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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #304789

Title: RNA-seq analysis of an nsdC mutant in Aspergillus flavus

Author
item Gilbert, Matthew
item Mack, Brian
item Bhatnagar, Deepak
item Cary, Jeffrey
item Wei, Qijian - Mei Mei

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The C2H2-type transcription factor NsdC (Never in Sexual Development C) has been shown to play a role in asexual development and secondary metabolite production in Aspergillus flavus, an agriculturally relevant, aflatoxin-producing species. The nsdC knoackout mutant demonstrates perturbed morphological development of conidiophores, altered pigmentation and loss of sclerotia and aflatoxin production. To further our studies on the role of nsdC in development and aflatoxin production we conducted RNA-Seq analysis of an A. flavus nsdC knockout mutant (Af70 S-strain parent) at two distinct developmental time points. At six hours post-plating the nsdC mutant showed premature conidiation and altered conidiophore morphology compared to a pyrG transformed control line, and at 54 hours a lack of aflatoxin and sclerotial production. RNA-Seq data collected at these developmental stages revealed disruption to metabolic and other developmentally-related pathways. Gene enrichment analysis, pathway analysis, and functional data will be presented to further elucidate the biological role of nsdC.