Effect of the sesterterpene-type metabolites, ophiobolins A and B, on zygomycetes fungi.
Ophiobolins are sesterterpene-type phytotoxins produced by fungi belonging mainly to the genus Bipolaris. In this study, the antifungal effect of ophiobolins A and B on different zygomycetes has been examined. Depending on the zygomycete tested, MIC values of 3.175-50 μg mL(-1) were found for ophiobolin A and 25-50 μg mL(-1) for ophiobolin B. Ophiobolin A inhibited sporangiospore germination of Mucor circinelloides and caused morphological changes; the fungus formed degenerated, thick or swollen cells with septa. Cytoplasm effusions from the damaged cells were also observed. Fluorescence microscopy after annexin and propidium iodide staining of the treated cells suggested that the drug induced an apoptosis-like cell death process in the fungus.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Krisztina
K
Krizsán
Ottó
O
Bencsik
Ildikó
I
Nyilasi
László
L
Galgóczy
Csaba
C
Vágvölgyi
Tamás
T
Papp
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009089:Mucor / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D054830:Sesterterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054830:Sesterterpenes; C002884:ophiobolins