Pranav Chettri

Citation

Thesis Title
Regulation of Dothistromin Toxin Biosynthesis by the Pine Needle Pathogen Dothistroma septosporum

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Fungi can make both useful compounds (such as antibiotics) and harmful compounds (such as toxins). To control the levels of these compounds we need to understand how their production is regulated. Mr Chettri studied the genetic regulation of dothistromin, a toxin the fungal pathogen Dothistroma uses to kill pine needles. He identified two dothistromin pathway specific and two global regulatory genes and characterised their effects on dothistromin production. He revealed fundamental differences in toxin gene regulation between sets of genes that were either grouped or not grouped on the chromosome. On the basis of his results, he proposed that differences in gene organisation can affect the timing of toxin production. Furthermore, in the case of dothistromin, he suggested that the ungrouped gene organisation might reflect an adaptation that enables the toxin to be produced at the required stage of growth in the plant host.

Supervisors
Professor Rosie Bradshaw
Dr Austin R Ganley