• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.281-289
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• 2001

We analyzed 88 strains of Gibberella fujikuroi (Analmorph: Fusarium section Liseola) from maize in Korea for mating population, mating type, fumonisin production vegetative compatibility, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns. We found 50 strains that were MATA-2, 22 that were MATA-1, 1 that was MATD-1, and 15 that were not reproducibly fertile with any of the mating type testers. Of the 50 MATA-2, 15 were female fertile, while 10 of the 22 MATA-1 strains were female fertile. A total of 1,138 nitrate non-utilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from a total of 88 strains. These strains were grouped into 39 vegetative compatability groups (VCGs) by demonstrating heterokaryosis between nit mutants. A single maize ear could be infected by more than one VCG of F. moniliforme. RAPD analysis measured genetic diversity among 63 strains of F. moniliforme. Several VCGs were distinguished by RAPD fingerprinting patterns. Most strains produced significant levels of fumonisins. However, 6 MATA-2 strains from a single VCG produced higher levels of fumonisin $\textrm{B}_3$ than that of fumonisin $\textrm{B}_1$ or $\textrm{B}_2$. From these data, we concluded that most Korean strains of F. moniliforme associated with maize belonged to mating population A and produced significant levels of fumonisins. Futhermore, RAPD analysis could differentiate strains associated with different VCGs.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.276-280
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• 2001

Fusarium isolates of Gibberella fujikuroi species complex were obtained from sorghum grown in five provinces of Korea in 1996 and 1997. These isolates were characterized based on their mating behavior, mycotoxin production, and vegetative compatibility. Only three mating populations (A, D, and F) were recovered from a total of 155 isolates examined. The relative frequency of the mating populations was significantly different: F was predominant (80%), while D and A were observed at low frequencies of 9% and 3%, respectively. Female fertile isolates were more common within F (44 our of 124) than D (2 out of 14), while none of the five A isolates were female fertile. The inbreeding effective population sizes ($\textrm{N}_e$)for mating type and male/hermaphrodite ratios in mating populations A and D produced significant amounts of fumonisins, while F isolates produced none or only traces of fumonisin B$_1$. In contrast. F isolates produced higher amounts of moniliformin (average of 3,820 ppm) than A and D isolates (averages of 77 and 1,819 ppm, respectively). Fifty-one isolates were tested for vegetative compatibility using nitrogen non-utilization mutants of each isolate, and 44 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were identified. A single VC type (VC1) was found in all of the five A isolates examined. Six of the D isolates examined consisted of three VC types: two for VC2, two for VC3, and the rest for VC4. All of the F isolates tested were incompatible in every combination and , thus, each constituted a unique VCG.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

Eleven mycotoxins, including aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone, T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, and HT-2 toxin, were analyzed simultaneously in rice, barley, and maize produced in 2011 by liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Limits of detection (LOD) are 0.2 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxin $B_1$, and $G_1$, 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_2$, and $G_2$, 0.1 ${\mu}g/kg$ for ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin and 3.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ for deoxynivalenol and HT-2 toxin. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.6 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_1$, and $G_1$, 0.9 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxins $B_2$, and $G_2$, 0.3 ${\mu}g/kg$ for ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin and 10.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ for deoxynivalenol and HT-2 toxin. Recoveries for 11 mycotoxins ranged from 70.45 to 111.11%. Fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, and zaeralenone were detected from 0.9 to 334.0 ${\mu}g/kg$ in the polished rice, barley and raw corn cultivated in Korea. Other mycotoxins were not detected. Deoxynivalenol contamination was mainly found in barley (24 out of 43 samples) and the average value in positive samples was 113.30 ${\mu}g/kg$.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.162.2-163
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• 2003

Fumonisins are specific inhibitors of ceramide synthase in sphingolipid metabolism. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the elevation of free sphingoid bases 1-phosphate (S1P) are related to the fumonisin exposure. Sprague Dawley rats were injected i.p. with 10mg/kg fumonisin B1 (FB1), and kidney, liver, heart, lung, brain and serum were collected for sphingolipid analysis. (omitted)

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.698-699
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• 2005

Levels of fumonisins, mycotoxins produced by fungal species, must be accurately and rapidly monitored to ensure food safety. In this study, using surface plasmon resonance sensor, a batch-type biosensor was fabricated to detect fumonisin $B_1$. By applying this biosensor to fumonisin $B_1$ solutions of 0 to 6 ppm, a significant calibration model was developed for measurement. Coefficient of determination in regression analysis for the model was 0.920. Results indicate that detection of fumonisin $B_1$ by surface plasmon resonance biosensor was highly feasible.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.69.1-69.1
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• 2003

Fumonisins are a family of mycotoxins produced from Fusarium verticillioides. Most of fumonisin B1 (FB1) toxicities can be explained by its ability to alter sphingolipid metabolism by inhibiting ceramide synthase. At least, the elevation in dihydrosphingosine (DHS) mediates the earliest toxicity of FB1. Some tissues such as kidney and liver, may be most affected by FB1 because they shows high rates of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Recent review on FB1 toxicity by A.H. Merrill Jr. et al. suggested the possible role of dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (dihydroS1P), which sometimes elevated in cell- or tissue specific manners. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.110.1-110.1
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• 2003

Fumonisins are specific inhibitors of ceramide synthase in sphingolipid metabolism. Sphingolipids are biologically active lipid mediators in cellular physiology and involved in cell signaling, growth, transformation, angiogenesis and differentiation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fumonisin B1 on $Na^+, \;K^+$-pump activity when fumonisin B1 was exposed to LLC-PK1 cells. Fumonisin B1 elevated free sphingoid bases and their 1-phosphates, while total complex sphingolipids were depleted at 20$\mu$M fumonisin B1 during the 3 day exposure. (omitted)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

Fumonisins are a family of mycotoxins produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme which is a common contaminant in corn. Fumonisins are potent inhibitors of sphingosine and sphinganine N-acyltransferase (ceramide synthase), key enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to provide the evidence that the elevated levels of free sphingoid bases (primarily sphinganine) and depletion of complex sphingolipids were closely related to the inhibition of cell growth in LLC-$PK_1$ cells exposed to fumonisin $B_1$$(\leq 35 {\mu}M)$. Concentrations of fumonisin $B_1$ between 10 and $35 {\mu}M$ were known to inhibit cell growth without cytotoxicity in $LLC-PK_1$ cells (Yoo et al. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 114, 9-15, 1992). Cells exposed to 35$\mu M$ fumonisin B$_1$ for 48 and 72 hr developed a fibroblast-like (elongated and spindle-shaped) appearance and were less confluent than normal cells. At between 24 and 48 hr after exposure to fumonisin $B_1$ cells were beginning to show the inhibition of cell growth and at 72 hr the number of viable cells in fumonisin-treated cultures was about 50% of concurrent control cultures. During the 24 hr lag period preceding inhibition of cell growth, the free sphinganine levels in cells exposed to $35 {\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$ were highly elevated (approximately 230 fold higher than normal cells). The elevated levels of free sphinganine were $435\pm14$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells at 48 hr and approximately TEX>$333\pm11$$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells in cells exposed to $35{\mu}M$ fumonisin$B_1$ at 72 hr, while the levels of free sphinganine in normal cells were less than 2$pmoles/{10^6}$ cells. Under the same condition, depletion of intracellular complex sphingolipids as a consequence of fumonisin inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and turnover pathway was appeared. Content of free sphingold bases in dividing cells was more elevated than in confluent cells at 24-48 hr after cells were exposed to $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The dividing cells were showing the inhibition of cell growth at 48-72 hr and $20{\mu}M$ fumonisin $B_1$. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the inhibition of cell growth is very well related to the disruption of sphingolipid metabolism in $LLC-PK_1$ cells.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Fusarium verticillioides (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) is associated with maize worldwide causing ear rot and stalk rot, and produces fumonisins, a group of mycotoxins detrimental to humans and animals. While research tools are available, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with fungal virulence and fumonisin biosynthesis in F. verticillioides is still limited. One of the restraints that hampers F. verticillioides gene characterization is the fact that homologous recombination (HR) frequency is very low (<2%). Screening for a true gene knock-out mutant is a laborious process due to a high number of ectopic integrations. In this study, we generated a F. verticillioides mutant (SF41) deleted for FvKU70, a gene directly responsible for non-homologous end-joining mechanism, with the aim of improving HR frequency. Here, we demonstrate that FvKU70 deletion does not impact key Fverticillioides phenotypes, e.g., development, secondary metabolism, and virulence, while dramatically improving HR frequency. Significantly, we also confirmed that a high percentage (>85%) of the HR mutant strains harbor a desired mutation with no additional copy of the mutant allele inserted in the genome. We conclude that SF41 is suitable for use as a type strain when performing high-throughput gene function studies in F. verticillioides.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.780-787
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• 2012

The maize pathogen Gibberella moniliformis produces fumonisins, a group of mycotoxins associated with several disorders in animals and humans, including cancer. The current focus of our research is to understand the regulatory mechanisms involved in fumonisin biosynthesis. In this study, we employed a proteomics approach to identify novel genes involved in the fumonisin biosynthesis under nitrogen stress. The combination of genome sequence, mutant strains, EST database, microarrays, and proteomics offers an opportunity to advance our understanding of this process. We investigated the response of the G. moniliformis proteome in limited nitrogen (N0, fumonisin-inducing) and excess nitrogen (N+, fumonisin-repressing) conditions by one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis. We selected 11 differentially expressed proteins, six from limited nitrogen conditions and five from excess nitrogen conditions, and determined the sequences by peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS spectrophotometry. Subsequently, we identified the EST sequences corresponding to the proteins and studied their expression profiles in different culture conditions. Through the comparative analysis of gene and protein expression data, we identified three candidate genes for functional analysis and our results provided valuable clues regarding the regulatory mechanisms of fumonisin biosynthesis.