Predictive In Silico Epigenomic Molecular Analysis of the Aspergillus salvadorensis Sequence

Abstract

The epigenomic analysis of the Aspergillus salvadorensis sequence shows a highly complex regulatory architecture, in which epigenetic mechanisms, hydrolytic enzymatic activity and antifungal resistance systems converge. The detection of regions enriched in CpG dinucleotides, together with the presence of repetitive sequences, suggests the existence of regulation mediated by DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, key processes in transcriptional control in filamentous fungi. These epigenetic characteristics probably modulate the expression of genes involved in the degradation of polysaccharides, including enzymes of the glycosyl hydrolases and glucanase family, as well as genes associated with cellular defense mechanisms, such as transporters of the ABC (ATP-Binding Cassette) and MFS (Major Facilitator Superfamily) families. The coexistence of these elements suggests that A. salvadorensis has a dynamic regulatory network that allows it to optimize its adaptive response to fluctuating environmental conditions and chemical stress. The open reading frame (ORF) predicted by ORF 190 is achieved by translating the sequence into protein, this corresponds to a linear polypeptide of approximately 172 amino acids, consistent with the previous gene prediction. The analysis of its sequence reveals a high density of residues susceptible to post-translational modifications, including lysines (K), arginines (R), serines (S), threonine (T) and tyrosines (Y), which constitute potential sites of functional regulation. Acetylation of lysine residues suggests a role in modulating protein activity and mediating protein-protein interactions. Methylation in lysines and arginines indicates possible roles in epigenetic regulation and in the formation of macromolecular complexes. Likewise, phosphorylation in serine, threonine and tyrosine residues points to the participation of this protein in kinase-dependent cell signaling pathways, which supports its probable role in regulatory processes. The sequence presents a high density of widely distributed CpG sites susceptible to methylation, while acetylation and phosphorylation are inferred indirectly as a function of the structural and functional context of the chromatin, without corresponding to defined positions within the linear DNA sequence. These results reinforce the close relationship between epigenetic mechanisms and metabolic functionality in filamentous fungi, highlighting the biotechnological potential of A. salvadorensis in processes that require both degradative capacity and tolerance to antifungal compounds.