Ferulic acid, an efficient inhibitor of type B trichothecene biosynthesis and Tri gene expression in Fusarium liquid cultures.
The effect of ferulic acid, the most abundant phenolic acid in wheat bran, was studied in vitro on type B trichothecene biosynthesis by Fusarium. It was demonstrated that ferulic acid is an efficient inhibitor of mycotoxin production by all strains of Fusarium tested, including different chemotypes and species. To analyse the mechanism of toxin biosynthesis inhibition by ferulic acid, expression of representative Tri genes, involved in the trichothecene biosynthesis pathway, was monitored by real-time RT-PCR. A decrease in the level of Tri gene expression was measured, suggesting that inhibition of toxin synthesis by ferulic acid could be regulated at the transcriptional level. Moreover, toxin production was shown to be reduced proportionally to the initial amount of ferulic acid added in the culture medium. Addition of ferulic acid either at the spore germination step or to a mycelial culture resulted in the same final inhibitory effect on mycotoxin accumulation. A cumulative inhibitory effect on trichothecene biosynthesis was even observed with successive supplementation of ferulic acid. Ferulic acid, which content varies among wheat varieties, could then play an important role in modulating trichothecene biosynthesis by Fusarium in some wheat varieties.
Boutigny
Anne-Laure
AL
Institut de Recherches Technologiques Agroalimentaires des Céréales, 66 rue La Boëtie, 75008 Paris, France. annelaureboutigny@yahoo.fr
Barreau
Christian
C
Atanasova-Penichon
Vessela
V
Verdal-Bonnin
Marie-Noëlle
MN
Pinson-Gadais
Laëtitia
L
Richard-Forget
Florence
F
D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014255:Trichothecenes; C004999:ferulic acid