Two novel classes of enzymes are required for the biosynthesis of aurofusarin in Fusarium graminearum.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have reported the functional characterization of 9 out of 11 genes found in the gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis of the polyketide pigment aurofusarin in Fusarium graminearum. Here we reanalyze the function of a putative aurofusarin pump (AurT) and the two remaining orphan genes, aurZ and aurS. Targeted gene replacement of aurZ resulted in the discovery that the compound YWA1, rather than nor-rubrofusarin, is the primary product of F. graminearum polyketide synthase 12 (FgPKS12). AurZ is the first representative of a novel class of dehydratases that act on hydroxylated γ-pyrones. Replacement of the aurS gene resulted in accumulation of rubrofusarin, an intermediate that also accumulates when the GIP1, aurF, or aurO genes in the aurofusarin cluster are deleted. Bas

SUBMITTER: Frandsen RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060495 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature