AoHapB, AoHapC and AoHapE, subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex, are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in Aspergillus nidulans

Two genes, AohapB and AohapE, encoding subunits of the Aspergillus oryzae CCAAT-binding complex were cloned and sequenced. The polypeptides encoded by AohapB and AohapE were expressed in Escherichia coli and used to reconstitute a DNA-binding complex with recombinant AoHapC. The DNA-binding activity was observed only in the presence of all three subunits, indicating that AoHapB, AoHapE and AoHapC are essential for CCAAT- binding. Furthermore, introduction of the AohapB, AohapC and AohapE genes into the A. nidulans hapBΔ, hapCΔ and hapEΔ strains, respectively, revealed that the A. oryzae Hap subunits are functionally interchangeable with the corresponding subunits in A. nidulans.