Differential expression of Aspergillus genes as a result of disrupting maf1. Aspergillus flavus

We identified a 14-3-3 homolog (maf1) in an EST library made under conditions conducive to aflatoxin biosynthesis. Disruption of this gene in A. flavus by site directed mutagenesis abolished aflatoxin production. The maf1 mutant was morphologically similar to wild type but had reduced conidiation and growth on some media. DNA expression analysis of the wild type and maf1 mutant revealed that the mutation affected the expression profile of a set of genes associated with aflatoxin production. Keywords = Aspergillus Keywords = aflatoxin Keywords = 14-3-3 Keywords: repeat sample

本研究在利于黄曲霉毒素（aflatoxin）生物合成的条件下构建的表达序列标签（EST）文库中，成功鉴定出一种14-3-3同源蛋白（maf1）。通过定点诱变技术敲除黄曲霉（A. flavus）中的该基因后，菌株的黄曲霉毒素合成能力完全丧失。maf1突变体的形态与野生型菌株基本一致，但在部分培养基上的产孢量与生长量均有所降低。对野生型菌株与maf1突变体开展DNA表达分析后发现，该突变显著改变了一批与黄曲霉毒素合成相关基因的表达谱。关键词：曲霉属（Aspergillus）、黄曲霉毒素（aflatoxin）、14-3-3；重复样本（repeat sample）