ARS | Publication request: PARTIAL RETROTRANSPOSON-LIKE DNA SEQUENCE IN THE GENOMIC CLONE OF ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS, PAF28

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 20, 2002
Publication Date: February 20, 2003
Citation: Okubara, P.A., Tibbot, B.K., Tarun, A.S., Mcalpin, C.E., Hua, S.T. Partial retrotransposon-like dna sequence in the genomic clone of aspergillus flavus, PAF28. Mycological Research. v.107. p. 841-846. 2003.

Interpretive Summary: Aspergillus flavus is a broad host range pathogen of tree nuts and crop plants. Sudden, heritable changes in growth habit and other traits have been noted for A. flavus, but the molecular basis for this apparent genetic instability has not been identified. Here, we report the presence of a putative transposon, or jumping gene, in A. flavus that might account for the genetic changes.

Technical Abstract: A genomic clone of the aflatoxin-producing fungus Aspergillus flavus, designated pAF28, has been used as a probe for Southern blot fingerprinting of fungal strains. A large number of A. flavus strains isolated from corn fields and tree-nut orchards can be distinguished because the DNA fingerprint patterns are highly polymorphic. We have completed the sequencing of a 6355 bp insert in pAF28. The sequence features motifs and open reading frames characteristic of transposable elements of the gypsy class. We have named this new element AfRTL-1, for A. flavus retrotransposon-like DNA.