Abstract
Trifluoperazine, an anti-calmodulin agent, inhibited aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999, without affecting the growth significantly. Culturing the organism for 3 days in the presence of 0.14mm trifluoperazine resulted in a generalized decrease in the production of all aflatoxins; the production of aflatoxin B1, a potent hepatocarcinogen, was inhibited to 88% under such conditions. Culturing 7-day-old preformed cultures in the presence of higher concentrations of trifluoperazine (>1mm) completely abolished production of all aflatoxins including AFB1. The inhibitory influence of trifluoperazine on aflatoxin production was accompanied by calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of an 85kDa cytoplasmic calmodulin-binding protein. While the functions of calmodulin in mediating primary events of germination, growth and differentiation in fungi have earlier been reported, the present results indicate a possible role for calmodulin in the production of fungal toxins.
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Rao, J.P., Sashidhar, R. & Subramanyam, C. Inhibition of aflatoxin production by trifluoperazine in Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL 2999. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 14, 71–75 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008876517450
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008876517450