AUTHOR=Lan Huahui , Sun Ruilin , Fan Kun , Yang Kunlong , Zhang Feng , Nie Xin Y. , Wang Xiunai , Zhuang Zhenhong , Wang Shihua 

TITLE=The Aspergillus flavus Histone Acetyltransferase AflGcnE Regulates Morphogenesis, Aflatoxin Biosynthesis, and Pathogenicity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01324

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2016.01324

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) help regulate fungal development and the production of secondary metabolites. In this study, we determined that the HAT AflGcnE influenced morphogenesis and aflatoxin biosynthesis in <italic>Aspergillus flavus.</italic> We observed that AflGcnE localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm during the conidial production and germination stages, while it was located mainly in the nucleus during the hyphal development stage. Deletion of <italic>AflgcnE</italic> inhibited the growth of <italic>A. flavus</italic> and decreased the hydrophobicity of the cell surface. The Δ<italic>AflgcnE</italic> mutant exhibited a lack of asexual sporulation and was unable to generate sclerotia. Additionally, <italic>AflgcnE</italic> was required to maintain cell wall integrity and genotoxic stress responses. Importantly, the Δ<italic>AflgcnE</italic> mutant did not produce aflatoxins, which was consistent with a significant down-regulation of aflatoxin gene expression levels. Furthermore, our data revealed that <italic>AflgcnE</italic> is a pathogenicity factor required for colonizing maize seeds. In summary, we revealed that <italic>A. flavus</italic> AflGcnE is crucial for morphological development, aflatoxin biosynthesis, stress responses, and pathogenicity. Our findings help clarify the functional divergence of GcnE orthologs, and may provide a possible target for controlling <italic>A. flavus</italic> infections of agriculturally important crops.</p>