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The putative forkhead transcription factor FhpA is necessary for development, aflatoxin production, and stress response in Aspergillus flavus

Summary

Aspergillus flavus is a fungus that contaminates crops and produces aflatoxins, dangerous toxins that can harm human health and reduce crop value. Scientists studied a specific regulatory gene called fhpA that controls how this fungus develops and produces aflatoxins. They found that removing this gene causes the fungus to produce more aflatoxins and more spores but lose the ability to form protective sclerotial structures, suggesting this gene could be a target for controlling aflatoxin contamination in foods.

Background

Forkhead transcription factors regulate important biological processes in eukaryotic species including fungi. Four putative forkhead transcription factor genes were identified in Aspergillus flavus through bioinformatic analysis. The fhpA gene is a homolog of the Aspergillus nidulans fhpA/fkhA gene and may play important regulatory roles in fungal development and secondary metabolite production.

Objective

To functionally characterize the fhpA gene in Aspergillus flavus and determine its role in regulating asexual development, sclerotial production, aflatoxin B1 production, and stress responses. The study aimed to explore whether fhpA serves as a regulatory target for aflatoxin mitigation strategies.

Results

Disruption of fhpA resulted in increased asexual spore production, complete loss of sclerotial formation, and increased aflatoxin B1 production. Overexpression of fhpA caused increased sensitivity to sodium chloride and menadione. Both disruption and overexpression of fhpA increased sensitivity to oxidative stress from menadione, indicating bidirectional regulation of oxidative stress response.

Conclusion

The fhpA gene is a negative regulator of both asexual spore and aflatoxin B1 production, and a positive regulator of sclerotial formation in A. flavus. FhpA plays an important role in morphological and chemical development as well as stress response, suggesting it could be a potential target for aflatoxin mitigation strategies. The regulatory functions of fhpA in A. flavus differ from those of its orthologs in other fungal species, indicating evolutionary rewiring of genetic regulation.
  • Published in:PLoS One,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMC11875336, PMID: 40029854, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315766
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