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Cycloheximide Induction of Aflatoxin Synthesis in a Nontoxigenic Strain of Aspergillus Flavus

Bio/Technology volume 1, pages 794–795 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

The biogenetic basis of aflatoxin production was investigated by testing the influence of known inhibitors of protein synthesis on several toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Cycloheximide induced significant synthesis of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2 in a normally nontoxigenic strain of A. flavus NRRL 5565. A cycloheximide concentration of 1 mM resulted in the production of 600 and 1412 ng/ml of aflatoxin B1 after 14 and 21 days, respectively, whereas no aflatoxin was produced in the untreated control. Aflatoxin synthesis remained stable when A. flavus was grown subsequently in the absence of cycloheximide. Cycloheximide has an inhibitory effect on 80S ribosome–directed protein synthesis as well as on double–stranded RNA virus synthesis in fungi. An inverse correlation is inferred between aflatoxin production and the presence of double–stranded RNA, which has been reported in A. flavus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Plant Pathology, and Microbiology, Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Alabama, 36849

    F. R. Schmidt, N. D. Davis, U. L. Diener & P. A. Lemke

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  1. F. R. Schmidt
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  2. N. D. Davis
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  3. U. L. Diener
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  4. P. A. Lemke
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Schmidt, F., Davis, N., Diener, U. et al. Cycloheximide Induction of Aflatoxin Synthesis in a Nontoxigenic Strain of Aspergillus Flavus. Nat Biotechnol 1, 794–795 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt1183-794

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