Completed sequence of aflatoxin pathway gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus

An 82-kb Aspergillus parasiticus genomic DNA region representing the completed sequence of the well-organized aflatoxin pathway gene cluster has been sequenced and annotated. In addition to the 19 reported and characterized aflatoxin pathway genes and the four sugar utilization genes in this cluster, we report here the identification of six newly identified genes which are putatively involved in aflatoxin formation. The function of these genes, the cluster organization and its significance in gene expression are discussed. (C) 2004 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.