The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of
the enzyme APAO isolated from Exophiala spinifera. Additionally, the
polynucleotide encoding for the APAO enzyme can be used to transform plant
cells normally susceptible to Fusarium or other toxin-producing fungus
infection. Plants can be regenerated from the transformed plant cells.
Additionally, the present invention provides for expressing both APAO and
a fumonisin esterase in a transgenic plant. In this way, a transgenic
plant can be produced with the capability of degrading fumonisin, as well
as with the capability of producing the degrading enzymes. In addition,
the present invention provides methods for producing the APAO enzyme in
both prokaryotic and non-plant eukaryotic systems.
