Transcription Factors in Aureobasidium spp.: Classification, Regulation and a Newly Built Database

Abstract

Transcription factors (TFs) can regulate the synthesis of secondary metabolites through different metabolic pathways in Aureobasidium spp. In this study, a set of 16 superfamilies, 45 PFAM families of TFs with the DNA-binding domains, seven zinc finger families and eight categories of the C2H2 TFs have been identified in Aureobasidium spp. Among all the identified TFs, four superfamilies and six PFAM families are the fungal-specific types in this lineage. The Zn2Cys6 and fungal-specific domain regulators are found to be overwhelmingly predominated, while the C2H2 zinc finger class comprises a smaller regulator class. Since there are currently no databases that allow for easy exploration of the TFs in Aureobasidium spp., based on over 50 references and 2405 homologous TFs, the first TFs pipeline—the Aureobasidium Transcription Factor Database (ATFDB)—has been developed to accelerate the identification of metabolic regulation in various Aureobasidium species. It would be useful to investigate the mechanisms behind the wide adaptability and metabolite diversity of Aureobasidium spp..