Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40259335›Full record

ArticleMicrobial cell factories2025

Linking a polyketide synthase gene cluster to 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone, a Trichoderma metabolite with diverse bioactivities.

Daniel Flatschacher, Alexander Eschlböck, Siebe Pierson, Ulrike Schreiner, Valentina Stock, Arne Schiller, David Ruso, Maria Doppler, Veronika Ruzsanyi, Mario Gründlinger and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microbial cell factories, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Mechanisms of action and biocontrol potential ofFrontiers in fungal biology · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Daniel Flatschacher *Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Alexander Eschlböck *Department of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Siebe PiersonDepartment of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Ulrike SchreinerDepartment of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Valentina StockInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Arne SchillerInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
David RusoCore Facility Bioactive Molecules: Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Maria DopplerCore Facility Bioactive Molecules: Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Veronika RuzsanyiInstitute for Breath Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Mario GründlingerDepartment of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria.
Christoph BüschlInstitute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Rainer SchuhmacherInstitute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Tulln, Austria.
Susanne ZeilingerDepartment of Microbiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria. susanne.zeilinger@uibk.ac.at.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMembers of the fungal genus Trichoderma are well-known for their mycoparasitic and plant protecting activities, rendering them important biocontrol agents. One of the most significant specialized metabolites (SMs) produced by various Trichoderma species is the unsaturated lactone 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP). Although first identified more than 50 years ago and having pronounced antifungal and plant growth-promoting properties, the biosynthetic pathway of 6-PP still remains unresolved.

resultsHere, we demonstrate that 6-PP is biosynthesized via the polyketide biosynthesis pathway. We identified Pks1, an iterative type I polyketide synthase, as crucial for its biosynthesis in Trichoderma atroviride, a species recognized for its prominent 6-PP production abilities. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses revealed that the pks1 gene is part of a biosynthetic gene cluster conserved in those Trichoderma species that are known to produce 6-PP. Deletion of pks1 caused a complete loss of 6-PP production in T. atroviride and a significant reduction in antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea and Rhizoctonia solani. Surprisingly, the absence of pks1 led to enhanced lateral root formation in Arabidopsis thaliana during interaction with T. atroviride. Transcriptomic analysis revealed co-regulation of pks1 with adjacent genes, including candidates coding for a C3H1-type zinc finger protein and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, suggesting coordination between 6-PP biosynthesis and environmental response mechanisms.

conclusionOur findings establish pks1 as an essential gene for 6-PP biosynthesis in T. atroviride, providing novel insights into the production of one of the most significant compounds of this mycoparasite. These findings may pave the way for the development of improved biocontrol agents and the application of 6-PP as potent biopesticide contributing to an eco-friendly and sustainable way of plant disease management.

Indexed as

Multigene FamilyPolyketide SynthasesPyronesTrichodermaAntifungal AgentsBiosynthetic PathwaysBotrytisHypocrealesPhylogenyRhizoctoniaAntifungal AgentsPolyketide SynthasesPyrones6-pentyl-alpha-pyroneBiocontrolBiosynthetic gene clusterPolyketide synthaseSpecialized metabolitesTrichoderma atroviride

Identifiers

PMID40259335
PMCPMC12010586

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.