A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi
The special metabolite of <i>Fusarium</i> spp. zearalenone (ZEN) exerts estrogenic effects on mammals, stimulates plant growth, stimulates sexual development in fungi, and inhibits fungal growth. These activities inspired hypotheses about the biological function of ZEN. We briefly review...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | María Viñas Petr Karlovsky |
| author_facet | María Viñas Petr Karlovsky |
| author_sort | María Viñas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The special metabolite of <i>Fusarium</i> spp. zearalenone (ZEN) exerts estrogenic effects on mammals, stimulates plant growth, stimulates sexual development in fungi, and inhibits fungal growth. These activities inspired hypotheses about the biological function of ZEN. We briefly review the discovery of ZEN and its implications. The main subject of this review is a critical assessment of the hypotheses that ZEN is a fungal hormone, a plant hormone, a virulence factor, or a fungal defense metabolite. Conceptual and technical issues related to testing these hypotheses, such as inadequate analytical methods, confusion of incidental effects with biological functions, and lack of normalization, are illuminated. Based on these considerations, gene knockout experiments, and on the effects of biotic interactions on ZEN synthesis, we argue that ZEN is a defense metabolite protecting <i>Fusarium</i> spp. against mycoparasites and competitors. Similar reasoning and published data suggest that the <i>Fusarium</i> metabolite fusaristatin A fulfils the same function. Fungi produce many macrolactones of resorcylic acid (RALs) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DHPLs) with properties similar to ZEN. Their widespread occurrence, antifungal activity, and further considerations prompt us to hypothesize that the fundamental function of fungal RALs and DHPLs lies in defense and interference competition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f4d766d7f8e4f8ba03b1fbe8be628e5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f4d766d7f8e4f8ba03b1fbe8be628e52025-08-20T03:47:58ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-05-0117522610.3390/toxins17050226A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in FungiMaría Viñas0Petr Karlovsky1CIGRAS, University of Costa Rica, San Jose 2060, Costa RicaMolecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, GermanyThe special metabolite of <i>Fusarium</i> spp. zearalenone (ZEN) exerts estrogenic effects on mammals, stimulates plant growth, stimulates sexual development in fungi, and inhibits fungal growth. These activities inspired hypotheses about the biological function of ZEN. We briefly review the discovery of ZEN and its implications. The main subject of this review is a critical assessment of the hypotheses that ZEN is a fungal hormone, a plant hormone, a virulence factor, or a fungal defense metabolite. Conceptual and technical issues related to testing these hypotheses, such as inadequate analytical methods, confusion of incidental effects with biological functions, and lack of normalization, are illuminated. Based on these considerations, gene knockout experiments, and on the effects of biotic interactions on ZEN synthesis, we argue that ZEN is a defense metabolite protecting <i>Fusarium</i> spp. against mycoparasites and competitors. Similar reasoning and published data suggest that the <i>Fusarium</i> metabolite fusaristatin A fulfils the same function. Fungi produce many macrolactones of resorcylic acid (RALs) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DHPLs) with properties similar to ZEN. Their widespread occurrence, antifungal activity, and further considerations prompt us to hypothesize that the fundamental function of fungal RALs and DHPLs lies in defense and interference competition.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/5/226zearalenoneresorcylic acid lactonedihydroxyphenylacetic acid lactoneinterference competitionchemical defenseradicicol |
| spellingShingle | María Viñas Petr Karlovsky A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi Toxins zearalenone resorcylic acid lactone dihydroxyphenylacetic acid lactone interference competition chemical defense radicicol |
| title | A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi |
| title_full | A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi |
| title_fullStr | A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi |
| title_short | A Comprehensive Review of Hypotheses About the Biological Function of Zearalenone, and a New Hypothesis for the Function of Resorcylic and Dihydroxyphenylacetic Macrolactones in Fungi |
| title_sort | comprehensive review of hypotheses about the biological function of zearalenone and a new hypothesis for the function of resorcylic and dihydroxyphenylacetic macrolactones in fungi |
| topic | zearalenone resorcylic acid lactone dihydroxyphenylacetic acid lactone interference competition chemical defense radicicol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/5/226 |
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