BIOSYNTHETIC MECHANISMS FOR FUNGAL POLYKETIDES

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Many important polyketide natural products are produced by filamentous fungi, such as the mycotoxin fumonisins produced by Fusarium verticillioides and the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin (MervacorTM) by Aspergillus terreus. We are using genetic and biochemical approaches to understand the mechanism by which the fungi synthesize these complex metabolites. The biosynthetic genes are specifically knocked out and functionally complemented to define the role of the genes. The biosynthetic enzymes are produced in heterologous hosts, such as E. coli and bakers yeast, to determine the reactions catalyzed by these enzymes.