The Conserved MAP Kinase MpkB Regulates Development and Sporulation without Affecting Aflatoxin Biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus.

ABSTRACT: In eukaryotes, the MAP kinase signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in regulating the expression of genes required for growth, development, and stress response. Here, we deleted the mpkB gene (AFLA_034170), an ortholog of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae FUS3 gene, to characterize its function in Aspergillus flavus, a cosmopolitan, pathogenic, and aflatoxin-producing fungus. Previous studies revealed that MpkB positively regulates sexual and asexual differentiation in Aspergillus nidulans. In A. flavus, mpkB deletion resulted in an approximately 60% reduction in conidia production compared to the wild type without mycelial growth defects. Moreover, the mutant produced immature and abnormal conidiophores exhibiting vesicular dome-immaturity in the conidiophore head, decreased phialide numbers,

SUBMITTER: Jun SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7711526 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature