Disruption of a glutathione reductase encoding gene in Acremonium chrysogenum leads to reduction of its growth, cephalosporin production and antioxidative ability which is recovered by exogenous methionine

► Characterization of a glutathione reductase encoding gene glrA in Acremonium chrysogenum. ► Discovered the important role of glrA in growth and antioxidative activity. ► Found methionine could complement the function of glrA. ► Revealed methionine could regulate intracellular glutathione level and redox balance.