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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 #262883
Title: Regulation of secondary metabolite production in Fusarium species by the global regulator LAE1

Author
item Butchko, Robert
item McCormick, Susan
item Busman, Mark
item TUDYZNSKI, BETTINA - Wilhelms University
item WIEMANN, PHILIPP - Wilhelms University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2011
Publication Date: 3/15/2011
Citation: Butchko, R.A., Mccormick, S.P., Busman, M., Tudyznski, B., Wiemann, P. 2011. Regulation of secondary metabolite production in Fusarium species by the global regulator LAE1. Meeting Abstract. v. 58(suppl): #176, pg. 161.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium species are pathogens of corn and wheat and are capable of producing secondary metabolites that are a food safety concern. These mycotoxins include fumonins and trichothecenes which have known carcinogenic potential and can inhibit protein synthesis respectively in animals. In addition to these mycotoxins, the potential to produce other secondary metabolites is evidenced by the presence of additional biosynthetic gene clusters, for example, fusarin C, bikaverin and other pigments. Whole genome sequence of F. verticillioides revealed the presence of multiple putative secondary metabolite gene clusters, including those that contain polyketide synthase genes as well as nonribosomal peptide synthase genes. An understanding of the transcriptional regulation of these secondary metabolite gene clusters could aid in developing methods to control mycotoxin contamination of food. A global regulator of secondary metabolite gene clusters has been characterized in Aspergillus species (LaeA) and is conserved in Penicillium as well as Fusarium species. In F. fujikuroi, LAE1 has been shown to regulate secondary metabolite gene expression. Here we characterize the conservation of this global regulation mechanism in other Fusarium species. Homologs of LAE1 are present in F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum and F. graminearum. Deletion of LAE1 in F. verticillioides results in repression of multiple secondary metabolite gene clusters. Characterization of LAE1 deletion mutants in F. graminearum and F. oxysporum is currently being investigated.