Aspergillus flavus genomics as a tool for studying the mechanism of aflatoxin formation.
Aspergillus flavus is a weak pathogen that infects plants, animals and humans. When it infects agricultural crops, however, it produces one of the most potent carcinogens known (aflatoxins). To devise strategies to control aflatoxin contamination of pre-harvest agricultural crops and post-harvest grains during storage, we launched the A. flavus genomics program. The major objective of this program is the identification of genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis and regulation, as well as in pathogenicity, to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of aflatoxin formation. The sequencing of A. flavus whole genome has been completed. Initial annotation of the sequence revealed that there are about 13,071 genes in the A. flavus genome. Genes which potentially encode for enzymes involved in secondary metabolite production in the A. flavus genome have been identified. Preliminary comparative genome analysis of A. flavus with A. oryzae is summarized here.
Yu
Jiujiang
J
Southern Regional Research Center, USDA/ARS, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124, USA. jiujiang.yu@ars.usda.gov
Payne
Gary A
GA
Nierman
William C
WC
Machida
Masayuki
M
Bennett
Joan W
JW
Campbell
Bruce C
BC
Robens
Jane F
JF
Bhatnagar
Deepak
D
Dean
Ralph A
RA
Cleveland
Thomas E
TE
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001236:Aspergillus oryzae / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005810:Multigene Family; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods
D000348:Aflatoxins