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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249888
Title: Role of the Osmotic Stress Regulatory Pathway in Morphogenesis and Secondary Metabolism in Filamentous Fungi

Author
item DURAN, ROCIO - Northern Illinois University
item Cary, Jeffrey
item CALVO, ANA - Northern Illinois University

Submitted to: Toxins
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2010
Publication Date: 3/24/2010
Citation: Duran, R., Cary, J.W., Calvo, A.M. 2010. Role of the Osmotic Stress Regulatory Pathway in Morphogenesis and Secondary Metabolism in Filamentous Fungi. Toxins. 2(4):367-381.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Environmental stimuli trigger an adaptative cellular response to optimize the probability of survival and proliferation. In eukaryotic organisms from mammals to fungi osmotic stress, mainly through the action of the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, leads to a response necessary for adapting and surviving hyperosmotic environments. This review together with a study conducted in our laboratories indicate that the osmoadaptative response is conserved but not identical in different fungi. The osmoadaptative response system is also intimately linked to morphogenesis in filamentous fungi, including mycotoxigenic fungi such as the aflatoxin-producer Aspergillus flavus. This association is modulated by the global regulator VeA. Previous studies indicate that the response to osmotic stress is also coupled to the biosynthesis of natural products, including mycotoxins.