Ergot fungi (Claviceps spp.) are infamous for producing sclerotia containing a wide spectrum of ergot alkaloids (EA) toxic to humans and animals, making them nefarious villains in the agricultural and food industries, but also treasures for pharmaceuticals. In addition to three classes of EAs, several species also produce paspaline-derived indole diterpenes (IDT) that cause ataxia and staggers in livestock. Furthermore, two other types of alkaloids, i.e., loline (LOL) and peramine (PER), found in Epichloë spp., close relatives of Claviceps, have shown beneficial effects on host plants without evidence of toxicity to mammals. The gene clusters associated with the production of these alkaloids are known. We examined genomes of 53 strains of 19 Claviceps spp. to screen for these genes, aiming to understand the evolutionary patterns of these genes across the genus through phylogenetic and DNA polymorphism analyses. Our results showed (1) varied numbers of eas genes in C. sect. Claviceps and sect. Pusillae, none in sect. Citrinae, six idt/ltm genes in sect. Claviceps (except four in C. cyperi), zero to one partial (idtG) in sect. Pusillae, and four in sect. Citrinae, (2) two to three copies of dmaW, easE, easF, idt/ltmB, itd/ltmQ in sect. Claviceps, (3) frequent gene gains and losses, and (4) an evolutionary hourglass pattern in the intra-specific eas gene diversity and divergence in C. purpurea.

• Klíčová slova
• ergot alkaloids, ergot fungi, gene divergence, gene diversity, indole diterpenes, phylogeny, secondary metabolites,
• MeSH
• Claviceps genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• geny hub genetika   MeSH
• indolové alkaloidy izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• multigenová rodina MeSH
• námelové alkaloidy biosyntéza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• indolové alkaloidy MeSH
• námelové alkaloidy MeSH

Ergot, fungal genus Claviceps, are worldwide distributed grass pathogens known for their production of toxic ergot alkaloids (EAs) and the great agricultural impact they have on both cereal crop and farm animal production. EAs are traditionally considered as the only factor responsible for ergot toxicity. Using broad sampling covering 13 ergot species infecting wild or agricultural grasses (including cereals) across Europe, USA, New Zealand, and South Africa we showed that the content of ergochrome pigments were comparable to the content of EAs in sclerotia. While secalonic acids A-C (SAs), the main ergot ergochromes (ECs), are well known toxins, our study is the first to address the question about their contribution to overall ergot toxicity. Based on our and published data, the importance of SAs in acute intoxication seems to be negligible, but the effect of chronic exposure needs to be evaluated. Nevertheless, they have biological activities at doses corresponding to quantities found in natural conditions. Our study highlights the need for a re-evaluation of ergot toxicity mechanisms and further studies of SAs' impact on livestock production and food safety.

• Klíčová slova
• Claviceps, cereals, ergochromes, ergot alkaloids, food safety, mycotoxins, secalonic acid, tetrahydroxanthones,
• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• Claviceps chemie   MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• Jurkat buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   MeSH
• mykotoxiny analýza   farmakologie   toxicita   MeSH
• námelové alkaloidy analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• xantheny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ergochromes MeSH Prohlížeč
• mykotoxiny MeSH
• námelové alkaloidy MeSH
• xantheny MeSH