title: Clavicipitaceous fungi associated with ergoline alkaloid-containing convolvulaceae.
abstract: Ergoline alkaloids are a group of physiologically active natural products occurring in taxonomically unrelated fungal and plant taxa Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales) and Convolvulaceae (Solanales). We show in the present paper that clavicipitaceous fungi are associated with four different ergoline alkaloid-containing plant taxa of the family Convolvulaceae. These fungi are macroscopically visible on the adaxial surface when young leaf buds are opened or are detectable by molecular biological techniques in seeds. Detectability of the fungus correlates with the absence or presence of ergoline alkaloids within the respective plant organ. The fungi contain the gene (dmaW) responsible for the committed step in ergoline alkaloid biosynthesis. Sequencing of ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer) as well as the dmaW gene (partial) and construction of phylogenetic trees show that the fungi are clavicipitaceous, not identical but very closely related.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Nussallee 6, D-53115, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Mahalia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahimsa-Müller
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markert
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hellwig
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knoop
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drewke
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leistner
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D027722:Convolvulaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis*; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005858:Germany; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids