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<ol> <li>Elucidate pathway of biosynthesis and determine how fumonisin is regulated in Fusarium verticillioides and closely related species of fungi;
<li>Use molecular techniques to generate tools to determine the role of fumonisins in corn diseases and to minimize their production;
<li>Develop a tissue specific expression system that can be used to express specific antifungal genes in corn pedicel tissue;
<li>Continue research to support understanding threats posed by exposure to fumonisins in food.</ol>
Elucidate intermediates, enzymes and genes involved in the biosynthesis of fumonisins and related mycotoxins. Use combinations of genomics and molecular biology to clone genes responsible for toxin synthesis and modify them to elucidate their function. Determine how fumonisins are regulated in plants. Identify strains of fungus that do not make fumonisins and conduct field tests to evaluate their potential for biological control. Refine the expression cassette that controls expression of proteins in corn pedicel tissue as a tool for expression of antifungal genes to minimize fungal infection of plants growing in the field. Utilize chemical and analytical expertise to address the extent to which fumonisins produced in corn react with carbohydrate molecules and form products of unknown toxicity that should be considered in risk assessment studies. Peoria,IL, NCAUR, MTX Labs, Rooms 3106, 3110, 3112, 3116; BL 1-p, IBC Certified 8/23/00.