FermoRed

Initial situation & project description

Previous projects demonstrated the potential of filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans as producers of proteins, such as enzymes, which can be used in industrial biotechnology. However, certain metabolic processes, such as melanin synthesis, interfere with the release of such enzymes.

The goal of FermoRed is to reduce melanin synthesis through molecular biological and fermentative approaches in order to enhance enzyme production.

Filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Trichoderma reesei are key production organisms in white and red biotechnology, particularly for the synthesis of enzymes and therapeutic proteins. Their ability to efficiently secrete proteins, perform proper folding and post-translational modifications, and respond to simple induction mechanisms makes them powerful microbial cell factories. Despite advances in enzyme production, such as growth-limited cultivation using pyridoxine auxotrophy, stress-related limitations persist. Notably, stress-induced melanin synthesis impairs nutrient uptake and protein secretion.

The FermoRed project aims to minimize or eliminate melanin formation in A. nidulans  through molecular biological and fermentative strategies. Genetic modifications targeting pigment biosynthesis, as well as medium optimization—such as adjusting copper concentrations or supplementing with ascorbic acid—will be investigated and combined. The goal is to enhance productivity under growth-limited conditions and unlock the full biotechnological potential of filamentous fungi.

The project with the funding code FKZ 49VF250001 is financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) as part of the ‘INNO-KOM’ funding programme via the project management agency Euronorm GmbH.