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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2006, p. 1793-1799, Vol. 72, No. 3
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.3.1793-1799.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Two Polyketide Synthase Genes Involved in Zearalenone Biosynthesis in Gibberella zeae

Iffa Gaffoor1 and Frances Trail1,2*

Departments of Plant Biology,1 Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 488242

Received 28 April 2005/ Accepted 14 December 2005

Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium spp., is most commonly found as a contaminant in stored grain and has chronic estrogenic effects on mammals. Zearalenone is a polyketide derived from the sequential condensation of multiple acetate units by a polyketide synthase (PKS), but the genetics of its biosynthesis are not understood. We cloned two genes, designated ZEA1 and ZEA2, which encode polyketide synthases that participate in the biosynthesis of zearalenone by Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum). Disruption of either gene resulted in the loss of zearalenone production under inducing conditions. ZEA1 and ZEA2 are transcribed divergently from a common promoter region. Quantitative PCR analysis of both PKS genes and six flanking genes supports the view that the two polyketide synthases make up the core biosynthetic unit for zearalenone biosynthesis. An appreciation of the genetics of zearalenone biosynthesis is needed to understand how zearalenone is synthesized under field conditions that result in the contamination of grain.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Phone: (517) 432-2939. Fax: (517) 353-1926. E-mail: trail{at}msu.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2006, p. 1793-1799, Vol. 72, No. 3
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.72.3.1793-1799.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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