Autoregulation of ZEB2 expression for zearalenone production in Fusarium graminearum. Issue 5 (25th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Ae Ran; Son, Hokyoung; Min, Kyunghun; Park, Jinseo; Goo, Jae Hwan; Rhee, Sangkee; Chae, Suhn‐Kee; Lee, Yin‐Won
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 97:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 942
• Page End: 956
• Publication Date: 2015-06-25
• Subjects: Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Several <italic>F</italic><italic>usarium</italic> species produce the polyketide mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA), a causative agent of hyperestrogenic syndrome in animals that is often found in <italic>F</italic><italic>. graminearum</italic>–infected cereals in temperate regions. The ZEA biosynthetic cluster genes <italic>PKS</italic><italic>4</italic>, <italic>PKS</italic><italic>13</italic>, <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>1 and</italic> <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>2</italic> encode a reducing polyketide synthase, a non‐reducing polyketide synthase, an isoamyl alcohol oxidase and a transcription factor respectively. In this study, the production of two isoforms (ZEB2L and ZEB2S) from the <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>2</italic> gene in <italic>F</italic><italic>. graminearum</italic> via an alternative promoter was characterized. ZEB2L contains a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) DNA‐binding domain at the N‐terminus, whereas ZEB2S is an N‐terminally truncated form of ZEB2L that lacks the bZIP domain. Interestingly, ZEA triggers the induction of both <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>2</italic><italic>L</italic> and <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>2</italic><italic>S</italic> transcription. ZEB2L and ZEB2S interact with each other to form a heterodimer that regulates ZEA production by reducing the binding affinity of ZEB2L for the <italic>ZEB2</italic><italic>L</italic> gene promoter. Our study provides insight into the autoregulation of <italic>ZEB</italic><italic>2</italic> expression by alternative promoter usage and a feedback loop during ZEA production; this regulatory mechanism is similar to that observed in higher eukaryotes.</p> </abstract>