Nucleotide sequence and the action of ribotoxin gene (sar gene) of Penicillium isolates from Taiwan

Production of ribotoxin from species of Penicillium was reported. Among a t otal of Fifty-six strains collected from Taiwan, six strains (P. resedanum, P. spinulosum. P. daleae, P. digitatum, P. aculeatum, and P. chermesinum) were found to carry ribotoxin gene (sar gene), but only four strains (P. re sedanum, P. spinulosum. P. aculeaatum, and P. chermesinum) secreted the rib otoxic protein that cleaves ribosomes. The sar gene from the six strains wa s individually cloned and sequenced. These genes exhibit a typical genomic organization of the fungal-originated ribotoxin gene. The nucleotide and am ino acid sequences of these sal genes from Penicillium are highly conserved and nearly identical. This is the first report that describes the producti on of ribotoxin by fungal species other than Aspergillus spp.