Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetics and Biosynthesis of Aflatoxins and Sterigmatocystin

  • Chapter
Agricultural Applications

Part of the book series: The Mycota ((MYCOTA,volume 11))

Abstract

Many microorganisms produce low molecular weight compounds called secondary metabolites whose benefit to the producing organism is often obscure (Bu’Lock 1961). Fungi are among the most prodigious producers of secondary metabolites, many of which are either beneficial (e.g. antibiotics) or detrimental (e.g., mycotoxins) to humans. Two chemically related fungal secondary metabolites that have been studied extensively are the mycotoxins sterigmatocystin (ST) and aflatoxin (AF), produced by several Aspergillus species. AF was discovered in the 1960s when thousands of fowl died of a mysterious disease called “Turkey-X” disease (Lancaster et al. 1961). Later, it was found that Turkey-X disease was not actually caused by a pathogen but rather was a poisoning stemming from contaminated peanut meal in the feed that had been colonized by a fungus identified as A. flavus (Lancaster et al. 1961).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abdollahi A, Buchanan RL (1981) Regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis: characterization of glucose as an apparent inducer of aflatoxin production. J Food Sci 46: 143–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adams TH, Boylan MT, Timberlake WE (1988) brlA is necessary and sufficient to direct conidiophore development in Aspergillus nidulans. Cell 54:353–362

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aguilar F, Hussain SP, Cerutti P (1993) Aflatoxin B1 induces the transversion of G→T in codon 249 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:8586–8590

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allcroft R, Carnaghan RBA (1963) Groundnut toxicity: an examination for toxin in human food products from animals fed toxic groundnut meal. Vet Rec 75:259–263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes SE, Dola TP, Bennett JW, Bhatnager D (1994) Synthesis of sterigmatocystin on a chemically defined medium by species of Aspergillus and Chaetomium. Mycopathologia 125:173–178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JW (1981) Loss of norsolorinic acid and aflatoxin production by a mutant of Aspergillus parasiticus. J Gen Microbiol 124:429–432

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett JW, Chang PK, Bhatnager D (1997) One gene to whole pathway: the role of norsolorinic acid in aflatoxin research. Adv Appl Microbiol 45:1–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar D, Ehrlich KC, Cleveland TE (1992) Oxidationreduction reactions in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In: Bhatnagar D, Lillehoj EB, Arora DK (eds) Handbook of applied mycology: mycotoxins in ecological systems. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 255–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Cotty PJ (1994) Mycological aspects of aflatoxin formation. In: Eaton DL, Groopman JD (eds) The toxicology of aflatoxins; human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 327–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar D, Cotty PJ, Cleveland TE (2001) Genetic and biological control of aflatoxigenic fungi. In: Wilson CL, Droby S (eds) Microbial food contamination. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 208–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown RL, Cotty PJ, Cleveland TE, Widstrom N (1993) Living maize embryo influences accumulation of aflatoxin in maize kernels. J Food Prot 56:967–971

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown DW, Adams TH, Keller NP (1996a) Aspergillus has distinct fatty acid synthases for primary and secondary metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:14873–14877

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown DW, Yu J-H, Kelkar HS, Fernandes M, Nesbitt TC, Keller NP, Adams TH, Leonard TJ (1996b) Twentyfive coregulated transcripts define a sterigmatocystin gene cluster in Aspergillus nidulans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:1418–1422

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan Eagle (1996) Texas grain shows aflatoxin build up

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan RL, Lewis DF (1984) Regulation of afiatoxin biosynthesis: effect of glucose on activities of various glycolytic enzymes. Appl Environ Microbiol 48: 306–310

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan RL, Stahl HG (1984) Ability of various carbon sources to induce and support aflatoxin biosynthesis by Aspergillus parasiticus. J Food Safety 6:271–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bu’Lock JD (1961) Intermediary metabolism and antibiotic synthesis. Adv Appl Microbiol 3:293–342

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burow GB, Nesbitt TC, Dunlap J, Keller NP (1997) Seed lipoxygenase products modulate Aspergillus mycotoxin biosynthesis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 10: 380–387

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burow GB, Gardner HW, Keller NP (2000) A peanut seed lipoxygenase responsive to Aspergillus colonization. Plant Mol Biol 42:689–701

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butchko RAE, Adams TH, Keller NP (1999) Aspergillus nidulans mutants defective in stc gene cluster regulation. Genetics 153:715–720

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo AM, Hinze LL, Gardner HW, Keller NP (1999) Sporogenic effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on development of Aspergillus spp. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:3668–3673

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cardona TD, Llangantileke SG, Noomhorm A (2000) Aflatoxin research on grain in Asia: its problems and possible solutions. http://www.fao.org/inpho/ vlibrary/x0036e/x0036E1e.html. Cited October 25, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cary JW, Wright M, Bhatnagar D, Lee R, Chu FS (1996) Molecular characterization of an Aspergillus parasiticus dehydrogenase gene, norA, located on the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene cluster. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:360–366

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cary JW, Chang PK, Bhatnagar D (2001) Clustered metabolic pathway genes in filamentous fungi. In: Arora DK, Khachatourians G (eds) Applied mycology and biotechnology, vol 1. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp 165–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Champe SP, Rao P, Chang A (1987) An endogenous inducer of sexual development in Aspergillus nidulans. J Gen Microbiol 133:1383–1388

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Skory CD, Linz JE (1992) Cloning of a gene associated with aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus. Curr Genet 21:231–233

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Cary JW, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Bennett JW, Linz JE, Woloshuk CP, Payne GA (1993) Cloning of the Aspergillus parasiticus apa-2 gene associated with the regulation of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:3273–3279

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Cary JW, Yu J, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1995a) The Aspergillus parasiticus polyketide synthase gene, pksA, a homolog of Aspergillus nidulans wA, is required for afiatoxin B1. Mol Gen Genet 248:270–277

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Ehrlich KC, Yu J, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1995b) Increased expression of Aspergillus parasiticus aflR, encoding a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, relieves nitrate inhibition of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:2372–2377

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Yu J, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1999) The carboxy-terminal portion of the aflatoxin regulatory protein AFLR of Aspergillus parasiticus activates GAL1::lacZ gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:2508–2512

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Yu J, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (2000a) Characterization of the Aspergillus parasiticus major nitrogen regulatory gene, areA. Biochim Biophys Acta 1491:263–266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang P-K, Yu J, Ehrlich KC, Boue SM, Montalbano BG, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (2000b) adhA in Aspergillus parasiticus is involved in conversion of 5hydroxyaverantin to averufin. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:4715–4719.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole RJ, Cox RH (1981) Sterigmatocystins. In: Cole RJ, Cox RH (eds) Handbook of toxic fungal metabolites. Academic Press, New York, pp 67–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotty PJ (1988) Aflatoxin and sclerotial production by Aspergillus flavus: influence of pH. Phytopathology 78:1250–1253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cotty PJ, Cardwell KF (1999) Divergence of West African and North American communities of Aspergillus section Flavi. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:2264–2266

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coulombe RA Jr (1994) Non-hepatic disposition and effects of aflatoxin B1. In: Eaton DL, Groopman JD (eds) The toxicology of aflatoxins; human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 89–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullen JM, Newberne PM (1994) Acute hepatotoxicity of aflatoxins. In: Eaton DL, Groopman JD (eds) The toxicology of aflatoxins; human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 3–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis ND, Diener UL (1968) Growth and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus from various carbon sources. Appl Microbiol 16:158–159

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca C, Passi S, Fabbri AA, Fanelli C (1995) Ergosterol oxidation may be considered a signal for fungal growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus. Food Addit Contam 12:445–450

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Denison SH (2000) pH regulation of gene expression in fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 29:61–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diener UL (1976) Environmental factors influencing mycotoxin formation in the contamination of foods. Proc Am Phytopathol Soc 3:126–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Doehlert DC, Wicklow DT, Gardner HW (1993) Evidence implicating the lipoxygenase pathway in providing resistance to soybeans against Aspergillus flavus. Phytopathologv 83:1473–1477

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dohlman HG, Thorner J (1997) RGS proteins and signaling by heterotrimeric G proteins. J Biol Chem 272: 3871–3874

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dutton MF (1988) Enzymes and aflatoxin biosynthesis. Microbiol Rev 52:274–295

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich KC, Montalbano BG, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1998) Alteration of different domains in aflR affects aflatoxin pathway metabolism in Aspergillus parasiticus transformants. Fungal Genet Biol 23:279–287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich KC, Cary JW, Montalbano BG (1999a) Characterization of the promoter for the gene encoding the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway regulatory protein AflR. Biochim Biophys Acta 1444:412–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich KC, Montalbano BG, Cary JW (1999b) Binding of the C6-zinc cluster protein, AflR, to the promoters of aflatoxin pathway biosynthesis genes in Aspergillus parasiticus. Gene 230:249–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri AA, Fanelli C, Panfili G, Passi S (1983) Lipoperoxidation and aflatoxin biosynthesis by Aspergillus parasiticus and A. flavus. J Gen Microbiol 129:3447– 3452

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fakhoury AM, Woloshuk CP (1999) Amyl, the α-amylase gene of Aspergillus flavus: involvement in aflatoxin biosynthesis in maize kernels. Phytopathology 89: 908–914

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farmer EE, Ryan CA (1992) Octadecanoid precursors of jasmonic acid activate the synthesis of woundinducible proteinase inhibitors. Plant Cell 4:129–134

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng GH, Leonard TJ (1995) Characterization of the polyketide synthase gene (pksL1) required for aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus. J Bacteriol 177:6246–6254

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes M, Keller NP, Adams TH (1998) Sequencespecific binding by Aspergillus nidulans AflR, a C6-zinc cluster protein regulating mycotoxin biosynthesis. Mol Microbiol 28:1355–1365

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flaherty JE, Payne GA (1997) Overexpression of aflR leads to upregulation of pathway gene expression and increased aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:3995–4000

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner HW (1991) Recent investigations into the lipoxygenase pathway of plants. Biochim Biophys Acta 1084: 221–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodrich-Tanrikulu M, Mahoney N, Rodriguez SB (1995) The plant growth regulator methyl jasmonate inhibits aflatoxin production in A. flavus. Microbiology 141: 2831–2837

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goto T, Wicklow DT, Ito Y (1996) Aflatoxin and cyclopiazonic acid production by a sclerotium-producing Aspergillus tamarii strain. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:4036–4038

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Greene-McDowelle DM, Ingber B, Wright MS, Zeringue HJ Jr, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1999) The effects of selected cotton-leaf volatiles on growth, development and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus. Toxicon 37:883–893

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groopman JD, Busby WF Jr, Wogan GN (1980) Nuclear distribution of aflatoxin B1 and its interaction with histones in rat liver in vivo. Cancer Res 40:4343–4351

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamasaki T, Matsui K, Isono K, Hatsuda Y (1973) A new metabolite from Aspergillus versicolor. Agric Biol Chem 37:1769–1770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks J, Lockington RA, Strauss J, Dieringer D, Kubicek C, Kelly J, Keller N (2001) RcoA has pleiotropic effects on Aspergillus nidulans cellular developmental. Mol Microbiol 39:1482–1493

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks JK, Yu J-H, Keller NP, Adams TH (1997) Aspergillus sporulation and mycotoxin production both require inactivation of the FadA G protein-dependent signaling pathway. EMBO J 16:4916–4123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand DF (1989) Lipoxygenases. Physiol Plant 76: 249–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hohn TM, Desjardins AE, McCormick SP, Proctor RH (1995) Biosynthesis of trichothecenes, genetic and molecular aspects: issues involving toxic microorganisms. In: Eklund M, Richard JL, Katsutoshi M (eds) Molecular approaches to food safety. Alaken, Ft Collins, pp 239–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Houston Chronicle (1996) Carcinogen found in much of Texas Gulf Coast crop. 21 August 1996

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh DP, Mateles RI (1970) The relative contribution of acetate and glucose to aflatoxin biosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 208:482–486

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu LC, Metcalf RA, Sun T, Welsh JA, Wang NJ, Harris CC (1991) Mutational hotspots in the p53 gene in human hepatocellular carcinomas. Nature 350:427–428

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kachholz T, Demain AL (1983) Nitrate repression of averufin and aflatoxin biosynthesis. J Nat Prod 46: 499–506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kale SP, Cary JW, Bhatnagar D, Bennett JW (1996) Characterization of experimentally induced, nonaflatoxigenic variant strains of Aspergillus parasiticus. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:3399–3404

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keleher CA, Redd MJ, Schultz J, Carlson M, Johnson AD (1992) Ssn6-Tup1 is a general repressor of transcription in yeast. Cell 68:709–719

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelkar HS, Keller NP, Adams TH (1996) Aspergillus nidulans stcP encodes an O-methyltransferase that is required for sterigmatocystin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:4296–4298

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelkar HS, Skloss TW, Haw JF, Keller NP, Adams TH (1997) Aspergillus stcL encodes a putative cytochrome P-450 required for bisfuran desaturation during aflatoxin/sterigmatocystin biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 272: 1589–1594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Hohn TM (1997) Metabolic pathway gene clusters in filamentous fungi. Fungal Genet Bio 121:17–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Cleveland TE, Bhatnagar D (1992) A molecular approach towards understanding aflatoxin production. In: Bhatnagar D, Lillehoj EB, Arora DK (eds) Handbook of applied mycology, vo15. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 287–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Butchko RAE, Sarr B, Phillips TD (1994a) A visual pattern of mycotoxin production in maize kernels by Aspergillus spp. Phytopathology 84: 483–488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Kantz NJ, Adams TH (1994b) Aspergillus nidulans verA is required for production of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin. Appl Environ Microbiol 60: 1444–1450

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Segner S, Bhatnagar D, Adams TH (1995) stcS, a putative P-450 monooxygenase, is required for the conversion of versicolorin A to sterigmatocystin in Aspergillus nidulans. Appl Environ Microbiol 61: 3628–3632

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Nesbitt C, Sarr B, Phillips TD, Burow GB (1997) pH regulation of sterigmatocystin and aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus spp. Phytopathology 87:643–648

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller NP, Watanabe CMH, Kelkar HS, Adams TH, Townsend CA (2000) Requirement of monooxygenase-mediated steps for sterigmatocystin biosynthesis by Aspergillus nidulans. Appl Environ Microbiol 66: 359–362

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp BE, Pearson RB (1990) Protein kinase recognition sequence motifs. Trends Biochem Sci 15:342–6

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kiser RC, Niehaus WG (1981) Purification and kinetic characterization of mannito1–1-phosphate dehydrogenase from Aspergillus niger. Arch Biochem Biophys 211:613–621

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koser PL, Faletto MB, Maccubbin AE, Gurtoo HL (1988) The genetics of aflatoxin B1 metabolism. J Biol Chem 263:12584–12595

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kronstad JW, De Maria A, Funnell D, Laidlaw RD, Lee N, de Sa MM, Ramesh M (1998) Signaling via cAMP in fungi: interconnections with mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Arch Microbiol 170:395–404

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurtzman CP, Horn BW, Hesseltine CW (1987) Aspergillus nomius, a new aflatoxin-producing species related to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus tamarii. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 53:147–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster MD, Jenkins FP, Phillip JM (1961) Toxicity associated with certain samples of groundnuts. Nature 192:1095–1096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luchese RH, Harrigan WF (1993) Biosynthesis of ailatoxin: the role of nutritional factors. J Appl Bacteriol 74:5–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers DM, O’Brian G, Du WL, Bhatnagar D, Payne GA (1998) Characterization of aflJ, a gene required for conversion of pathway intermediates to aflatoxin. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:3713–3717

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minto RE, Townsend CA (1997) Enzymology and molecular biology of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Chem Rev 97: 2537–2555

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Motomura M, Chihaya N, Shinozawa T, Hamasaki T, Yabe K (1999) Cloning and characterization of the O-methyltransferase I gene (dmtA) from Aspergillus parasiticus associated with the conversions of demethylsterigmatocystin to sterigmatocystin and dihydrodemethylsterigmatocystin to dihydrosterigmatocystin in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:4987–4994

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mukai Y, Matsuo E, Roth SY, Harashima S (1999) Conservation of histone binding and transcriptional repressor functions in a Schizosaccharomyces pombe Tuplp homolog. Mol Cell Biol 19:8461–8468

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neer EJ, Schmidt CJ, Nambudripad R, Smith TF (1994) The ancient regulatory-protein family of WD-repeat proteins. Nature 371:297–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niehaus WG Jr, Dilts RP (1982) Purification and characterization of mannitol dehydrogenase from Aspergillus parasiticus. J Bacteriol 151:243–250

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niehaus WG Jr, Jiang WP (1989) Nitrate induces enzymes of the mannitol cycle and suppresses versicolorin synthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus. Mycopathologia 1989 107:131–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papa KE (1982) Norsolorinic acid mutant of Aspergillus flavus. J Gen Microbiol 128:1345–1348

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Passi S, Nazzaro-Porro, M, Fanelli C, Fabbri AA, Fasella P (1984) Role of lipoperoxidation in aflatoxin production. Appl Microbiol Biotech 19:186–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Payne GA (2000) Aflatoxin biosynthesis: a new twist to pathway regulation. In: Lowe C, Mantziaras D (eds) 2000 SIM annual meeting program and abstracts, SIM pPress, Fairfax, p 79

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne GA, Brown MP (1998) Genetics and physiology of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Annu Rev Phytopathol 36: 329–362

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Payne GA, Nystrom GJ, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Woloshuk CP (1993) Cloning of the afl-2 gene involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis from Aspergillus flavus. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:156–162

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pitt JI (1989) Field studies on Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins in Australian groundnuts. In: McDonald D, Mehan VK (eds) Aflatoxin contamination of groundnuts. ICRISAT, Patancher, pp 223–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Prieto R, Yousibova GL, Woloshuk CP (1996) Identification of aflatoxin biosynthetic genes by genetic complementation in an Aspergillus flavus mutant lacking the aflatoxin gene cluster. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:3567–3571

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prieto R, Woloshuk CP (1997) ordl, an oxidoreductase gene responsible for conversion of O-methylsterigma-tocystin to aflatoxin in Aspergillus flavus. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:1661–1666

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisuddin S, Singh KP, Zaidi SIA, Paul BN, Ray PK (1993) Immunosuppressive effects of aflatoxin in growing rats. Mvcopathologia 124:189–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabbioni G (1990) Chemical and physical properties of the major serum albumin adduct of aflatoxin B1 and their implications for the quantification in biological samples. Chem Biol Interact 75:1–15

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schumann GL (1998) Fungi in food: natural poisons and gourmet delicacies. In: Schumann GL (ed) Plant diseases: their biology and social impact. APS Press, St. Paul, pp 209–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Shane S (1994) Economic issues associated with aflatoxins. In: Eaton DL, Groopman JD (eds) The toxicology of aflatoxins; human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 513–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimizu K, Keller NP (2001) Genetic involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a G protein signalling pathway regulating morphological and chemical transitions in Aspergillus nidulans. Genetics 157: 591–600

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva JC, Minto RE, Barry CE III, Holland KA, Townsend CA1996 () Isolation and characterization of the versicolorin B synthase gene from Aspergillus parasiticus. Expansion of the aflatoxin b1 biosynthetic gene cluster. J Biol Chem 271:13600–13608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soini Y, Chia SC, Bennett WP, Groopman JD, Wang JS, DeBenedetti VM, Cawley H, Welsh JA, Hansen C, Bergasa NV, Jones EA, DiBisceglie AM, Trivers GE, Sandoval CA, Calderon IE, Munoz Espinosa LE, Harris CC (1996) An aflatoxin-associated mutational hotspot at codon 249 in the p53 tumor suppressor gene occurs in hepatocellular carcinomas from Mexico. Carcinogenesis 17:1007–1012

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney MJ, Dobson ADW (1999) Molecular biology of mycotoxin biosynthesis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 175: 149–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sylla A, Diallo MS, Castegnaro JJ, Wild CP (1999) Interactions between hepatitis B virus infection and exposure to aflatoxins in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: a molecular epidemiological approach. Mutat Res 428:187–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tag A, Hicks J, Garafullina G, Ake C Jr, Phillips TD, Beremand M, Keller N (2000) G-protein signalling mediates differential production of toxic secondary metabolites. Mol Microbiol 38:658–665

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Todd RB, Adrianopoulos A (1997) Evolution of a fungal regulatory gene family: the Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster DNA binding motif. Fungal Genet Biol 21: 388–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trail F, Chang PK, Cary J, Linz JE (1994) Structural and functional analysis of the nor-1 gene involved in the biosynthesis of aflatoxins by Aspergillus parasiticus. Appl Environ Microbiol 60:4078–4085

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trail F, Mahanti N, Rarck M, Mehigh R, Liang S-H, Zhou R, Linz JE (1995) Physical and transcriptional map of an aflatoxin gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus and functional disruption of a gene involved early in the aflatoxin pathway. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:2665–2673

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Egmond HP (1994) Aflatoxins in milk. In: Eaton DL, Groopman JD (eds) The toxicology of aflatoxins; human health, veterinary, and agricultural significance. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 365–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Vederas JC, Nakashima TT (1980) Biosynthesis of averufin by Aspergillus parasiticus: detection of 180-label by 3C NMR isotope shifts. J Chem Soc Chem Commun 4:183–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JS, Groopman JD (1999) DNA damage by mycotoxins. Mutat Res 424:167–181

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe CH, Wilson D, Linz JE, Townsend CA (1996) Demonstration of the catalytic roles and evidence for the physical association of type I fatty acid synthases and a polyketide synthase in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1. Chem Biol 3:463–469

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson RA, Arst HN Jr (1998) Mutational analysis of AREA, a transcriptional activator mediating nitrogen metabolite repression in Aspergillus nidulans and a member of the “streetwise” GATA family of transcription factors. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 62:586– 96

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson RA, Gardner HW, Keller NP (2001) Cultivardependent expression of a maize lipoxygenase responsive to seed infesting fungi. Mol Plant Microbe Inter 14:980–987

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woloshuk CP, Foutz KR, Brewer JF, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Payne GA (1994) Molecular characterization of aflR, a regulatory locus for aflatoxin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 60:2408–2414

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright MS, Greene-McDowelle DM, Zeringue HJ Jr, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (2000) Effects of volatile aldehydes from Aspergillus-resistant varieties of corn on Aspergillus parasiticus growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis. Toxicon 38:1215–1223

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yabe K, Nakamura Y, Nakajima H, Ando Y, Hamasaki T (1991) Enzymatic conversion of norsolorinic acid to averufin in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 57:1340–1345

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yabe K, Nakamura M, Hamasaki T (1999) Enzymatic formation of G-group aflatoxins and biosynthetic relationship between G- and B-group aflatoxins. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:3867–3872

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashiro CT, Ebbole DJ, Lee B-U, Brown RE, Bourland C, Madi L, Yanofsky C (1996) Characterization of rco1 of Neurospora crassa, a pleiotropic gene affecting growth and development that encodes a homolog of Tup1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 16: 6218–6228

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh FS, Yu MC, Mo CC, Luo S, Tong MJ, Henderson BE (1989) Hepatitis B virus, aflatoxins and hepatocellular carcinoma in southern Guangxi, Chin Cancer Res 49:2506–2509

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Young C, Itoh Y, Johnson R, Garthwaite I, Miles CO, Mundayfinch SC, Scott B (1998) Paxilline-negative mutants of Penicillium paxilli generated by heterologous and homologous plasmid integration. Curr Genet 33:368–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J-H, Leonard TJ (1995) Sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in Aspergillus nidulans requires a novel type I polyketide synthase. J Bacteriol 177:4792–4800

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F-L, Bender W, Geronimo IH (1990) Base and sequence specificities of aflatoxin B1 binding to single- and double-stranded DNAs. Carcinogenesis 11:475–478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Chang P-K, Cary JW, Wright M, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Payne GA, Linz JE (1995) Comparative mapping of aflatoxin pathway gene clusters in Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:2365–2371

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J-H, Butchko RAE, Fernandes M, Keller NP, Leonard TJ, Adams TH (1996a) Conservation of structure and function of the aflatoxin regulatory gene aflR from Aspergillus nidulans and A. flavus. Curr Genet 29: 549–555

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J-H, Wieser J, Adams TH (1996b) The Aspergillus FIbA RGS domain protein antagonizes G-protein signaling to block proliferation and allow development. EMBO J 15:5184–5190

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Chang PK, Cary JW, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1997) avnA, a gene encoding a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase, is involved in the conversion of averantin to averufin in aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:1349–1356

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Chang PK, Ehrlich KC, Cary JW, Montalbano B, Dyer JM, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (1998) Characterization of the critical amino acids of an Aspergillus parasiticus cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase encoded by ordA that is involved in the biosynthesis of aflatoxins B1, G1, B2, and G2. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:4834–4841

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Chang PK, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (2000a) Cloning of a sugar utilization gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus. Biochim Biophys Acta 1493:211– 214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu J, Woloshuk CP, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE (2000b) Cloning and characterization of avfA and omtB genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis in three Aspergillus species. Gene 248:157–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeringue H, Brown R, Neucere J, Cleveland T (1996) Relationships between C-6-C-12 alkanal and alkenal volatile contents and resistance of maize genotypes to Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin production. J Agric Food Chem 44:403–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeringue HJ Jr (1991) Effect of C6 and C9 alkenals on aflatoxin production in corn, cottonseed, and peanuts. Appl Environ Microbiol 57:2433–2434

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Julie K. Hicks

    Present address: Duke University Medical Center, 322 CARL Building, Research Drive, Box 3546, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

  2. Kiminori Shimizu

    Present address: Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbiol Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Jnohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan

  3. Nancy P. Keller

    Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. Julie K. Hicks
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    2. Kiminori Shimizu
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    3. Nancy P. Keller
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Editor information

    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Botanisches Institut Abteilung Botanische Genetik und Molekularbiologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098, Kiel, Germany

      Frank Kempken

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    Copyright information

    © 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

    About this chapter

    Cite this chapter

    Hicks, J.K., Shimizu, K., Keller, N.P. (2002). Genetics and Biosynthesis of Aflatoxins and Sterigmatocystin. In: Kempken, F. (eds) Agricultural Applications. The Mycota, vol 11. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03059-2_4

    Download citation

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03059-2_4

    • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

    • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-07650-3

    • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-03059-2

    • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

    Publish with us

    Policies and ethics

    Search

    Navigation