Mycotoxin fumonisins Health impacts and biosynthetic mechanism

Fumonisins are one of the most important groups of mycotoxins in agriculture and the food industry. They are produced by several widespread fungal pathogens of corn. Fumonisin contamination in maize-derived food and feeds causes several fatal diseases in livestock and poses a significant cancer risk to humans (Group 2B carcinogen). In the recent years fumonisins have become a hot area in mycotoxin research. This review attempts to highlight the progress in the studies of molecular mechanisms for fumonisin biosynthesis and mode of action. The current understandings in the molecular basis for the cellular effects induced by fumonisins are discussed. Special attentions are paid to introduce the progress in the characterization of individual genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of fumonisins.