The Aspergillus flavus Homeobox Gene, hbx1, is Required for Development and Aflatoxin Production.

ABSTRACT: Homeobox proteins, a class of well conserved transcription factors, regulate the expression of targeted genes, especially those involved in development. In filamentous fungi, homeobox genes are required for normal conidiogenesis and fruiting body formation. In the present study, we identified eight homeobox (hbx) genes in the aflatoxin-producing ascomycete, Aspergillus flavus, and determined their respective role in growth, conidiation and sclerotial production. Disruption of seven of the eight genes had little to no effect on fungal growth and development. However, disruption of the homeobox gene AFLA_069100, designated as hbx1, in two morphologically different A. flavus strains, CA14 and AF70, resulted in complete loss of production of conidia and sclerotia as

SUBMITTER: Cary JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5666362 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature