Clustering aflatoxin pathway genes

Yu J, Chang PK, Cary JW, Wright M, Bhatnagar D, Cleveland TE, Payne GA, Linz JE Comparative mapping of aflatoxin pathway gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flams. Appl Environ Microbiol 1995 61 2365-2371. 

TRAIL, F., MAHANTI, N., RARICK, M., MEHIGH, R., LIANG, S.H., ZHOU, R., LINZ, J.E., Physical and transcriptional map of an aflatoxin gene cluster in Aspergillus parasiticus and functional disruption of a gene involved early in the aflatoxin pathway, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 1995, 61,2665-2673. 

EHRLICH, K.C., MONTALBANO, B.G., CARY, J.W., Binding of the C6-zinc cluster protein, AFLR, to the promoters of aflatoxin pathway biosynthesis genes in Aspergillus parasiticus. Gene, 1999,230,249-257. 

Figure 1. Clustered genes (A) and the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway (B).

Unlike primary metabolites, the genes that regulate the formation of the enzymes of seeondary metaboUte biosynthesis are often clustered. In several eases the loei of these genes have been determined. This has considerable sig-nifieanee in the control of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The genes that eode for several important polyketide pathways such as those leading to the aflatoxins and the statins have been identified. Similar work has also been reported for penicillin biosynthesis and some non-ribosomal peptides as well as terpenoid pathways such as that leading to the gibberellins. 

Table 11.1 Aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway cluster genes... 

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