TY - JOUR
T1 - The epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) class of fungal toxins
T2 - Distribution, mode of action, functions and biosynthesis
AU - Gardiner, Donald M.
AU - Waring, Paul
AU - Howlett, Barbara J.
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - Epipolythiodioxopiperazines (ETPs) are toxic secondary metabolites made only by fungi. The best-known ETP is gliotoxin, which appears to be a virulence factor associated with invasive aspergillosis of immunocompromised patients. The toxicity of ETPs is due to the presence of a disulphide bridge, which can inactivate proteins via reaction with thiol groups, and to the generation of reactive oxygen species by redox cycling. With the availability of complete fungal genome sequences and efficient gene-disruption techniques for fungi, approaches are now feasible to delineate biosynthetic pathways for ETPs and to gain insights into the evolution of such gene clusters.
AB - Epipolythiodioxopiperazines (ETPs) are toxic secondary metabolites made only by fungi. The best-known ETP is gliotoxin, which appears to be a virulence factor associated with invasive aspergillosis of immunocompromised patients. The toxicity of ETPs is due to the presence of a disulphide bridge, which can inactivate proteins via reaction with thiol groups, and to the generation of reactive oxygen species by redox cycling. With the availability of complete fungal genome sequences and efficient gene-disruption techniques for fungi, approaches are now feasible to delineate biosynthetic pathways for ETPs and to gain insights into the evolution of such gene clusters.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17644412298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1099/mic.0.27847-0
DO - 10.1099/mic.0.27847-0
M3 - Review article
SN - 1350-0872
VL - 151
SP - 1021
EP - 1032
JO - Microbiology (United Kingdom)
JF - Microbiology (United Kingdom)
IS - 4
ER -