS.
2. investigate the effect of biotic factors such as signaling molecules produced by the competitor organism on Aspergillus nidulans.