Ergot alkaloids: structure diversity, biosynthetic gene clusters and functional proof of biosynthetic genes

• Published in: Natural product reports Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 496 - 510
• Main Authors: Wallwey, Christiane, Li, Shu-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2011
• Subjects: Alkaloids; amides; Ascomycetes; Ascomycota; Ascomycota - chemistry; Ascomycota - genetics; Aspergillus; biosynthesis; Claviceps; drugs; ergolines; Ergot; Ergot Alkaloids - biosynthesis; Ergot Alkaloids - chemistry; Ergot Alkaloids - genetics; Ergot Alkaloids - pharmacology; Fungi; Gene clusters; gene silencing; Genes, Fungal; Genomes; Mining; Molecular Structure; Multigene Family; Mycotoxins - biosynthesis; Mycotoxins - chemistry; Mycotoxins - genetics; Mycotoxins - pharmacology; natural products; Penicillium; Pharmaceuticals; Toxins

Ergot alkaloids are toxins and important pharmaceuticals which are produced biotechnologically on an industrial scale. They have been identified in two orders of fungi and three families of higher plants. The most important producers are fungi of the genera Claviceps, Penicillium and Aspergillus (all...