Comparative and Functional Genomics in Identifying Aflatoxin Biosynthetic Genes

Authors: Yu, Jiujiang; WILKINSON, JEFFERY - MS STATE UNIV; PAYNE, GARY - NCSU RALEIGH; MACHIDA, MASAYUKI - AIST JAPAN; Campbell, Bruce; BENNETT, JOAN - RUTGERS UNIV; Bhatnagar, Deepak; Cleveland, Thomas; NIERMAN, WILLIAM - TIGR ROCKVILLE MD

Submitted to: Fungal Genetics Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2007
Publication Date: 3/18/2007
Citation: Yu, J., Wilkinson, J., Payne, G., Machida, M., Campbell, B.C., Bennett, J., Bhatnagar, D., Cleveland, T.E., Nierman, W. 2007. Comparative and Functional Genomics in Identifying Aflatoxin Biosynthetic Genes. In: Proceedings of the 24th Fungal Genetics Conference and the 4th International Aspergillus Meeting, March 18-25, 2007, Asilomar, CA. p. 82.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Identification of genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis through Aspergillus flavus genomics has been actively pursued. A. flavus Expressed Sequence Tags (EST’s) and whole genome sequencing have been completed. Groups of genes that are potentially involved in aflatoxin production have been profiled using microarrays under different culture conditions and during fungal infection of corn. Preliminary annotation of the sequence revealed that there are about 12,000 genes in the A. flavus genome. 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, have been identified. Comparative analysis of A. flavus genome with food grade industrial fermentation organism A. oryzae can help understanding the mechanism of aflatoxin biosynthesis and solving the problem of aflatoxin contamination.