Download MendeleyStructure and function of a virally encoded fungal toxin from Ustilago maydis: a fungal and mammalian Ca2+ channel inhibitor.
Gu, F., Khimani, A., Rane, S.G., Flurkey, W.H., Bozarth, R.F., Smith, T.J.(1995) Structure 3: 805-814
- PubMed: 7582897
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(01)00215-5
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
1KPT - PubMed Abstract:
The P4 strain of the corn smut fungus, Ustilago maydis, secretes a fungal toxin, KP4, encoded by a fungal virus (UMV4) that persistently infects its cells. UMV4, unlike most other (non-fungal) viruses, does not spread to uninfected cells by release into the extracellular milieu during its normal life cycle and is thus dependent upon host survival for replication. In symbiosis with the host fungus, UMV4 encodes KP4 to kill other competitive strains of U. maydis, thereby promoting both host and virus survival. KP4 belongs to a family of fungal toxins and determining its structure should lead to a better understanding of the function and evolutionary origins of these toxins. Elucidation of the mechanism of toxin action could lead to new anti-fungal agents against human pathogens.
Organizational Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
