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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205425
Title: Characterization of the fumonisin biosynthetic regulatory gene FUM21 and multiple alternative splice forms

Author
item Brown, Daren
item Butchko, Robert
item Busman, Mark
item Proctor, Robert

Submitted to: Fungal Genetics Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2007
Publication Date: 3/20/2007
Citation: Brown, D.W., Butchko, R.A., Busman, M., Proctor, R. 2007. Characterization of the fumonisin biosynthetic regulatory gene FUM21 and multiple alternative splice forms [abstract]. Fungal Genetics Conference. p. 121.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fumonisins are a family of mycotoxins produced by some Fusarium species and can contaminate maize or maize products. Ingestion of fumonisins is associated with diseases, including cancer and neural tube defects, in humans and animals. In fungi, genes involved in synthesis of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites are often located adjacent to each other in gene clusters. The fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster contains 17 genes of which one, FUM21, encodes a narrow domain transcription factor required for fumonisin biosynthesis. The Fum21p is predicted to include a Zn(II)2Cys6 DNA binding domain and a second domain associated with fungal transcription factors. Analysis of FUM21 cDNAs identified four alternative splice forms (ASFs), and microarray analysis indicated the ASFs were differentially expressed. Based on these data, we present a model for how FUM21 ASFs may regulate fumonisin biosynthesis.