Further toxic properties of the fungal metabolite dothistromin

Abstract

The toxicity of the fungal phytotoxin dothistromin (l) to microorganisms, its lysis of human red blood corpuscles and beetroot tissue, and its unexpectedly selective inhibition of radicle elongation for Trigonella foenum-graecum were strongly light-dependent. Dothistromin was also toxic to Artemia salina but without requiring light activation. It was not active as a wilt or necrosis toxin, possible because of its ready adsorption onto external plant tissue.

A fragmented aflatoxin-like gene cluster in the forest pathogen Dothistroma septosporum

“…Although the role of the toxin in disease is not yet known, it does have a broad toxicity to many types of organisms (Stoessl et al, 1990) and may confer a competitive advantage to D. septosporum against other microorganisms. As well as being produced in planta, the toxin is also produced and secreted by the fungus in culture, where some isolates produce more toxin than others (Bradshaw et al, 2000).…”

Dothistroma pini , a Forest Pathogen, Contains Homologs of Aflatoxin Biosynthetic Pathway Genes

“…A 40-kDa dothistromin-binding protein was detected in the embryos, but the mechanism of toxicity is not known (34). As well as being a phytotoxin, dothistromin is toxic to a variety of microbial and animal cells (48). It is also weakly mutagenic and clastogenic, which has raised concerns about the health of forest workers (23).…”

The role of weather and topography in the development of Dothistroma septosporum.

“…Though toxic to human cells, dothistromin is not considered a health hazard to forest workers (Elliot et al 1989;Stoessl et al 1990). Until recently the toxin was thought to be essential for pathogenicity ).…”