Ustiloxin biosynthetic machinery is not compatible between Aspergillus flavus and Ustilaginoidea virens.

Fungal Genetics and Biology : FG & B
Maiko UmemuraYutaka Kawarabayasi

Abstract

Ustiloxins are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) first reported in Ascomycetes. Originally identified as metabolites of the rice pathogenic fungus Ustilaginoidea virens, they were recently identified among the metabolites of the mold Aspergillus flavus, along with their corresponding biosynthetic gene cluster. Ustilaginoidea virens produces ustiloxins A and B, whereas A. flavus produces only ustiloxin B. Correspondingly, in U. virens, the ustiloxin precursor peptide, from which the compound backbone is cleaved and cyclized, contains the core peptides Tyr(Y)-Val(V)-Ile(I)-Gly(G) and Tyr(Y)-Ala(A)-Ile(I)-Gly(G) for ustiloxins A and B, respectively, whereas that of A. flavus contains only the YAIG motif for ustiloxin B. In this study, the gene that encodes the precursor peptide in A. flavus, ustA, was replaced with synthetic genes encoding the core peptides YVIG or FAIG, to investigate their compatibility with the ustiloxin biosynthetic machinery. We also examined the importance of the hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring of Tyr for cyclization of the YAIG core peptide. Against our expectation, the ustA variant possessing YVIG core peptides did not produce a detectable amount of ustiloxin A,...Continue Reading

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Aspergillosis (ASM)

Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by infection by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillosis occurs in chronic or acute forms which are clinically very distinct. Most cases of acute aspergillosis occur in patients with severely compromised immune systems. Chronic colonization or infection can cause complications in people with underlying respiratory illnesses. Discover the latest research on aspergillosis here.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is the name given to a wide variety of diseases caused by infection by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillosis occurs in chronic or acute forms which are clinically very distinct. Most cases of acute aspergillosis occur in patients with severely compromised immune systems. Chronic colonization or infection can cause complications in people with underlying respiratory illnesses. Discover the latest research on aspergillosis here.