Menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) induces oxidative stress to regulate growth and ochratoxin A biosynthesis in Aspergillus westerdijkiae fc-1.

Menadione-induced oxidative stress inhibits growth and OTA biosynthesis in Aspergillus westerdijkiae fc-1, with up to 88.91% growth reduction at 0.75 mmol/L.

• Why it matters: Contamination by ochratoxin A (OTA) in food poses serious health risks, and understanding its regulation is crucial for food safety.
• What they did: The study exposed wild-type and mutant strains of A. westerdijkiae fc-1 to varying menadione concentrations, measuring growth, OTA production, and gene expression via HPLC and qRT-PCR.
• The result: Menadione suppressed OTA production and fungal growth, activated the HOG1 pathway, and revealed that oxidative stress signaling plays a key role in OTA regulation, offering potential control strategies.