Genetic organization and function of the aflatoxin B1 biosynthetic genes

Abstract Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Most of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin are contained within a single cluster in the genome of these filamentous fungi. Studies directed toward understanding the molecular bi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology letters 1998-03, Vol.160 (2), p.169-176
Main Authors: Woloshuk, C.P, Prieto, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aflatoxin
Aflatoxin B1
Aflatoxin B1 - biosynthesis
Aflatoxin B1 - genetics
Aflatoxins
Anthraquinones - metabolism
Aspergillus - genetics
Aspergillus - metabolism
Aspergillus flavus
Aspergillus flavus - genetics
Aspergillus flavus - metabolism
Aspergillus parasiticus
Biological and medical sciences
Biosynthesis
Cytochrome P450
Cytochromes P450
Fatty acids
Fatty-acid synthase
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungi
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
Genes
Genes, Fungal
Genes, Regulator
Genomes
Growth, nutrition, metabolism, transports, enzymes. Molecular biology
Metabolic pathways
Metabolites
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Multigene Family
Mycology
Secondary metabolites
Sterigmatocystin - metabolism
Transcription factors
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Summary:Abstract Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Most of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of aflatoxin are contained within a single cluster in the genome of these filamentous fungi. Studies directed toward understanding the molecular biology of aflatoxin biosynthesis have led to a number of important discoveries. A pair of fatty acid synthase genes were identified that are involved uniquely in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Two genes were also characterized that represent new families of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Gene expression is coordinated during aflatoxin production and is under the control of a positive regulatory gene belonging to a family of fungal transcriptional activators associated with various metabolic pathways in fungi.
ISSN:0378-1097
1574-6968
DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb12907.x