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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 #206282
Title: A novel gene cluster in Fusarium graminearum expressed under mycotoxin induction conditions

Author
item HARRIS, LINDA - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item SAPARNO, AUDREY - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item Alexander, Nancy
item BLACKWELL, BARBARA - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item McCormick, Susan
item SCHNEIDERMAN, DANIELLE - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item Desjardins, Anne
item TINKER, NICK - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item HATTORI, JIRO - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item SEIFERT, KEITH - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CAN
item OUELLET, THERESE - AGRICULTURE AGRI-FOOD CA

Submitted to: Fungal Genetics Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/16/2007
Publication Date: 3/20/2007
Citation: Harris, L., Saparno, A., Alexander, N.J., Blackwell, B., Mc Cormick, S.P., Schneiderman, D., Desjardins, A.E., Tinker, N., Hattori, J., Seifert, K., Ouellet, T. 2007. A novel gene cluster in Fusarium graminearum expressed under mycotoxin induction conditions [abstract]. Fungal Genetics Conference. p. 104.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have identified a cluster of eight genes (gene loci fg08077 - fg08084) in Fusarium graminearum that is concomitantly up-regulated (Northern and qPCR analysis) under growth conditions that promote mycotoxin production. Proteomics experiments (iTRAQ analysis) have confirmed the up-regulation of proteins encoded by two of these genes under toxin induction conditions. Gene disruption and add-back experiments followed by metabolite analysis of the transformants indicated that one of the genes, fg08079, is directly involved in the synthesis of butenolide, a secondary metabolite derived from glutamic acid. As expression of these genes can be detected very early during plant infection, butenolide may play a role in plant infection. However, greenhouse testing for FHB (Fusarium Head Blight) using disruption mutants of fg08079 showed that this gene did not contribute significantly to virulence in wheat heads. The mycotoxin butenolide is produced by several Fusarium species and has been suggested to be associated with tall fescue toxicoses in grazing cattle. We are exploring interspecies conservation of this gene cluster by PCR screening and sequencing in other Fusaria genomes.