title: Cloning of a sugar utilization gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus.
abstract: At one end of the 70 kb aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus reported earlier, we have cloned a group of four genes that constitute a well-defined gene cluster related to sugar utilization in A. parasiticus: (1) sugR, (2) hxtA, (3) glcA and (4) nadA. No similar well-defined sugar gene cluster has been reported so far in any other related Aspergillus species such as A. flavus, A. nidulans, A. sojae, A. niger, A. oryzae and A. fumigatus. The expression of the hxtA gene, encoding a hexose transporter protein, was found to be concurrent with the aflatoxin pathway cluster genes, in aflatoxin-conducive medium. This is significant since a close linkage between the two gene clusters could potentially explain the induction of aflatoxin biosynthesis by simple sugars such as glucose or sucrose.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS, Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., 70179, New Orleans, LA, USA. jiuyu@commserver.srrc.usda.gov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cleveland
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000235:genetics; D006019:Glycolysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D002241:Carbohydrates; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; C023107:NADH oxidase; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D005959:Glucosidases