ARS | Publication request: ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS GENOMICS FOR SOLVING AFLATOXIN CONTAMINATION IN CROPS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 15, 2004
Publication Date: October 30, 2004
Citation: Yu, J., Nierman, W.C., Payne, G.A., Bhatnagar, D., Cleveland, T.E. 2004. Aspergillus flavus genomics for solving aflatoxin contamination in crops. Annual Conference of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR), October 7-13, 2004, Atlanta, GA. p. 14.

Technical Abstract: Aflatoxins are extremely toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites. Now we have a better understanding on the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway and genetic control after decades of studies by scientists around the world. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms regulating aflatoxin biosynthesis, gene profiling through A. flavus expressed sequence tag (EST) and microarray was carried out. A total of 7,218 unique EST sequences were obtained from a normalized A. flavus cDNA library and hundreds of up-regulated genes under aflatoxin producing conditions were identified. Further investigations on the functions of up-regulated genes are underway. The A. flavus whole genome sequencing project is progressing well at TIGR. The current status of the A. flavus whole genome sequencing will be presented. The results of this research are expected to provide information for developing new strategies for control of aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities.