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Title: FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE POLYKETIDE SYNTHASE GENES IN GIBBERELLA ZEAE

Author
item GAFFOOR, IFFA - MSU, EAST LANSING, MI
item Brown, Daren
item PLATTNER, RONALD - RETIRED ARS
item Proctor, Robert
item QI, WEIHONG - MSU, EAST LANSING, MI
item TRAIL, FRANCES - MSU, EAST LANSING, MI

Submitted to: Fungal Genetics Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2005
Publication Date: 3/20/2005
Citation: Gaffoor, I., Brown, D.W., Plattner, R.D., Proctor, R., Qi, W., Trail, F. 2005. Functional analysis of the polyketide synthase genes in gibberella zeae. Fungal Genetics Conference/Asilomar.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Type I Polyketide Synthases (PKSs) are multidomain enzymes responsible for synthesizing a gamut of compounds having varied functions. From the genomic sequence of the filamentous fungus Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) we have identified 15 putative polyketide synthase genes which we have disrupted. We also disrupted a 16th gene that shares some similarity with PKSs but which we think does not encode a PKS. The individual disrupted strains have been analyzed for traits such as vegetative growth characteristics, mycotoxin and pigment production, perithecium production and function, and pathogenicity. Among the PKSs, we have identified functions including zearalenone biosynthesis, fusarin and aurofusarin biosynthesis and biosynthesis of the black perithecial pigment. Expression analysis of these genes under varied culture conditions shows that they are differentially expressed. While two PKS genes appear to be expressed under most of the conditions tested others are not expressed under any of these conditions. Further analysis of the mutant strains and identification of the polyketide compounds themselves will enable us to assign functions to the remaining PKSs and elucidate the role they play in the life cycle of the fungus.