title: The AreA transcription factor in Fusarium graminearum regulates the use of some nonpreferred nitrogen sources and secondary metabolite production.
abstract: Growth conditions are known to affect the production of secondary metabolites in filamentous fungi. The influence of different nitrogen sources and the transcription factor AreA on the production of mycotoxins in Fusarium graminearum was examined. Growth on glutamine or NH4-sources was poor and asparagine was found to be a preferential nitrogen source for F. graminearum. Deletion of areA led to poor growth on NaNO₃ suggesting its involvement in regulation of the nitrate reduction process. In addition utilization of aspartic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine as nitrogen sources was shown to depend of a functional AreA. AreA was shown to be required for the production of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, and fusarielin H regardless of the nutrient medium. Deletion of nmr, the repressor of AreA under nitrogen sufficient conditions, had little effect on either growth or toxin production. AreA appears to regulate production of some mycotoxins directly or indirectly independent on nitrogen status and plays a role in utilization of certain amino acids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Sohngaardsholmsvej 49, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Agriculture and Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: hgiese@bio.aau.dk.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Teis Esben
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Sondergaard
authors.forename: Jens Laurids
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D001216:Asparagine / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005973:Glutamine; D001216:Asparagine; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Amino acids; Deoxynivalenol; NMR; Regulation; Zearalenone