Fumonisin B1: A Tool for Exploring the Multiple Functions of Sphingolipids in Plants

Abstract

Fumonisin toxins are produced by Fusarium fungal pathogens. Fumonisins are structural analogs of sphingosine and potent inhibitors of ceramide synthases (CerSs); they disrupt sphingolipid metabolism and cause disease in plants and animals. Over the past three decades, researchers have used fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most common fumonisin, as a probe to investigate sphingolipid metabolism in yeast and animals. Although the physiological effects of FB1 in plants have yet to be investigated in detail, forward and reverse genetic approaches have revealed many genes involved in these processes. In this review, we discuss the intricate network of signaling pathways affected by FB1, including changes in sphingolipid metabolism and the effects of these changes, with a focus on our current understanding of the multiple effects of FB1 on plant cell death and plant growth. We analyze the major findings that highlight the connections between sphingolipid metabolism and FB1-induced signaling, and we point out where additional research is needed to fill the gaps in our understanding of FB1-induced signaling pathways in plants.

The Effect of Fusarium verticillioides Fumonisins on Fatty Acids, Sphingolipids, and Oxylipins in Maize Germlings

“…Moreover, the seedlings infected by wild-type strain are affected in the S-VLCFA accumulation [ 62 ]. Taken together, our results provided a basis for better understanding the lipid markers of PCD caused by the mycotoxigenic fungus F. verticillioides ( Figure 7 ).…”

Mycobiota profile, phenology, and potential toxicogenic and pathogenic species associated with stored groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) from the Volta Region, Ghana

“…Fumonisin, another type of fungal toxin, is produced by several species of the genus Fusarium such as Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium moniliforme , which can infect many crops, especially cereals such as maize, wheat, and barley (Zeng et al., 2020 ). Cinar and Onbaşı ( 2019 ) also stated that 28 types of fumonisin have been identified in foods including groundnuts and have been divided into four groups: Fumonisin A (A1, A2, and A3), Fumonisin B (B1, B2, and B3), Fumonisin C (C4, C3, and C1), and Fumonisin P (P1, P2, and P3).…”

Fumonisin B1 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Decreases Barrier Function of Swine Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

“…[1]. These molecules are diesters of propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid with similar long-chain aminopolyol backbones [2]. FB 1 is considered toxicologically the most hazardous as it constitutes the majority of naturally occurring fumonisins in food and feed [3].…”