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 total of fifty-six strains collected from Taiwan, six strains (P. resedanum, P. spinulosum, P. daleae, P. digitatum, P. aculeatum, and P. cherinesinuin) were found to carry ribotoxin gene (sar gene), but only four strains (P. resedanurn, P. spinulosum, P. aculeaatum, and P. chermesinum) secreted the ribotoxic protein that cleaves ribosomes. The sar gene from the six strains was individually cloned and sequenced. These genes exhibit a typical genomic organization of the fungal-originated ribotoxin gene. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these sar genes from Penicillium are highly conserved and nearly identical. This is the first report that describes the production of ribotoxin by fungal species other than Aspergillus spp.