A beta-glucuronidase reporter gene construct for monitoring aflatoxin biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus

Article Abstract:

Aflatoxins are produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus and are toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites. The GAP13 construct is a suitable genetic tool to study the induction of aflatoxin in situ and to measure the activation of gene for aflatoxin biosynthesis. Aflatoxin accumulation, transcript analysis and beta-glucuronidase(GUS) expression shows that the GAP13 reporter construct effectively regulates the activity of ver1 gene independent of culture conditions. The reporter construct was obtained by fusing the promoter region of ver1 with the GUS and also from the maize kernels.

author: Payne, G.A., Woloshuk, C.P., Flaherty, J.E., Weaver, M.A.
Genetic aspects, Fungi

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Overexpression of aflR leads to upregulation of pathway gene transcription and increased aflatoxin production in Aspergillus flavus

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted on the influence of the overexpression of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway regulatory gene, aflR, on Aspergillus flavus aflatoxin biosynthesis, temporal gene expression, aflatoxin production and nitrate inhibition. Results suggest that aflatoxin biosynthesis nitrate inhibition does not only occur at the aflR transcription level. Results also reveal that higher pathway gene transcript accumulation and aflatoxin production is achieved through the constitutive overexpression of aflR.

author: Payne, G.A., Flaherty, J.E.
Genetic transcription, Transcription (Genetics)

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Molecular characterization of the afl-1 locus in Aspergillus flavus

Article Abstract:

The dominant mutation at the afl-1 aflatoxin biosynthesis locus in Aspergillus flavus 649 appears to involve both a deletion of a gene cluster and a chromosomal rearrangement. RNA analysis revealed that the nor1, ver1 and omt1 aflatoxin pathway genes were not expressed in heterozygous diploids, although the aflR regulatory gene was expressed at low levels. The dominant phenotype in diploids may be the result of a trans-sensing mechanism related to chromosome pairing.

author: Rollins, J.A., Payne, G.A., Woloshuk, C.P., Yousibova, G.L., Bhatnager D.
Analysis, Gene expression

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subjects list: Research, Aflatoxins, Aspergillus
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