Research Keyword: secondary metabolism

Alliance Between Conifer Trees and Endophytic Fungi Against Insect Defoliators

mycolabadmin

Tiny fungi living inside white spruce trees help protect them from destructive budworm insects in two ways: the fungi directly produce toxic substances that kill or harm the budworms, and they also trigger the trees to produce more of their own natural chemical defenses called terpenes. Scientists found that spruce trees with more of these helpful fungi in their leaves were better protected against budworm damage. This discovery shows that trees don’t fight pests alone but partner with beneficial fungi as part of their defense system.

Read More »

The Zn(II)2-Cys6-type zinc finger protein AoKap7 is involved in the growth, oxidative stress and kojic acid synthesis in Aspergillus oryzae

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied a protein called AoKap7 in a fungus used to produce kojic acid, which is found in many cosmetic and food products. By deleting this protein gene, they found that fungi grew faster but produced much less kojic acid and were more sensitive to stress. The protein works as a master switch that controls both how fast the fungus grows and how much of the valuable kojic acid it makes.

Read More »

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Modulates Shiraia Hypocrellin A Biosynthesis Through ROS/NO Signaling in Response to Bamboo Polysaccharide Elicitation

mycolabadmin

Researchers discovered that a specific enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) controls the production of hypocrellin A, a powerful therapeutic compound found in Shiraia fungi. When bamboo polysaccharides are added to fungal cultures, they trigger G6PDH activity, which then increases the production of signaling molecules that boost hypocrellin A biosynthesis. This finding could lead to better ways to produce this promising cancer-fighting photosensitizer at industrial scales using simple, cost-effective methods.

Read More »

Modelling the Combined Effects of Oxalic Acid, Water Activity, and pH on the Growth and Mycotoxin Production of Aspergillus spp. in a Dried Fig System

mycolabadmin

This research develops computer models to predict when dangerous molds grow on dried figs and produce toxins. Scientists tested how wet the figs are, their acidity, and a natural plant compound called oxalic acid affect the growth of two common toxic molds. The study found that drier figs are much safer from toxin production, and while oxalic acid alone isn’t a strong mold-fighter, it can help when combined with other conditions. These models can help the fig industry prevent contamination and keep dried figs safe for consumers.

Read More »
Scroll to Top