ARS | Publication request: Aspergillus flavus Genomics for Controlling Aflatoxin Contamination

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2007
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The main objectives of the Aspergillus flavus genomics program are to identify genes and regulatory components involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis for solving aflatoxin contamination in agricultural crops. A. flavus Expressed Sequence Tags (EST), microarray and whole genome sequencing have been achieved. Groups of genes that are potentially involved in aflatoxin production have been profiled using microarrays. Preliminary annotation of the genome sequence revealed many genes in the genome, which potentially encode for enzymes involved in secondary metabolite production, such as polyketide synthases, non-ribosomal peptide synthases and cytochrome P450 monooxigenases, which have been identified. Elucidation of these genes and regulators could decipher the mechanism of aflatoxin biosynthesis and regulation. The knowledge can aid in developing commercial crops that are anti-fungal or inhibit aflatoxin formation by crop breeding and genetic engineering.