Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced primarily by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum in corn. In liquid culture, production of fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most common moiety of the family of fumonisins, can be obtained using a defined medium that is nitrogen-limited. Under nitrogen-limited conditions both growth and the production of FB1 were greatly influenced by pH and aeration. At pH above 5.0, F. proliferatum grew normally but produced little FB1 (< 100 micrograms m-1). At pH below 5.0, there was less growth but substantially more FB1. Below a pH of 2.5, both growth and metabolism were slower with very little FB1 produced. When the optimal pH range of between 3.0 and 4.0 under well-aerated conditions was used, both growth and FB1 production were high. However, under oxygen-limited conditions, less growth occurred, glucose consumption was increased, and no FB1 was produced.
Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced primarily by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum
in corn. Normally, the fumonisins display considerable chemical stability at temperatures up to
100 °C at neutral pH and are stable in a pH range of 4−10 at ambient temperature. Fumonisin B1
(FB1) can be produced in bioreactors using F. proliferatum (M5991). Recently, some bioreactor-grown cultures of F.
proliferatum were found to rapidly hydrolyze FB1. Subcultures from stock
frozen from these FB1-degrading variants continued to degrade FB1 when grown under the same
bioreactor conditions. The initial hydrolysis was catalyzed by an esterase and resulted in the
appearance of the aminopentol backbone (AP1) of FB1. A cell-free extract retaining the FB1 hydrolytic
activity could be obtained by extraction of cell paste with 10% Triton X-100. Activity could be
destroyed by heating to 60 °C for 5 min or by the addition of acetonitrile.
Keywords: Fusarium proliferatum; fumonisin, esterase
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