Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
09:21
Inhibition of Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production in Transgenic Maize Expressing the α-amylase Inhibitor from Lablab purpureus L.
Published on: February 15, 2019
Regulation of mycotoxin biosynthesis inAlternaria
1National Veterinary Institute, Box 7073, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Mycotoxin Research
|April 23, 2013
Summary
Alternaria fungi cause plant diseases and contaminate grains. This paper reviews how Alternaria alternata regulates secondary metabolism, focusing on polyketide biosynthesis pathways for mycotoxins like alternariol (AOH) and tenuazonic acid.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The genus Alternaria is a significant group of fungi responsible for various plant diseases, including tobacco brown spot and tomato blight.
- These fungi can also contaminate stored grains, posing risks to food safety.
- Alternaria species, particularly Alternaria alternata, produce a range of secondary metabolites, including mycotoxins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current knowledge on the regulation of secondary metabolism in Alternaria species.
- To focus specifically on the regulation of polyketide biosynthesis in Alternaria alternata.
- To review the biosynthesis of major Alternaria mycotoxins.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on Alternaria secondary metabolism.
- Focus on polyketide biosynthesis pathways.
- Analysis of biosynthesis studies for key mycotoxins.
Main Results:
- Polyketide biosynthesis is a major pathway for mycotoxin production in Alternaria.
- The most studied Alternaria mycotoxins include dibenzopyrones (alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME)) and tenuazonic acid.
- More information is available on AOH/AME biosynthesis compared to tenuazonic acid.
Conclusions:
- Understanding secondary metabolism regulation in Alternaria is crucial for managing plant diseases and mycotoxin contamination.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the biosynthesis pathways of all Alternaria mycotoxins, especially tenuazonic acid.
More Related Videos
09:44RNAi-mediated Control of Aflatoxins in Peanut: Method to Analyze Mycotoxin Production and Transgene Expression in the Peanut/Aspergillus Pathosystem
Published on: December 21, 2015
10:01Quantification of Fungal Colonization, Sporogenesis, and Production of Mycotoxins Using Kernel Bioassays
Published on: April 23, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:15Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
01:28Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
01:17Gene Regulation During Sporulation
Sporulation is a complex developmental process that allows certain Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Clostridium species, to survive extreme environmental conditions. This process is tightly regulated by a series of signaling cascades and transcriptional controls, ensuring the formation of a highly resistant endospore.Sporulation is triggered by unfavorable conditions, such as nutrient depletion, and is governed by a phosphorelay system. One of the sensor kinases, such as...
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
01:29Fungal Group Zygomycota
Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
01:26Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...