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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 #362481
Research Project: Genomic and Metabolomic Approaches for Detection and Control of Fusarium, Fumonisins and Other Mycotoxins on Corn

Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research

Title: Exploring the role of trehalose and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in oxidative stress response in Fusarium verticillioides

Author
item MCMILLAN, SARAH - Bradley University
item LONG, J - Bradley University
item Brown, Daren
item MCQUADE, KRISTI - Bradley University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2019
Publication Date: 4/5/2019
Citation: McMillan, S., Long, J., Brown, D.W., McQuade, K.L. 2019. Exploring the role of trehalose and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase in oxidative stress response in Fusarium verticillioides [abstact].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium verticillioides is a filamentous fungus that infects maize, leading to crop losses and contamination with carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as fumonisins. We are studying the role of trehalose in stress response in F. verticillioides. Trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase catalyzes the first of two steps in trehalose synthesis, and a mutant lacking the gene that codes for T6P synthase does not produce trehalose. We report here that treatment with menadione or hydrogen peroxide (both oxidative stressors) inhibits germination of the mutant strain ('tps1) more than the wild-type strain. To explore whether the sensitivity of 'tps1 to oxidative stress is caused by the lack of trehalose per se, or instead by the absence of a secondary function of the T6P synthase protein, we are studying mutant strains that express catalytically inactive forms of T6P synthase. Treatment with menadione or hydrogen peroxide inhibits growth of the catalytic mutant strains more than the wild-type strain but less than 'tps1, suggesting that trehalose itself is indeed critical for oxidative stress tolerance in F. verticillioides and that a secondary function of T6P synthase may also be involved. The effects of oxidative stress on T6P synthase expression are also being explored.