Preferential binding of radiolabeled zearalenone to a protein fraction of Fusarium roseum graminearum.

Zearalenone [6-(10-hydroxy-6-oxo-trans-1-undecenyl)beta-resorcyclic acid lactone] is a hormone produced by Fusarium spp. which regulates the sexual stage in F. roseum. 3H- and 14C-labeled zearalenone were found to bind preferentially to one of two peaks containing uncharacterized proteins obtained from the cytosol of young mycelium and resolved by gel column chromatography. The proteins were partially purified by successive resolution on Sephadex G-100, Sephadex G-200, and BioGel P-300. Free zearalenone (37%) was reisolated from the purified proteins after resolution by thin-layer chromatography or partitioning with ethyl acetate.