title: Ergosterol oxidation may be considered a signal for fungal growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus.
abstract: The addition of compounds able to peroxidize cell lipids (carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), cumene hydroperoxide (CUH), or linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAH)) to 5-day-old Czapek-Dox Medium cultures of Aspergillus parasiticus induces a significant reduction of the tri-unsaturated ergosterol (ERG) levels in fungal microsomes and mitochondria, whereas the concentrations of the di-unsaturated linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n-6) are unaffected. Aflatoxin (AFT) output follows ERG reduction and is associated with both a renewal of fungal growth and a slow increase of ERG concentration in subcellular membranes. We suggest that, by analogy with the regulatory role played on cell proliferation and metabolism by polyunsaturated fatty acid by-products (eicosanoids) in mammalian membranes, by-products of ERG oxidation may be considered triggers sufficient to induce both further fungal growth and AFT biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Istituto S. Gallicano (I.F.O.), Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Passi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fanelli
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D004875:Ergosterol