Biosynthesis of naphthoquinone pigments by fungi of the genus Fusarium

We studied biosynthesis of colored naphthoquinone metabolites by Fusarium decemcellulare, F. graminearum, and F. bulbigenum fungi. F. bulbigenum and F. graminearum synthesized bikaverin and aurofusarin, respectively, which depended on the conditions of cultivation. F. decemcellulare synthesized soluble extracellular naphthoquinones of the naphthazarin structure (javanicin, anhydrojavanicin, fusarubin, anhydrofusarubin, bostricoidin, and novarubin) or extracellular dimeric naphthoquinone aurofusarin. Biosynthesis of naphthoquinone pigments was shown to be the main fungal response to stress exposure. It occurs under conditions of growth inhibition or arrest.     

Biosynthesis of Ergothioneine and Hercynine by Fungi and Actinomycetales

Unlike other bacteria, aerobic members of the order Actinomycetales show a close biochemical relationship to the fungi by their capacity to synthesize hercynine and ergothioneine. The myxomycete Physarum polycephalum, possessing the same synthetic ability, also shows this relationship. Contrariwise, the unusual position of yeasts as fungi is indicated by the inability of all yeastlike Ascomycetes and all except a few false yeasts to synthesize these two betaines.     

Biosynthesis of Pectinase by Fungi of the Genera Bjerkanderaand Coriolusduring Solid-Phase Fermentation

Production of an extracellular pectinase by wood-rot fungi of the genus Bjerkanderaand Corioluswas studied. The active producersB. adusta40 and C. versicolor24 were selected. The dynamics of production of pectinase and effects of temperature, initial pH, humidity of the medium, and addition of nitrogen sources on the biosynthesis of pectinase were studied.     

Characterization of Lipoxygenase from Fungi of the Genus Mortierella

The specific activity of lipoxygenase from several strains of the zygomycete Mortierellavaried from 1.02 to 2.02 mol diene per min per mg protein. The enzyme equally used linoleic or arachidonic acid as a substrate. An increase in lipoxygenase activity was observed after adding corn oil to the culture medium. Tests with inhibitors having different chemical structures revealed that the lipoxygenase activity from Mortierellacells was inhibited only by esculetin, ethanol, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). NDGA inhibited the enzyme in vitro(IC₅₀=142 M), but its addition in the exponential phase of growth activated the enzyme.     

Biosynthesis of radiolabeled T-2 toxin by Fusarium tricinctum.

Incubation of Fusarium tricinctum NRRL 3299 on a solid rice medium in the presence of [1-14C]sodium acetate, [2-3H]mevalonic acid, [2-14C]mevalonic acid, or [5-3H]mevalonic acid yielded preparations of radiolabeled T-2 toxin with specific activities of 1.008, 1.64, 0.656, and 7.35 muCi/mmol, respectively.     

Biosynthesis of fusarochromanone and its monoacetyl derivative by Fusarium equiseti

One fluorescent compound previously named TDP-2 was isolated and purified from a rice culture of Fusarium equiseti (Alaska 2-2). Mass spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated that it is a C-3'-N-acetyl derivative of fusarochromanone, a newly discovered mycotoxin. Time course studies of synthesis of these two compounds on autoclaved rice and Czapek-Dox medium enriched with soybean peptone indicated that fusarochromanone was converted to TDP-2 in the cultures. A high concentration of peptone in the liquid medium may stimulate both fusarochromanone synthesis and its conversion to TDP-2.     

Respiratory Activity and Naphthoquinone Synthesis in the Fungus Fusarium decemcellulare Exposed to Oxidative Stress

The effect of oxidants (hydrogen peroxide and juglone) on the growth, respiration, and naphthoquinone synthesis in the fungus Fusarium decemcellulare was studied. The addition of the oxidants to the exponential-phase fungus inhibited cell respiration (either partially or completely, depending on the oxidant concentration), culture growth, and naphthoquinone synthesis. The treatment of fungal cells with nonlethal concentrations of H₂O₂ (below 0.25 mM) and juglone (below 0.1 mM) induced the resistance of cell respiration to cyanide. The residual respiration in the presence of cyanide could be inhibited by benzohydroxamic acid, indicating the occurrence of alternative oxidase. Increased concentrations of oxidants (0.25 mM juglone and 0.5 mM H₂O₂) rapidly and irreversibly inhibited cell respiration. These observations suggest that the mitochondrial respiratory chain of fungal cells exposed to oxidative stress is subject to the action of active oxygen species. The treatment of fungal cells with nonlethal concentrations of H₂O₂ and juglone activated cellular glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which are protective enzymes against oxidative stress.     

Biosynthesis of fusarochromanone and its monoacetyl derivative by Fusarium equiseti.

One fluorescent compound previously named TDP-2 was isolated and purified from a rice culture of Fusarium equiseti (Alaska 2-2). Mass spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated that it is a C-3'-N-acetyl derivative of fusarochromanone, a newly discovered mycotoxin. Time course studies of synthesis of these two compounds on autoclaved rice and Czapek-Dox medium enriched with soybean peptone indicated that fusarochromanone was converted to TDP-2 in the cultures. A high concentration of peptone in the liquid medium may stimulate both fusarochromanone synthesis and its conversion to TDP-2.     

Biosynthesis of 4,15-diacetylnivalenol by Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel var. minus

Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel var. minus isolate produced unusual for F. sambucinum Fuckel trichothecene metabolite 4,15-diacetylnivalenol (9 mg/l) in conditions of deep cultivation on Myro medium. This compound was identified by TLC, GLC, HPLC, and 1N MR spectroscopy. Other trichothecenes, 4-acetylnivalenol (3 mg/l) and nivalenol (1 mg/l), were also found in the culture. The observed feature of the studied isolate is assumed to be due to the presence of an additional gene, which encodes cytochrome P450 oxygenase responsible for the introduction of keto group at C8 and hydroxyl group at C7 of the trichothecene structure.     

真菌中麦角甾醇合成的调控机制

对细胞中麦角甾醇合成的调控是维持真菌细胞中甾醇含量的关键,文中综述了真菌中麦角甾醇合成的途径,并对其调控机理的研究进展作了重点介绍。甾醇调控元件结合蛋白(SREBP)是真菌中保守的甾醇合成调控因子,能够通过响应麦角甾醇含量的变化来调控甾醇合成基因的表达。但SREBP系统在不同真菌中发生了进化,在酵母亚门中,转录因子Upc2p替代了SREBP,成为了最主要的甾醇合成调控因子。此外,甾醇中间代谢物也被证明可以诱导麦角甾醇合成基因的表达,预示着真菌中存在更为精细的调控机制。     

镰刀菌属分类学研究历史与现状

镰刀菌是农作物和经济作物的重要病原菌,其产生的真菌毒素可危及人畜健康。近十几年来欧美的科学家在研究技术上有新的突破,使镰刀菌属种的概念在认识上有迅速的发展,尤其是那些引起谷类作物严重病害,并产生毒素的种类。在我国,从谷类粮食、饲料中检出镰刀菌毒素的现象屡有报道,我们对镰刀菌属种以及产生这些毒素的菌种(菌株)的认识还有待进一步加强。     

Fusarium poae and Fusarium crookwellense, Fungi Responsible for the Natural Occurrence of Nivalenol in Hokkaido

To determine the reasons for the natural occurrence of nivalenol in the northernmost area of Japan, scabby wheat was harvested from 19 crop fields in Hokkaido. Mycological surveys and analysis for mycotoxin contamination were performed. Among 13 wheat grain samples harvested in seven locations, 9, 2, and 6 samples were positive for deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, and zearalenone, respectively, at levels ranging from 0.03 to 1.28 μg/g, 0.04 to 1.22 μg/g, and 2 to 25 ng/g, respectively. The predominant Fusarium species of the scabby wheat examined were F. sporotrichioides, F. avenaceum, F. poae, and F. crookwellense. Fifteen of 48 F. poae isolates and all four F. crookwellense isolates were screened for the production of seven derivatives of trichothecenes and zearalenone respectively, on rice culture. One isolate of F. poae produced diacetoxyscirpenol alone (4.3 μg/g); seven produced nivalenol (1.3 to 23.8 μg/g), 4-acetylnivalenol (0.1 to 4.6 μg/g), and diacetoxyscirpenol (0.9 to 99.5 μg/g); and five produced nivalenol alone (0.4 to 3.5 μg/g). The remaining two isolates produced no trichothecenes. Zearalenone production was not found in any isolate of F. poae tested. All isolates of F. crookwellense produced nivalenol (0.9 to 22.5 μg/g), 4-acetylnivalenol (0.5 to 25.0 μg/g), and zearalenone (1.4 to 162.5 μg/g). From these results, it is apparent that deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, and occasionally nivalenol, occur naturally throughout Hokkaido, and it is suggested that nivalenol-producing F. poae and F. crookwellense strains are responsible for the natural contamination with nivalenol found in the northernmost area of Japan. Furthermore, it was found for the first time that several isolates of F. poae distributed in Hokkaido possessed the ability to produce both type A and type B trichothecenes.     

Fusarium Genus as a Citrinin-Like Compound and Zearalenone Producer

Out of 53 isolates Of Fusaria wheat, maize and barley 6 belonging o F. avena-ceum produced citrin-like compound.     

Hyphal Wall Compositions of Marine and Terrestrial Fungi of the Genus Leptosphaeria

Hyphal wall compositions of six Leptosphaeria species were compared to assess whether gross changes have occurred in the hyphal wall chemistry of closely related fungi which have become ecologically restricted to marine or terrestrial habitats. Unfractionated, lipid-extracted hyphal walls of each Leptosphaeria species had qualitatively identical compositions consisting of glucose, mannose, galactose, glucosamine, amino acids, and traces of galactosamine. Quantitative analyses showed that the hyphal wall components varied from species to species. Qualitative compositions of alkali-soluble wall fractions from each species were identical and contained the same sugars found in the unfractionated walls. The alkali-insoluble residues contained glucose, glucosamine, and amino acids. The alkali-soluble fractions were composed predominantly of glucose, galactose, and mannose. The alkali-insoluble fractions contained high concentrations of glucose and glucosamine and relatively low concentrations of amino acids.     

Biosynthesis of penicillin V acylase by Fusarium sp.: effect of culture conditions

Penicillin V acylase was produced, both intracellularly and extracellularly, by Fusarium sp. SKF 235 grown in submerged fermentation. When neopeptone was added to the medium, >95% of the penicillin V acylase was extracellular. In the absence of a complex organic nitrogen source, the fungus produced low levels of totally intracellular penicillin V acylase. MgSO₄ was essential for synthesis of the enzyme, which was induced by phenoxyacetic acid and penicillin V. The maximum yield of penicillin V acylase was 430 IU/g dry cell wt. The optimum pH value and temperature for the penicillin V acylase were 6.5 and 55°C, respectively.