title: The use of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for monitoring aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus 439.
abstract: A detection system based on reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) has been developed to monitor aflatoxin gene expression in Aspergillus parasiticus. Total RNAs of aflatoxigenic A. parasiticus 439 grown in aflatoxin permissive and non-permissive media were amplified and monitored over time by RT-PCR with specific primers designed from two genes of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. Gene transcription in both media was assessed by monitoring the house keeping beta-tubulin gene and aflatoxin production was correlated with transcription by thin layer chromatography. This RT-PCR technique has the potential to be employed as a tool to investigate the effects of a variety of physiological factors on the transcription of the aflatoxin genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and National Food Biotechnology Centre, National University of Ireland Cork.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pàmies
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Dobson
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism; D013698:Templates, Genetic
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; C034477:RNA primers; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012313:RNA