Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>
Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic secondary metabolite that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Some C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factors are associated with fungal growth and secondary metabolic regulation. In this study, we characterized the role of <...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| author | Liuke Liang Haojie Yang Shan Wei Shuaibing Zhang Liang Chen Yuansen Hu Yangyong Lv |
| author_facet | Liuke Liang Haojie Yang Shan Wei Shuaibing Zhang Liang Chen Yuansen Hu Yangyong Lv |
| author_sort | Liuke Liang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic secondary metabolite that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Some C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factors are associated with fungal growth and secondary metabolic regulation. In this study, we characterized the role of <i>AflZKS3</i>, a putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factor based on genome annotation, in the growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis of <i>A. flavus</i> and explored its possible mechanisms of action. Surprisingly, the protein was found to be located in the cytoplasm, and gene deletion in <i>A. flavus</i> 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<sub>1</sub> was completely inhibited in the Δ<i>AflZKS3</i> deletion strain, and its ability to infect peanut and corn seeds was also reduced. RNA sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the Δ<i>AflZKS3</i> strain compared with the control and complementation strains were mainly associated with growth, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Thus, <i>AflZKS3</i> likely contributes to growth, cell development, and aflatoxin synthesis in <i>A. flavus</i>. These findings lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the roles of C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factors in <i>A. flavus</i> and provide a potential biocontrol target for preventing aflatoxin contamination. |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:46:56Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-acbf9179fd714a74ab65e6b12a480e1b2023-11-24T18:27:28ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512022-12-01141288310.3390/toxins14120883Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>Liuke Liang0Haojie Yang1Shan Wei2Shuaibing Zhang3Liang Chen4Yuansen Hu5Yangyong Lv6College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaCollege of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaAflatoxin is a carcinogenic secondary metabolite that poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Some C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factors are associated with fungal growth and secondary metabolic regulation. In this study, we characterized the role of <i>AflZKS3</i>, a putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factor based on genome annotation, in the growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis of <i>A. flavus</i> and explored its possible mechanisms of action. Surprisingly, the protein was found to be located in the cytoplasm, and gene deletion in <i>A. flavus</i> 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<sub>1</sub> was completely inhibited in the Δ<i>AflZKS3</i> deletion strain, and its ability to infect peanut and corn seeds was also reduced. RNA sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the Δ<i>AflZKS3</i> strain compared with the control and complementation strains were mainly associated with growth, aflatoxin biosynthesis, and oxidative stress. Thus, <i>AflZKS3</i> likely contributes to growth, cell development, and aflatoxin synthesis in <i>A. flavus</i>. These findings lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the roles of C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factors in <i>A. flavus</i> and provide a potential biocontrol target for preventing aflatoxin contamination.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/12/883<i>Aspergillus flavus</i>C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factor<i>AflZKS3</i>aflatoxinpathogenicity |
| spellingShingle | Liuke Liang Haojie Yang Shan Wei Shuaibing Zhang Liang Chen Yuansen Hu Yangyong Lv Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Toxins <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factor <i>AflZKS3</i> aflatoxin pathogenicity |
| title | Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_full | Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_short | Putative C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> Transcription Factor <i>AflZKS3</i> Regulates Aflatoxin and Pathogenicity in <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_sort | putative c sub 2 sub h sub 2 sub transcription factor i aflzks3 i regulates aflatoxin and pathogenicity in i aspergillus flavus i |
| topic | <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> transcription factor <i>AflZKS3</i> aflatoxin pathogenicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/14/12/883 |
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