Chemogenomische Analyse der Fusarium Toxin Resistenz
Abstract
Chemogenomic analysis of the resistance mechanisms of the simple eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON). The contamination of important agricultural products such as wheat, barley, or maize with the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) due to infection with Fusarium species, especially F. graminearum, is a worldwide problem. DON is produced during infection of the host plant tissue and is an important virulence factor for F. graminearum. Mutants defective in toxin production have highly reduced infectivity. Therefore, strategies to combat F. graminearum aim to increase the toxin resistance of cultivars. However, the cellular actions of these toxins on eukaryotic cells are not yet fully understood, especially in plants. One major effect of trichothecenes is inhibition of protein synthesis by targeting ribosomal protein L3. Current evidence suggests a large number of successive effects on cells. Understanding of the various cellular responses is the basis for intervention to improve resistance. We approach the mode of action of trichothecenes by a combination of chemogenomic analysis and transcript profiling methods. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is currently the only eukaryote easily amendable to such analytic strategies. To systematically define susceptibility, we will measure the effect of the toxin on growth using a collection covering nearly all yeast genes. Additionally, we will modify the collection by additional deletion of major drug efflux pumps and the DON acetyl transferase genes. This allows screening at low toxin doses. We will determine transcript profiles from cells exposed to a range of DON concentrations at different times. Based on our previous screening we uncovered that phenylacetic acid (PAA) counteracts DON toxicity by an unknown mechanism. The integration of genetic and transcript profiling will allow us to predict the points of action of the toxin and importantly also how PAA counteracts DON toxicity. Based on the generated information with the yeast system we will be able to rationally devise and test effective toxin interference strategies to select those possibly applicable to crop plant cells.
Publikationen
Project staff
Christoph Schüller
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Christoph Schüller
christoph.schueller@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-35071, 94488
BOKU Project Leader
01.07.2011 - 30.04.2015