title: The small molecular mass antifungal protein of Penicillium chrysogenum--a mechanism of action oriented review.
abstract: The β-lactam producing filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum secretes a 6.25 kDa small molecular mass antifungal protein, PAF, which has a highly stable, compact 3D structure and is effective against a wide spectrum of plant and zoo pathogenic fungi. Its precise physiological functions and mode of action need to be elucidated before considering possible biomedical, agricultural or food technological applications. According to some more recent experimental data, PAF plays an important role in the fine-tuning of conidiogenesis in Penicillium chrysogenum. PAF triggers apoptotic cell death in sensitive fungi, and cell death signaling may be transmitted through two-component systems, heterotrimeric G protein coupled signal transduction and regulatory networks as well as via alteration of the Ca(2+) -homeostasis of the cells. Possible biotechnological applications of PAF are also outlined in the review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Centre of Arts, Humanities and Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hegedus
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Valéria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomori
authors.forename: Nak-Jung
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Emri
authors.forename: Florentine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batta
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Csernoch
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Jae-Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pócsi
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010408:Penicillium chrysogenum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C097832:PAF protein, Penicillium chrysogenum; D002118:Calcium