AUTHOR=Blachowicz Adriana , Romsdahl Jillian , Chiang Abby J. , Masonjones Sawyer , Kalkum Markus , Stajich Jason E. , Torok Tamas , Wang Clay C. C. , Venkateswaran Kasthuri 

TITLE=The International Space Station Environment Triggers Molecular Responses in Aspergillus niger

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.893071

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Due to immense phenotypic plasticity and adaptability, <italic>Aspergillus niger</italic> is a cosmopolitan fungus that thrives in versatile environments, including the International Space Station (ISS). This is the first report of genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic alterations observed in <italic>A. niger</italic> strain JSC-093350089 grown in a controlled experiment aboard the ISS. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that ISS conditions, including microgravity and enhanced irradiation, triggered non-synonymous point mutations in specific regions, chromosomes VIII and XII of the JSC-093350089 genome when compared to the ground-grown control. Proteome analysis showed altered abundance of proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress response, and cellular amino acid and protein catabolic processes following growth aboard the ISS. Metabolome analysis further confirmed that space conditions altered molecular suite of ISS-grown <italic>A. niger</italic> JSC-093350089. After regrowing both strains on Earth, production of antioxidant—Pyranonigrin A was significantly induced in the ISS-flown, but not the ground control strain. In summary, the microgravity and enhanced irradiation triggered unique molecular responses in the <italic>A. niger</italic> JSC-093350089 suggesting adaptive responses.</p>