<i>MptriA</i>, an Acetyltransferase Gene Involved in Pigment Biosynthesis in <i>M. purpureus</i> YY‑1

<i>Monascus</i> pigments (Mps) have been used as food colorants for several centuries in Asian countries. <i>MptriA</i> is a putative acetyltransferase gene involved in the MPs biosynthesis. To analyze the function of <i>MptriA</i>, an <i>MptriA</i> disruption strain (Δ<i>MptriA</i>) and a complementation strain (Δ<i>MptriA</i>::<i>MptriA</i>) were successfully obtained In addition to the loss of color, the disruption of <i>MptriA</i> had little effect on the phenotypes during growth on four different media. The Δ<i>MptriA</i> strain showed decreased pigment and citrinin production during the liquid-fermentation process. Transcriptional analysis showed that the expression of several genes involved in the synthesis of pigments and citrinin was down-regulated in Δ<i>MptriA</i>. These results demonstrated that the role of <i>MptriA</i> was to transfer an acyl group to the pyranoquinone structure of the polyketide chromophore during <i>Monascus</i> pigment biosynthesis and to influence the citrinin biosynthesis pathway. This study contributes to the exploration of pigment biosynthesis in <i>M. purpureus