Biosynthesis of trichothecene mycotoxins: cell-free epoxidation of a trichodiene derivative

Molecular and Genetic Studies ofFusariumTrichothecene Biosynthesis: Pathways, Genes, and Evolution

Trichothecenes are a large family of sesquiterpenoid secondary metabolites of Fusarium species (e.g., F. graminearum) and other molds. They are major mycotoxins that can cause serious problems when consumed via contaminated cereal grains. In the past 20 years, an outline of the trichothecene biosynthetic pathway has been established based on the results of precursor feeding experiments and blocked mutant analyses. Following the isolation of the pathway gene Tri5 encoding the first committed enzyme trichodiene synthase, 10 biosynthesis genes (Tri genes; two regulatory genes, seven pathway genes, and one transporter gene) were functionally identified in the Tri5 gene cluster. At least three pathway genes, Tri101 (separated alone), and Tri1 and Tri16 (located in the Tri1-Tri16 two-gene cluster), were found outside of the Tri5 gene cluster. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the pathways of biosynthesis, the functions of cloned Tri genes, and the evolution of Tri genes, focusing on Fusarium species.

Influence of environmental factors on the biosynthesis of type B trichothecenes by isolates of Fusarium spp. from Spanish crops

Various species of Fusarium can produce trichothecene mycotoxins that contaminate food commodities and can represent a risk for human and animal health. In this paper, a full factorial design was applied to study the influence of incubation temperature, water activity (a(w)) and type of isolate on the production of deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON) in corn kernel cultures by three isolates of Fusarium graminearum and three isolates of Fusarium culmorum from crops grown in Spain. The tested temperatures were 15, 20, 28 and 32 degrees C. The a(w)-values were 0.960, 0.970 and 0.980. Moisture of cultures (within the studied range) did not affect significantly production of trichothecenes; however, the temperature affected significantly mycotoxin production and the optimal values were 28, 20 and 15 degrees C for DON, NIV and 3-AcDON, respectively. Four additional isolates of F. graminearum and two additional isolates of F. culmorum were examined for production of these mycotoxins at the optimal temperatures. Of the seven isolates of F. graminearum, four produced DON (0.88-3.97 microg/g), seven produced NIV (1.53-124 microg/g), and three produced 3-AcDON (0.65-10.6 microg/g). Of the five isolates of F. culmorum, four produced DON (1.20-4.93 microg/g), four produced NIV (6.94-701 microg/g), and four produced 3-AcDON (0.83-7.70 microg/g). Practically all isolates seem to belong to the NIV-chemotype. This is the first study done with regard to interaction between strain and ecological variables on type B trichothecene production by isolates of these two species from crops grown in Spain.

Biosynthesis of the trichothecene 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. Is isotrichodermin a biosynthetic precursor?

3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol is the major trichothecene produced by the fungus Fusarium culmorum. The first proven tricyclic intermediate in the biosynthesis of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol has been shown by in vivo studies to be isotrichodermin, a natural metabolite of F. culmorum. Indeed, the feeding of ring-deuterated isotrichodermin resulted in ring-deuterated 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol as shown by NMR studies. In this work, we have shown that the 3-acetyl group of isotrichodermin is mostly lost in its metabolism to 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. We have shown by two different approaches that the deacetylation occurs at an early step after the first oxygenation step at C-15. Derivatives of isotrichodermin lacking the 3-acetyl such as 3-deacetyl isotrichodermin or 3-oxo-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene are not precursors to 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol. The role of this acetyl exchange mechanism is not clear presently.

Biosynthesis of the trichothecene 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol: cell-free hydroxylations of isotrichodermin

3-Acetyldeoxynivalenol is the major trichothecene produced by the fungus Fusarium culmorum. Studies in vivo with F. culmorum have established the following biosynthetic precursors of 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol: isotrichool → isotrichodiol → isotrichodermin → 15-deacetylcalonectrin, 7α-hydroxyisotrichodermin, 8α-hydroxyisotrichodermin → calonectrin → deoxynivalenol. In this paper, we describe in vitro investigations of one of these metabolic steps. The cell-free system of F. culmorum that converts isotrichodermin into 15-deacetylcalonectrin, 7α-hydroxyisotrichodermin, and 8α-hydroxyisotrichodermin is described here. This preparation requires NADPH but not NADH for activity and is not inhibited by carbon monoxide, cyanide, or known oxygenase inhibitors, such as SKF-525-A or ancymidol.Key words: trichothecene, Fusarium culmorum, cell-free system, isotrichodermin, 15-deacetylcalonectrin.

The Tri4 gene of Fusarium sporotrichioides encodes a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase involved in trichothecene biosynthesis

The Tri4 gene of Fusarium sporotrichioides was isolated from a cloned DNA fragment carrying the Tri5 gene by complementation of a Tri4- mutant. The nucleotide sequence of Tri4 was determined and the locations of three introns were identified. Analysis of Tri4 mRNA levels revealed that transcription reached maximum levels coincidently with the onset of trichothecene biosynthesis, and then declined 20-fold over the next 8 h. Disruption of Tri4 resulted in the loss of production of both trichothecenes and apotrichodiol and the accumulation of the unoxygenated pathway intermediate trichodiene. Transformants lacking a functional Tri4 gene were able to convert isotrichotriol, an early pathway intermediate, to T-2 toxin suggesting that most pathway enzymes are present in Tri4- mutants. These data suggest that the enzyme encoded by Tri4 catalyzes the first oxygenation step in the trichothecene pathway and participates in apotrichodiol biosynthesis. Tri4 encodes a protein of 520 residues (M(r) = 59 056) that shows significant homology with members of the superfamily of cytochromes P450. It appears most similar to the CYP3A subfamily (24.6% amino acid identity). Because it contains less than 40% positional identity with other cytochromes P450, the Tri4 gene has been placed in a new cytochrome P450 gene family designated CY P58.