Fungal phenotypic plasticity in response to fungivores

Ref ID: 18493

Author:

Silvia Caballero, Marko Rohlfs

Author address:

J.F Blumenbach Institute of zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Germany

Full conference title:

11 th European Conference on Fungal Genetics

Abstract:

Secondary metabolites are natural products, principally synthesized by plants, bacteria and fungi among other
organisms. Secondary metabolites are not essential for organism survival but may have other functions including
adaptation to different environments. Although many beneficial as well as toxic secondary metabolites have been
investigated intensively, their role in enabling fungi to explore and conquer new ecological niches remains elusive.
A common threat fungi are exposed to in their natural habitat is the attack by fungivorous insects. In this context,
we hypothesize that the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans produces secondary metabolites, e.g. the mycotoxins
sterigmatocystin, as part of an adaptive response to ward off or harm fungivorous insects. We confront fungi with
insects to investigate induction of changes in fungal development, secondary metabolite formation, and gene
expression. By means of qRT PCR, we currently focus on changes in the expression of laeA (encodes a
methyltransferase8208;domain protein that functions as a regulator of secondary metabolism and development) and
aflR (encodes a Zn2Cys68208;type sequence8208;specific DNA8208;binding protein that is thought to be necessary for expression
of most of the genes in the sterigmatocystin gene cluster). On all levels of organization we observe significant
alterations in fungal traits that finally modify the outcome of insect8208;fungus interactions.

Abstract Number: PR4.84

Conference Year: 2012

Link to conference website: http://www.ecfg.info/images/Abstract_Book_Electronic.pdf

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