Detoxification and Excretion of Trichothecenes in Transgenic Expressing Trichothecene 3--acetyltransferase.

, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), produces trichothecenes including deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), and 3,7,15-trihydroxy-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene (NX-3). These toxins contaminate grains and cause profound health problems in humans and animals. To explore exploiting a fungal self-protection mechanism in plants, we examined the ability of trichothecene 3--acetyltransferase () to detoxify several key trichothecenes produced by : DON, 15-ADON, NX-3, and NIV. was cloned from and expressed in plants. We compared the phytotoxic effects of purified DON, NIV, and NX-3 on the root growth of transgenic expressing . Compared to wild type and GUS controls, transgenic plants displayed significantly longer root length on media containing DON and NX-3. Furthermore, we confirmed that the transgenic plants acetylated DON to 3-ADON, 15-ADON to 3,15-diADON, and NX-3 to NX-2, but did not acetylate NIV. Approximately 90% of the converted toxins were excreted into the media. Our study indicates that transgenic expressing can provide plant protection by detoxifying trichothecenes and excreting the acetylated toxins out of plant cells. Characterization of plant transporters involved in trichothecene efflux will provide novel targets to reduce FHB and mycotoxin contamination in economically important plant crops.