Absence of the aflatoxin biosynthesis gene, norA, allows accumulation of deoxyaflatoxin B1 in Aspergillus flavus cultures.
Biosynthesis of the highly toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins in select Aspergillus species from the common intermediate O-methylsterigmatocystin has been postulated to require only the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, OrdA (AflQ). We now provide evidence that the aryl alcohol dehydrogenase NorA (AflE) encoded by the aflatoxin biosynthetic gene cluster in Aspergillus flavus affects the accumulation of aflatoxins in the final steps of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Mutants with inactive norA produced reduced quantities of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)), but elevated quantities of a new metabolite, deoxyAFB(1). To explain this result, we suggest that, in the absence of NorA, the AFB(1) reduction product, aflatoxicol, is produced and is readily dehydrated to deoxyAFB(1) in the acidic medium, enabling us to observe this otherwise minor toxin produced in wild-type A. flavus.
Southern Regional Research Center, ARS/USDA, New Orleans, LA 70179, USA. ken.ehrlich@ars.usda.gov
Kenneth C
KC
Ehrlich
Perng-Kuang
PK
Chang
Leslie L
LL
Scharfenstein
Jeffrey W
JW
Cary
Jason M
JM
Crawford
Craig A
CA
Townsend
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005810:Multigene Family; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D000348:Aflatoxins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C012170:aflatoxicol; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase