Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202727
Title: The identification of a gene in Fusarium graminearum that contributes to butenolide synthesis

Author
item Alexander, Nancy
item HARRIS, L - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED
item McCormick, Susan
item SAPARNO, A - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED
item BLACKWELL, B - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED
item Desjardins, Anne
item TINKER, N - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED
item HATTORI, J - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED
item OUELLET, T - EASTERN CEREAL & OILSEED

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2006
Publication Date: 12/10/2006
Citation: Alexander, N.J., Harris, L.J., Mc Cormick, S.P., Saparno, A., Blackwell, B., Desjardins, A.E., Tinker, N., Hattori, J., Ouellet, T. 2006. The identification of a gene in Fusarium graminearum that contributes to butenolide synthesis [abstract]. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum. Available: http://www.scabusa.org p. 135.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The development of expressed sequence tag (EST) databases, directed transformation, and a sequenced genome have facilitated the functional analyses of Fusarium graminearum genes. Extensive analysis of 10,397 ESTs, derived from thirteen cDNA libraries of F. graminearum grown under diverse conditions, identified a novel cluster of eight genes (gene loci fg08077–fg08084) located within a 17 kb region of genomic sequence contig 1.324. The expression of these genes, as detected by Northern analysis and qPCR, is concomitantly up-regulated under growth conditions that promote mycotoxin production. Gene disruption experiments followed by metabolite analysis of the transformants indicated that one of the genes, fg08079, is directly involved in butenolide synthesis, a secondary metabolite derived from glutamic acid. The mycotoxin butenolide is produced by several Fusarium species and has been suggested, but not proven, to be associated with tall fescue toxicoses in grazing cattle. To confirm that this gene is involved in butenolide biosynthesis, the complete, intact gene was added back to the disruption mutants. The add-back transformants were once again able to synthesize butenolide. As expression of these genes can be detected very early in wheat and barley infection, butenolide may play a role in plant infection. However, greenhouse testing for Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) using disruption mutants of fg08079, showed that this gene did not contribute significantly to virulence in wheat heads. We will continue to exploit genomic and proteomic tools to identify genes that are involved in FHB disease.