Disruption of stcA blocks sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and improves echinocandin B production in Aspergillus delacroxii

Echinocandin B (ECB) is an important lipohexapeptide used for chemical manufacture of the antifungal agent anidulafungin. Sterigmatocystin (ST) is a polyketide mycotoxin produced by certain species of Aspergillus such as Aspergillus delacroxii SIPIW15, which could produce both ECB and ST. However, the presence of the potent carcinogen ST will greatly affect the quality and safety of ECB production. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate the ST biosynthesis and increase ECB titers in Asp. delacroxii SIPIW15. In this study, the polyketide synthase gene ( stcA ) required for biosynthesis of ST and its flanking region in Asp. delacroxii SIPIW15 were cloned, sequenced and analyzed firstly. Based on Agrobacterium -mediated transformation, the Δ stcA mutant AMT-1 was obtained and its yield of ECB was increased by 40% without ST detected at the same time as compared to the original strain. The results of the fed-batch experiments showed that the ECB yield of the Δ stcA strain AMT-1 was increased to 2163 ± 31 mg/l and no ST was detected in the 50 l bioreactor. This work suggested that the Δ stcA strain AMT-1 has the potential for application in ECB production improvement, and more importantly, to eliminate ST-related environmental pollution in ECB fermentation industry. Graphic abstract