Meet Aspergillus niger NG1306: A Fungus that Transforms Ginseng

Ever wondered how ginsenosides, the compounds that make ginseng so special, are transformed into minor ginsenosides? This story revolves around Aspergillus niger NG1306, a fungus that plays a key role in this process. Scientists used leaves from Panax notoginseng to kickstart the fungus' growth. They found a special gene, Anglu04478, which produces a β-glucosidase enzyme. This enzyme helps break down ginsenosides. The team cloned the gene and tested it in E. coli bacteria. They found that the enzyme, named AnGlu04478, worked best at a slightly acidic pH and a warm temperature.It also tolerated a bit of ethanol and wasn't bothered much by glucose. When tested with different ginsenosides, AnGlu04478 showed it could chop them up in specific ways, like at the C3 position of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, and Rc. The fungus showed it can make new, smaller ginsenosides, even with just a tiny bit of the enzyme. This discovery could open up new ways to make different ginsenosides, broadening their potential uses.