Max Planck team discovers fungi's sugar-based spruce defense neutralization
2Sep 16 4:40 PM · 7d ago · 1 post · 1 source · development 2 of 2
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology identified a previously unknown detoxification strategy where fungi bind the sugar ribose to spruce defense compounds, rendering them harmless and stable. Two species of fungi employ this ribosylation technique, which prevents the toxic substances from being reactivated.
nachrichten.idw-online.de
“We wanted to understand the biochemical tricks these fungi use to overcome such a hostile chemical environment, especially since some of these fungi may contribute to massive bark beetle infestations destroying European forests.”