Abstract
The glucoamylase gene (PnGlu1) from Pholiota microspora was amplified and characterized. The 1743-bp coding region of PnGlu1 encoded a polypeptide consisting of 581 amino acids with a signal peptide comprising 17 amino acids at the N-terminal. The deduced protein sequence has a two-domain structure consisting of an N-terminal domain with the glycoside hydrolase family 15 signatures and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 20. Southern blot analysis revealed that only a single copy of PnGlu1 was present in the haploid genome of P. microspora. To investigate the capability of starch utilization in P. microspora, PnGlu1 expression level has been examined on minimal media containing different carbon sources such as glucose, soluble starch, corn starch, wheat starch, and potato starch. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that corn starch and soluble starch strongly stimulated the PnGlu1 gene expression of P. microspora.
