Cloning and characterization of the bipA gene encoding ER chaperone BiP from Aspergillus oryzae

We describe the cloning and characterization of the ER localized chaperone (BiP) encoding gene from the filamentous fungus Asgergillus oryzae. The BiP encoding gene, designated bipA, has three introns and encodes a protein wi th 672 amino acids, which has a high homology with various BiP-like protein s. Sequences resembling heat shock elements (HSEs) and unfolded protein res ponse (UPR) elements, as found in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae KAR2 promote r, are present in the 5' no coding region of the bipA gene. Transcription o f the bipA gene was increased by heat shock or tunicamycin treatment. Expre ssion of bipA cDNA partially complemented the temperature-sensitive growth of kar2 mutant alleles of S. cerevisiae. These results indicate that the bi pA gene product plays a role as BiP in A. oryzae.