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Title: INHIBITION OF T-2 TOXIN PRODUCTION IN A MUTANT STRAIN OF FUSARIUM SPOROTRICHIOIDES

Author
item DEVI, K - UNIV OF WI, MADISON, WI
item Plattner, Ronald
item KELLER, NANCY - UNIV OF WI, MADISON, WI

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: T-2 toxin is a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic protein synthesis and thus toxic to human beings and livestock. It is produced by F. sporotrichioides on cereals. Biochemical and genetic studies suggest that oxylipins, the oxygenated derivatives of unsaturated fatty acids, are conserved signaling and structural molecules modulating fungal sporulation and possibly toxin formation. We have cloned a gene, referred to as ppo, is predicted to be a psi producing oxygenase (psi for precocious sexual inducer) in F. sporotrichioides that encodes for a dioxygenase which is essential for the production of oxylipins. Amino acid sequence of Ppo shows high identity with Aspergillus nidulans PpoA, lds of Gaeumannomyces graminis, and ssp1 of Ustilago maydis. Data form putative delta-ppo strains indicate that T-2 toxin production in liquid cultures has been completely inhibited and asexual spore production is severely reduced compared to that of wild type. Additionally, these mutants are less virulent on corn. T-2 toxin inhibition, aberrations in spore production, reduced aerial growth and reduced virulence on corn suggests that this ppo gene and/or its products could be a target for control strategies to interrupt T-2 toxin formation, virulence, and spore formation.