Global transcriptome analysis of the Aspergillus fumigatus wild-type and delta smiA strains

Aspergillus fumigatus SmiA is homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Smi1/Knr4 protein, which is important for the biosynthesis of b-1,3-glucan and chitin in the cell wall. In addition, Smi1 is a member of the Pkc1 signalling pathway and works together with the Cell Wall Integrity pathway in regulating cell wall biosynthesis and maintenance. In order to unravel the impact of SmiA on A. fumigatus gene transcription, the present study investigated the transcriptomes of the A. fumigatus wild-type and delta smiA strains in different growth conditions: at the beginning of germination (after 5 hours of growth); in the mature mycelium (after 16 hours of growth); and in the presence of the cell wall stressor calcofluor white.