Bis-naphthopyrone pigments protect filamentous ascomycetes from a wide range of predators

Yang Xu, Maria Vinas, Albatol Alsarrag, Ling Su, Katharina Pfohl, Marko Rohlfs, Wilhelm Schäfer, Wei Chen () and Petr Karlovsky ()
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Yang Xu: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research
Maria Vinas: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research
Albatol Alsarrag: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research
Ling Su: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research
Katharina Pfohl: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research
Marko Rohlfs: University of Bremen, Institute of Ecology, Population and Evolutionary Ecology Group
Wilhelm Schäfer: University of Hamburg, Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Molecular Phytopathology and Genetics
Wei Chen: Zhejiang University, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Department of Food Science and Nutrition
Petr Karlovsky: University of Goettingen, Molecular Phytopathology and Mycotoxin Research

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract It is thought that fungi protect themselves from predation by the production of compounds that are toxic to soil-dwelling animals. Here, we show that a nontoxic pigment, the bis-naphthopyrone aurofusarin, protects Fusarium fungi from a wide range of animal predators. We find that springtails (primitive hexapods), woodlice (crustaceans), and mealworms (insects) prefer feeding on fungi with disrupted aurofusarin synthesis, and mealworms and springtails are repelled by wheat flour amended with the fungal bis-naphthopyrones aurofusarin, viomellein, or xanthomegnin. Predation stimulates aurofusarin synthesis in several Fusarium species and viomellein synthesis in Aspergillus ochraceus. Aurofusarin displays low toxicity in mealworms, springtails, isopods, Drosophila, and insect cells, contradicting the common view that fungal defence metabolites are toxic. Our results indicate that bis-naphthopyrones are defence compounds that protect filamentous ascomycetes from predators through a mechanism that does not involve toxicity.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11377-5

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