Ferulic acid catabolism by Aspergillus niger requires FarA and a newly identified transcription factor FarD that lacks the canonical Zn(II)2Cys6 domain. Aspergillus niger strain:JR11.1

To identify transcription factors involved in ferulic acid metabolism we screened a transcription factor knockout library for mutants unable to grow on ferulic acid. We also isolated mutants unable to produce ferulic esterase B with a forward genetic screen. The known transcription factor FarA and a novel transcription factor FarD without a Zn(II)2Cys6 domain are implicated in induction of ferulic acid catabolism.