title: Homologues of xenobiotic metabolizing N-acetyltransferases in plant-associated fungi: Novel functions for an old enzyme family.
abstract: Plant-pathogenic fungi and their hosts engage in chemical warfare, attacking each other with toxic products of secondary metabolism and defending themselves via an arsenal of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. One such enzyme is homologous to arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and has been identified in Fusarium infecting cereal plants as responsible for detoxification of host defence compound 2-benzoxazolinone. Here we investigate functional diversification of NAT enzymes in crop-compromising species of Fusarium and Aspergillus, identifying three groups of homologues: Isoenzymes of the first group are found in all species and catalyse reactions with acetyl-CoA or propionyl-CoA. The second group is restricted to the plant pathogens and is active with malonyl-CoA in Fusarium species infecting cereals. The third group generates minimal activity with acyl-CoA compounds that bind non-selectively to the proteins. We propose that fungal NAT isoenzymes may have evolved to perform diverse functions, potentially relevant to pathogen fitness, acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA intracellular balance and secondary metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Karagianni
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontomina
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Toxicology &Mycotoxin Research Unit, Richard B. Russell Research Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA.
authors.forename: Britton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kotseli
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsirka
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garefalaki
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Toxicology &Mycotoxin Research Unit, Richard B. Russell Research Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotiria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boukouvala
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000201:enzymology*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001583:Benzoxazoles; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015262:Xenobiotics; C017057:benzoxazolone; D000123:Acetyltransferases