Plant lignans inhibit growth and trichothecene biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. (9th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kulik, T.; Buśko, M.; Pszczółkowska, A.; Perkowski, J.; Okorski, A.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 59:Number 1(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 107
• Publication Date: 2014-04-09
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12250-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="lam12250-sec-1001" sec-type="section"> <p>Lignans are a group of diphenolic compounds with anticancer and antioxidant properties which are present in various grains, although their effect on toxigenic fungi has been poorly examined to date. In this study, the impact of the plant lignans pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol on growth and trichothecene biosynthesis by five <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic> strains of different chemotypes was examined <italic>in vitro</italic>. Both tested lignans exhibited radial growth inhibition against the fungal strains. RT‐qPCR analyses of <italic>tri4</italic>, <italic> tri5</italic> and <italic>tri11</italic> genes encoding the first steps of the trichothecene biosynthesis pathway revealed a decrease in <italic>tri </italic>mRNA levels in lignan‐treated fungal cultures. Correspondingly, decreased accumulation of toxins in lignan‐treated cultures was confirmed by GC‐MS analysis. This is the first study to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of both pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol on growth and trichothecene biosynthesis in <italic>F. graminearum</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="lam12250-sec-1002" sec-type="section"> <title>Significance and Impact of the Study</title> <p>Knowledge of the regulation of trichothecene production in <italic>Fusarium graminearum</italic> by environmental cues is key to the design of novel strategies to reduce mycotoxin levels in grains. Here, we show that the lignans pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol, which occur in wheat grains, inhibit radial growth and decrease trichothecene levels in five <italic>F. graminearum</italic> strains. RT‐qPCR analysis reveals that the reduction in trichothecene level in lignan‐treated fungal cultures is associated with decreased mRNA transcript levels for the <italic>tri4</italic>, <italic> tri5</italic> and <italic>tri11</italic> genes that are involved in the trichothecene biosynthesis pathway.</p> </sec> </abstract>