Fumonisin

Fumonisin refers to any one of a class of related chemical structures, the fumonisins, that constitute a group of fungal mycotoxins originally identified with genus Fusarium, a mycotoxin known for its contamination of infested corn seed^{[better source needed]} (as well as other plants and foodstuffs^{[citation needed]}), the infecting species, in particular, being within Fusarium's Liseola section. As shown in the example in the figure (of fumonisin B1), members of the family are composed of a central "chai[n] of about 20 carbons", and bear an "acidic ester, acetylamino and sometimes other substituents".^{[better source needed]} The fumonisins inhibit ceramide synthetase, an enzyme^{[clarification needed]} that converts sphingolipids to ceramides.

Family background

As of 2000, 15 different fumonisins had been reported, and other minor metabolites have been characterized.^{[needs update]} More specifically, the term refers primarily to the family of compounds that includes the widely studied fumonisins B1, B2, B3, and B4, as well as others.^{[citation needed]} As chemical agents, the fumonisins are distinct^{[citation needed]} from the large family of Fusarium trichothecene (T-2-type) mycotoxins, and from the Fusarium estrogenic metabolite, zearalenone, an F-2-type mycotoxin.

In 2015, a unique supposed class of non-aminated fumonisins was reported on grapes infected with Aspergillus welwitschiae, where toxicities have not yet been established.^{[non-primary source needed]}

Mechanisms of toxicity

This section needs expansion with: an up-to-date presentation, based on the secondary literature of the last 5-10 years, of the mechanisms by which the toxicity of this family is expressed, in humans, and relevant animal models. You can help by adding missing information. (January 2026)

The fumonisins inhibit ceramide synthetase (sphingosine N-acyltransferase), an enzyme^{[clarification needed]} that converts sphingolipids to ceramides.^{[better source needed]}

Other research

This section needs expansion with: an up-to-date presentation, based on the secondary literature of the last 5-10 years, of the important directions being pursued in fumonisin research, including but not limited to state-of-the-art methods for their detection and analysis, other plants and foodstuffs on which the class has been identified, and progress from toxicologic studies of the various members of the family. You can help by adding missing information. (January 2026)

It has been suggested that the fumonisins are not genotoxic, and so might belong to the peroxisome proliferator class of non-genotoxic carcinogens.^{[needs update]}

References