Swainsonine-containing plants and their relationship to endophytic fungi.
Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid with significant physiological activity, is an α-mannosidase and mannosidase II inhibitor that alters glycoprotein processing and causes lysosomal storage disease. Swainsonine is present in a number of plant species worldwide and causes severe toxicosis in livestock grazing these plants. Consumption of these plants by grazing animals leads to a chronic wasting disease characterized by weight loss, depression, altered behavior, decreased libido, infertility, and death. This review focuses on the three plant families and the associated taxa that contain swainsonine; the fungi that produce swainsonine, specifically the fungal endophytes associated with swainsonine-containing taxa; studies investigating the plant, endophyte, and swainsonine relationship; the influence of environmental factors on swainsonine concentrations in planta; and areas of future research.
Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1150 East 1400 North, Logan, Utah 84341, United States.
Daniel
D
Cook
Dale R
DR
Gardner
James A
JA
Pfister
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D060026:Endophytes / Q000378:metabolism; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D016464:Lysosomal Storage Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D033021:Oxytropis / Q000737:chemistry; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000662:veterinary; D010947:Plants, Toxic / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D017026:Swainsonine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology
D017026:Swainsonine