An Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Cluster Gene Encodes a Novel Oxidase Required for Conversion of Versicolorin A to Sterigmatocystin

Abstract
Disruption of the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster gene aflY ( hypA ) gave Aspergillus parasiticus transformants that accumulated versicolorin A. This gene is predicted to encode the Baeyer-Villiger oxidase necessary for formation of the xanthone ring of the aflatoxin precursor demethylsterigmatocystin.