Molecular mechanisms of Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolism and development

• Eight secondary metabolite gene clusters have been characterized in Aspergillus flavus, a pathogen of both plants and humans.
• Aspergillus flavus contains a quorum sensing system regulating development and secondary metabolism.
• bZIP mediated pathways regulate stress responses in Aspergillus flavus.

The plant and human opportunistic fungus Aspergillus flavus is recognized for the production of the carcinogen aflatoxin. Although many reviews focus on the wealth of information known about aflatoxin biosynthesis, few articles describe other genes and molecules important for A. flavus development or secondary metabolism. Here we compile the most recent work on A. flavus secondary metabolite clusters, environmental response mechanisms (stress response pathways, quorum sensing and G protein signaling pathways) and the function of the transcriptional regulatory unit known as the Velvet Complex. A comparison to other Aspergilli reveals conservation in several pathways affecting fungal development and metabolism.