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 #235271
Title: Fumonisin-nonproducing mutants exhibit differential expression of putative polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters in Fusarium verticillioides

Author
item Butchko, Robert
item Brown, Daren
item Proctor, Robert
item Busman, Mark
item WOLOSHUK, CHARLES - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item BLUHM, BURTON - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
item KIM, HUN - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2009
Publication Date: 3/22/2009
Citation: Butchko, R.A., Brown, D.W., Proctor, R., Busman, M., Woloshuk, C.P., Bluhm, B.H., Kim, H. 2009. Fumonisin-Nonproducing Mutants Exhibit Differential Expression of Putative Polyketide Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Fusarium Verticillioides [abstract]. Fungal Genetics Conference. p. 151.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides produces a group of polyketide derived secondary metabolites called fumonisins. Fumonisins can cause diseases in animals, and have been correlated epidemiologically with esophageal cancer and birth defects in humans. The fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster (FUM) is transcriptionally regulated by a zinc binuclear DNA binding protein encoded by FUM21. Deletion of FUM21 results in the absence of FUM gene expression and fumonisin production. Additionally, deletion of another transcription factor, ZFR1, leads to a reduction in fumonisin production. Lack of fumonisin production leads to altered expression of a number of putative gene clusters containing polyketide synthase genes. A survey of gene expression, BLAST homology prediction and genomic location allowed for a description of each putative gene cluster. Besides the fumonisin polyketide synthase gene, the functions of only three other F. verticillioides polyketide synthases have been characterized and concomitant biosynthetic product identified. Differential expression of putative gene clusters involved in the production of bikaverin, fusarin and a perithecial pigment are described. The identification of growth conditions coupled with a fumonisin deficient strain might allow the rapid identification of novel metabolites produced by the uncharacterized, putative secondary metabolite gene clusters and help to elucidate the biological role of their metabolites.