[Fumonisins--mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme].

Fumonisins are toxic metabolites of the fungus Fusarium moniliforme and several other Fusaria that commonly contaminate corn. Only recently discovered in 1988, these mycotoxins appear to be causative agents of several toxicoses in animals that result from ingestion of moldy corn and corn-based feeds. These include equine leukoencephalomalacia, porcine pulmonary oedema, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, hepatocarcinogenicity in laboratory animals. There is also evidence that suggests that F. moniliforme and fumonisins may also be responsible for oesophageal cancer in humans in certain areas of the world where moldy corn is frequently consumed. Fumonisins are structurally similar to sphingosine, and may exert their biological activity to block enzymes sphinganine- and sphingosine-N-acyl transferase involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis.