Analysis of the Mycotoxin Levels and Expression Pattern of SWN Genes at Different Time Points in the Fungus .

The fungal plant pathogen produces two mycotoxins that affect animals: slaframine, which causes slobbers, and swainsonine, which causes locoism. contains the swainsonine-associated orthologous gene clusters, "SWN", which include a multifunctional gene (NRPS-PKS hybrid), and (nonheme iron dioxygenase genes), and (reductase genes), and swnT (transmembrane transporter). In addition to these genes, two paralogs of , (paralog1) and (paralog2), are found in .

Silencing of the Transmembrane Transporter () Gene of the Fungus Results in a Reduction of Mycotoxin Transport.

infects red clover and other legumes, causing black patch disease. This pathogenic fungus also produces two mycotoxins, slaframine and swainsonine, that are toxic to livestock grazing on clover hay or pasture infested with . Swainsonine toxicosis causes locoism, while slaframine causes slobbers syndrome.

Phylogenetic Comparison of Swainsonine Biosynthetic Gene Clusters among Fungi.

Swainsonine is a cytotoxic alkaloid produced by fungi. Genome sequence analyses revealed that these fungi share an orthologous gene cluster, SWN, necessary for swainsonine biosynthesis. To investigate the SWN cluster, the gene sequences and intergenic regions were assessed in organisms containing , which is conserved across all fungi that produce swainsonine.