Journal
TOXINS
Volume 14, Issue 12, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120883
Keywords
Aspergillus flavus; C2H2 transcription factor; AflZKS3; aflatoxin; pathogenicity
Categories
Funding
- Natural Science Foundation of China [31972176]
- Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province [222300420037]
- Cultivation Programme for Young Backbone Teachers in Henan University of Technology [21420114]
- Innovative Funds Plan of Henan University of Technology [2020ZKCJ01]
- Earmarked fund for CARS-13
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This study characterized the role of AflZKS3, a putative C2H2 transcription factor, in the growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis of A. flavus. The deletion of AflZKS3 resulted in defective growth, conidia formation, and increased sensitivity to stress. The biosynthesis of aflatoxin B-1 was completely inhibited in the deletion strain, and its ability to infect peanut and corn seeds was also reduced. These findings provide insights into the functions of C2H2 transcription factors in A. flavus and suggest AflZKS3 as a potential biocontrol target for preventing aflatoxin contamination.
Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic secondary metabolite that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Some C2H2 transcription factors are associated with fungal growth and secondary metabolic regulation. In this study, we characterized the role of AflZKS3, a putative C2H2 transcription factor based on genome annotation, in the growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis of A. flavus and explored its possible mechanisms of action. Surprisingly, the protein was found to be located in the cytoplasm, and gene deletion in A. flavus resulted in defective growth and conidia formation, as well as increased sensitivity to the fluorescent brightener Calcofluor white, Congo red, NaCl, and sorbitol stress. Notably, the biosynthesis of aflatoxin B-1 was completely inhibited in the Delta AflZKS3 deletion strain, and its ability to infect peanut and corn seeds was also reduced. RNA sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the Delta AflZKS3 strain compared with the control and complementation strains were mainly associated with growth, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Thus, AflZKS3 likely contributes to growth, cell development, and aflatoxin synthesis in A. flavus. These findings lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the roles of C2H2 transcription factors in A. flavus and provide a potential biocontrol target for preventing aflatoxin contamination.
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