Evolution of the Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Results in Divergent Mycotoxin Profiles in Claviceps purpurea Sclerotia

Toxins

Christopher N. Boddy¹  Zlatko Popovic²  Jim G. Menzies²  Thomas E. Witte³  Parivash Shoukouhi³  Tiah Lee³  Amanda Sproule³  David P. Overy³  Miao Liu³  Carmen Hicks³ 

[1] Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada;Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 101 Route 100, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5, Canada;Ottawa Research & Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, Canada;

关键词: Claviceps purpurea;    fungal plant pathogen;    biosynthetic gene cluster;    ergot alkaloids;    mycotoxins;    untargeted metabolomics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/toxins13120861

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Research into ergot alkaloid production in major cereal cash crops is crucial for furthering our understanding of the potential toxicological impacts of Claviceps purpurea upon Canadian agriculture and to ensure consumer safety. An untargeted metabolomics approach profiling extracts of C. purpurea sclerotia from four different grain crops separated the C. purpurea strains into two distinct metabolomic classes based on ergot alkaloid content. Variances in C. purpurea alkaloid profiles were correlated to genetic differences within the lpsA gene of the ergot alkaloid biosynthetic gene cluster from previously published genomes and from newly sequenced, long-read genome assemblies of Canadian strains. Based on gene cluster composition and unique polymorphisms, we hypothesize that the alkaloid content of C. purpurea sclerotia is currently undergoing adaptation. The patterns of lpsA gene diversity described in this small subset of Canadian strains provides a remarkable framework for understanding accelerated evolution of ergot alkaloid production in Claviceps purpurea.

【 授权许可】

Unknown