2. Academic Validation
  3. Nerol-induced apoptosis associated with the generation of ROS and Ca2+ overload in saprotrophic fungus Aspergillus flavus

Nerol-induced apoptosis associated with the generation of ROS and Ca2+ overload in saprotrophic fungus Aspergillus flavus

  • Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018 Aug;102(15):6659-6672. doi: 10.1007/s00253-018-9125-z.
Jun Tian 1 2 3,  Yeyun Gan 4,  Chao Pan 4,  Man Zhang 4,  Xueyan Wang 5,  Xudong Tang 6,  Xue Peng 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 College of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 2 Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 3 Key Lab for New Drug Research of TCM and Shenzhen Branch, State R&D Centre for Viro-Biotech, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 4 College of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 5 Key Lab for New Drug Research of TCM and Shenzhen Branch, State R&D Centre for Viro-Biotech, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
  • 6 Key Lab for New Drug Research of TCM and Shenzhen Branch, State R&D Centre for Viro-Biotech, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
  • 7 College of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. [email protected].
PMID: 29860589 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9125-z
Abstract

The contamination of food with Aspergillus flavus and subsequent aflatoxins is one of the most serious safety problems in the world. In this study of nerol (NEL)'s Antifungal mechanism of action, we observed morphological and physiological changes in Aspergillus flavus. We found that NEL resulted in elevated levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and calcium ions (Ca2+). On ROS assays, compared with the controls, the proportion of fluorescent cells treated with concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μL/mL NEL increased to 8.4 ± 1.07%, 10.2 ± 1.72%, 13.4 ± 0.50%, and 26.2 ± 4.21%, respectively. Increased mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by the interactions between Ca2+ and ROS subsequently activate the release of cytochrome c and Caspase activity. Characteristic changes of Apoptosis were also observed via various detection methods, including phosphatidylserine externalization, nuclear condensation, and DNA fragmentation. Meanwhile, we found that the expression of CaMKs increased significantly in NEL-treated cells. In conclusion, our findings indicate that NEL has great potential as an eco-friendly Antifungal agent for food preservation.

Keywords

A. flavus; Antifungal; Apoptosis; Calcium; NEL; Reactive oxygen species.

Figures
Products