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Puginier C, Libourel C, Otte J, Skaloud P, Haon M, Grisel S, Petersen M, Berrin JG, Delaux PM, Dal Grande F, Keller J. Phylogenomics reveals the evolutionary origins of lichenization in chlorophyte algae. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4452. [PMID: 38789482 PMCID: PMC11126685 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48787-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic symbioses have contributed to major transitions in the evolution of life. Here, we investigate the evolutionary history and the molecular innovations at the origin of lichens, which are a symbiosis established between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. We de novo sequence the genomes or transcriptomes of 12 lichen algal symbiont (LAS) and closely related non-symbiotic algae (NSA) to improve the genomic coverage of Chlorophyte algae. We then perform ancestral state reconstruction and comparative phylogenomics. We identify at least three independent gains of the ability to engage in the lichen symbiosis, one in Trebouxiophyceae and two in Ulvophyceae, confirming the convergent evolution of the lichen symbioses. A carbohydrate-active enzyme from the glycoside hydrolase 8 (GH8) family was identified as a top candidate for the molecular-mechanism underlying lichen symbiosis in Trebouxiophyceae. This GH8 was acquired in lichenizing Trebouxiophyceae by horizontal gene transfer, concomitantly with the ability to associate with lichens fungal symbionts (LFS) and is able to degrade polysaccharides found in the cell wall of LFS. These findings indicate that a combination of gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfer provided the basis for lichenization to evolve in chlorophyte algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Puginier
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Cyril Libourel
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Juergen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pavel Skaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-12800, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Mireille Haon
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Sacha Grisel
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Malte Petersen
- High Performance Computing & Analytics Lab, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jean-Guy Berrin
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Marc Delaux
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Jean Keller
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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2
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Moreno-Pino M, Manrique-de-la-Cuba MF, López-Rodríguez M, Parada-Pozo G, Rodríguez-Marconi S, Ribeiro CG, Flores-Herrera P, Guajardo M, Trefault N. Unveiling microbial guilds and symbiotic relationships in Antarctic sponge microbiomes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6371. [PMID: 38493232 PMCID: PMC10944490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56480-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges host diverse microbial communities. Although we know many of its ecological patterns, a deeper understanding of the polar sponge holobiont is still needed. We combine high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, including the largest taxonomic repertoire of Antarctic sponge species analyzed to date, functional metagenomics, and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Our findings show that sponges harbor more exclusive bacterial and archaeal communities than seawater, while microbial eukaryotes are mostly shared. Furthermore, bacteria in Antarctic sponge holobionts establish more cooperative interactions than in sponge holobionts from other environments. The bacterial classes that established more positive relations were Bacteroidia, Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria. Antarctic sponge microbiomes contain microbial guilds that encompass ammonia-oxidizing archaea, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The retrieved MAGs showed a high level of novelty and streamlining signals and belong to the most abundant members of the main microbial guilds in the Antarctic sponge holobiont. Moreover, the genomes of these symbiotic bacteria contain highly abundant functions related to their adaptation to the cold environment, vitamin production, and symbiotic lifestyle, helping the holobiont survive in this extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Moreno-Pino
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Génesis Parada-Pozo
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus in Marine Agronomy of Seaweed Holobionts (MASH), Puerto Montt, Chile
| | | | | | - Patricio Flores-Herrera
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mariela Guajardo
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicole Trefault
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology & Environment, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile.
- Millenium Nucleus in Marine Agronomy of Seaweed Holobionts (MASH), Puerto Montt, Chile.
- FONDAP Center IDEAL- Dynamics of High Latitude Marine Ecosystem, Valdivia, Chile.
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3
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Chrismas N, Tindall-Jones B, Jenkins H, Harley J, Bird K, Cunliffe M. Metatranscriptomics reveals diversity of symbiotic interaction and mechanisms of carbon exchange in the marine cyanolichen Lichina pygmaea. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2243-2257. [PMID: 37840369 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are exemplar symbioses based upon carbon exchange between photobionts and their mycobiont hosts. Historically considered a two-way relationship, some lichen symbioses have been shown to contain multiple photobiont partners; however, the way in which these photobiont communities react to environmental change is poorly understood. Lichina pygmaea is a marine cyanolichen that inhabits rocky seashores where it is submerged in seawater during every tidal cycle. Recent work has indicated that L. pygmaea has a complex photobiont community including the cyanobionts Rivularia and Pleurocapsa. We performed rRNA-based metabarcoding and mRNA metatranscriptomics of the L. pygmaea holobiont at high and low tide to investigate community response to immersion in seawater. Carbon exchange in L. pygmaea is a dynamic process, influenced by both tidal cycle and the biology of the individual symbiotic components. The mycobiont and two cyanobiont partners exhibit distinct transcriptional responses to seawater hydration. Sugar-based compatible solutes produced by Rivularia and Pleurocapsa in response to seawater are a potential source of carbon to the mycobiont. We propose that extracellular processing of photobiont-derived polysaccharides is a fundamental step in carbon acquisition by L. pygmaea and is analogous to uptake of plant-derived carbon in ectomycorrhizal symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Chrismas
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Beth Tindall-Jones
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Helen Jenkins
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Joanna Harley
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Kimberley Bird
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Michael Cunliffe
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
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4
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Cho M, Lee SJ, Choi E, Kim J, Choi S, Lee JH, Park H. An Antarctic lichen isolate (Cladonia borealis) genome reveals potential adaptation to extreme environments. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1342. [PMID: 38228797 PMCID: PMC10792129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51895-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cladonia borealis is a lichen that inhabits Antarctica's harsh environment. We sequenced the whole genome of a C. borealis culture isolated from a specimen collected in Antarctica using long-read sequencing technology to identify specific genetic elements related to its potential environmental adaptation. The final genome assembly produced 48 scaffolds, the longest being 2.2 Mbp, a 1.6 Mbp N50 contig length, and a 36 Mbp total length. A total of 10,749 protein-coding genes were annotated, containing 33 biosynthetic gene clusters and 102 carbohydrate-active enzymes. A comparative genomics analysis was conducted on six Cladonia species, and the genome of C. borealis exhibited 45 expanded and 50 contracted gene families. We identified that C. borealis has more Copia transposable elements and expanded transporters (ABC transporters and magnesium transporters) compared to other Cladonia species. Our results suggest that these differences contribute to C. borealis' remarkable adaptability in the Antarctic environment. This study also provides a useful resource for the genomic analysis of lichens and genetic insights into the survival of species isolated from Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjoo Cho
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Seung Jae Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Eunkyung Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jinmu Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Soyun Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jun Hyuck Lee
- Research Unit of Cryogenic Novel Material, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, 21990, South Korea.
- Department of Polar Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Incheon, 21990, South Korea.
| | - Hyun Park
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
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5
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Jung P, Baumann K, Emrich D, Schermer M, Eckhardt KU, Jandl G, Leinweber P, Harion F, Wruck A, Grube M, Büdel B, Lakatos M. The dark side of orange: Multiorganismic continuum dynamics within a lichen of the Atacama Desert. Mycologia 2024; 116:44-58. [PMID: 37955984 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2263148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the decades our understanding of lichens has shifted to the fact that they are multiorganismic, symbiotic microecosystems, with their complex interactions coming to the fore due to recent advances in microbiomics. Here, we present a mutualistic-parasitic continuum dynamics scenario between an orange lichen and a lichenicolous fungus from the Atacama Desert leading to the decay of the lichen's photobiont and leaving behind a black lichen thallus. Based on isolation, sequencing, and ecophysiological approaches including metabolic screenings of the symbionts, we depict consequences upon infection with the lichenicolous fungus. This spans from a loss of the lichen's photosynthetic activity and an increased roughness of its surface to an inhibition of the parietin synthesis as a shared pathway between the photobiont and the mycobiont, including a shift of secondary metabolism products. This degree of relations has rarely been documented before, although lichenicolous fungi have been studied for over 200 years, adding an additional level to the view of interactions within lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10-16, Pirmasens 66953, Germany
| | - Karen Baumann
- Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, Rostock 18051, Germany
| | - Dina Emrich
- Applied Vegetation Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, Freiburg 79106, Germany
| | - Michael Schermer
- Biology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Erwin-Schrödinger Str. 52, Kaiserslautern 67663, Germany
| | - Kai-Uwe Eckhardt
- Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, Rostock 18051, Germany
| | - Gerald Jandl
- Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, Rostock 18051, Germany
| | - Peter Leinweber
- Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, Rostock 18051, Germany
| | - Felix Harion
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10-16, Pirmasens 66953, Germany
| | - Andreas Wruck
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10-16, Pirmasens 66953, Germany
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Department of Biology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Erwin-Schrödinger Str. 52, Kaiserslautern 67663, Germany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10-16, Pirmasens 66953, Germany
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6
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Sahu N, Indic B, Wong-Bajracharya J, Merényi Z, Ke HM, Ahrendt S, Monk TL, Kocsubé S, Drula E, Lipzen A, Bálint B, Henrissat B, Andreopoulos B, Martin FM, Bugge Harder C, Rigling D, Ford KL, Foster GD, Pangilinan J, Papanicolaou A, Barry K, LaButti K, Virágh M, Koriabine M, Yan M, Riley R, Champramary S, Plett KL, Grigoriev IV, Tsai IJ, Slot J, Sipos G, Plett J, Nagy LG. Vertical and horizontal gene transfer shaped plant colonization and biomass degradation in the fungal genus Armillaria. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1668-1681. [PMID: 37550506 PMCID: PMC7615209 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01448-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
The fungal genus Armillaria contains necrotrophic pathogens and some of the largest terrestrial organisms that cause tremendous losses in diverse ecosystems, yet how they evolved pathogenicity in a clade of dominantly non-pathogenic wood degraders remains elusive. Here we show that Armillaria species, in addition to gene duplications and de novo gene origins, acquired at least 1,025 genes via 124 horizontal gene transfer events, primarily from Ascomycota. Horizontal gene transfer might have affected plant biomass degrading and virulence abilities of Armillaria, and provides an explanation for their unusual, soft rot-like wood decay strategy. Combined multi-species expression data revealed extensive regulation of horizontally acquired and wood-decay related genes, putative virulence factors and two novel conserved pathogenicity-induced small secreted proteins, which induced necrosis in planta. Overall, this study details how evolution knitted together horizontally and vertically inherited genes in complex adaptive traits of plant biomass degradation and pathogenicity in important fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sahu
- Biological Research Center, Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Boris Indic
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Forest and Natural Resource Management, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Johanna Wong-Bajracharya
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zsolt Merényi
- Biological Research Center, Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Huei-Mien Ke
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Steven Ahrendt
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tori-Lee Monk
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sándor Kocsubé
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- ELKH-SZTE Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Elodie Drula
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- INRAE, UMR 1163, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Marseille, France
| | - Anna Lipzen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Balázs Bálint
- Biological Research Center, Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bill Andreopoulos
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Francis M Martin
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR 1136 'Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes', Centre INRAE Grand Est - Nancy, Champenoux, France
| | - Christoffer Bugge Harder
- Department of Biology, Section of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Copenhagen, København Ø, Denmark
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel Rigling
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Kathryn L Ford
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gary D Foster
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jasmyn Pangilinan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alexie Papanicolaou
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kerrie Barry
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kurt LaButti
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Máté Virágh
- Biological Research Center, Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Maxim Koriabine
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mi Yan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Robert Riley
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Simang Champramary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Forest and Natural Resource Management, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Krista L Plett
- Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Jason Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - György Sipos
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Group, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Forest and Natural Resource Management, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Jonathan Plett
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - László G Nagy
- Biological Research Center, Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Szeged, Hungary.
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7
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Pichler G, Muggia L, Carniel FC, Grube M, Kranner I. How to build a lichen: from metabolite release to symbiotic interplay. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:1362-1378. [PMID: 36710517 PMCID: PMC10952756 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposing their vegetative bodies to the light, lichens are outstanding amongst other fungal symbioses. Not requiring a pre-established host, 'lichenized fungi' build an entirely new structure together with microbial photosynthetic partners that neither can form alone. The signals involved in the transition of a fungus and a compatible photosynthetic partner from a free-living to a symbiotic state culminating in thallus formation, termed 'lichenization', and in the maintenance of the symbiosis, are poorly understood. Here, we synthesise the puzzle pieces of the scarce knowledge available into an updated concept of signalling involved in lichenization, comprising five main stages: (1) the 'pre-contact stage', (2) the 'contact stage', (3) 'envelopment' of algal cells by the fungus, (4) their 'incorporation' into a pre-thallus and (5) 'differentiation' into a complex thallus. Considering the involvement of extracellularly released metabolites in each phase, we propose that compounds such as fungal lectins and algal cyclic peptides elicit early contact between the symbionts-to-be, whereas phytohormone signalling, antioxidant protection and carbon exchange through sugars and sugar alcohols are of continued importance throughout all stages. In the fully formed lichen thallus, secondary lichen metabolites and mineral nutrition are suggested to stabilize the functionalities of the thallus, including the associated microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Pichler
- Department of BotanyUniversity of InnsbruckSternwartestraße 156020InnsbruckAustria
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteVia L. Giorgieri 1034127TriesteItaly
| | | | - Martin Grube
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of GrazHolteigasse 68010GrazAustria
| | - Ilse Kranner
- Department of BotanyUniversity of InnsbruckSternwartestraße 156020InnsbruckAustria
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8
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Stanton DE, Ormond A, Koch NM, Colesie C. Lichen ecophysiology in a changing climate. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2023; 110:e16131. [PMID: 36795943 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are one of the most iconic and ubiquitous symbioses known, widely valued as indicators of environmental quality and, more recently, climate change. Our understanding of lichen responses to climate has greatly expanded in recent decades, but some biases and constraints have shaped our present knowledge. In this review we focus on lichen ecophysiology as a key to predicting responses to present and future climates, highlighting recent advances and remaining challenges. Lichen ecophysiology is best understood through complementary whole-thallus and within-thallus scales. Water content and form (vapor or liquid) are central to whole-thallus perspectives, making vapor pressure differential (VPD) a particularly informative environmental driver. Responses to water content are further modulated by photobiont physiology and whole-thallus phenotype, providing clear links to a functional trait framework. However, this thallus-level perspective is incomplete without also considering within-thallus dynamics, such as changing proportions or even identities of symbionts in response to climate, nutrients, and other stressors. These changes provide pathways for acclimation, but their understanding is currently limited by large gaps in our understanding of carbon allocation and symbiont turnover in lichens. Lastly, the study of lichen physiology has mainly prioritized larger lichens at high latitudes, producing valuable insights but underrepresenting the range of lichenized lineages and ecologies. Key areas for future work include improving geographic and phylogenetic coverage, greater emphasis on VPD as a climatic factor, advances in the study of carbon allocation and symbiont turnover, and the incorporation of physiological theory and functional traits in our predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Stanton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Amaris Ormond
- Global Change Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9FF, UK
| | - Natalia M Koch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Claudia Colesie
- Global Change Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Crew Building, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh, EH3 9FF, UK
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9
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Llewellyn T, Nowell RW, Aptroot A, Temina M, Prescott TAK, Barraclough TG, Gaya E. Metagenomics Shines Light on the Evolution of "Sunscreen" Pigment Metabolism in the Teloschistales (Lichen-Forming Ascomycota). Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:6986375. [PMID: 36634008 PMCID: PMC9907504 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi produce a vast number of secondary metabolites that shape their interactions with other organisms and the environment. Characterizing the genes underpinning metabolite synthesis is therefore key to understanding fungal evolution and adaptation. Lichenized fungi represent almost one-third of Ascomycota diversity and boast impressive secondary metabolites repertoires. However, most lichen biosynthetic genes have not been linked to their metabolite products. Here we used metagenomic sequencing to survey gene families associated with production of anthraquinones, UV-protectant secondary metabolites present in various fungi, but especially abundant in a diverse order of lichens, the Teloschistales (class Lecanoromycetes, phylum Ascomycota). We successfully assembled 24 new, high-quality lichenized-fungal genomes de novo and combined them with publicly available Lecanoromycetes genomes from taxa with diverse secondary chemistry to produce a whole-genome tree. Secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) analysis showed that whilst lichen BGCs are numerous and highly dissimilar, core enzyme genes are generally conserved across taxa. This suggests metabolite diversification occurs via re-shuffling existing enzyme genes with novel accessory genes rather than BGC gains/losses or de novo gene evolution. We identified putative anthraquinone BGCs in our lichen dataset that appear homologous to anthraquinone clusters from non-lichenized fungi, suggesting these genes were present in the common ancestor of the subphylum Pezizomycotina. Finally, we identified unique transporter genes in Teloschistales anthraquinone BGCs that may explain why these metabolites are so abundant and ubiquitous in these lichens. Our results support the importance of metagenomics for understanding the secondary metabolism of non-model fungi such as lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reuben W Nowell
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK,Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Andre Aptroot
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa e Silva s/n Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Marina Temina
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Thomas A K Prescott
- Comparative Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Jodrell Laboratory, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Timothy G Barraclough
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7PY, UK,Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Ester Gaya
- Comparative Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Jodrell Laboratory, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK
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Merges D, Dal Grande F, Valim H, Singh G, Schmitt I. Gene abundance linked to climate zone: Parallel evolution of gene content along elevation gradients in lichenized fungi. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1097787. [PMID: 37032854 PMCID: PMC10073550 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1097787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intraspecific genomic variability affects a species' adaptive potential toward climatic conditions. Variation in gene content across populations and environments may point at genomic adaptations to specific environments. The lichen symbiosis, a stable association of fungal and photobiont partners, offers an excellent system to study environmentally driven gene content variation. Many of these species have remarkable environmental tolerances, and often form populations across different climate zones. Here, we combine comparative and population genomics to assess the presence and absence of genes in high and low elevation genomes of two lichenized fungi of the genus Umbilicaria. Methods The two species have non-overlapping ranges, but occupy similar climatic niches in North America (U. phaea) and Europe (U. pustulata): high elevation populations are located in the cold temperate zone and low elevation populations in the Mediterranean zone. We assessed gene content variation along replicated elevation gradients in each of the two species, based on a total of 2050 individuals across 26 populations. Specifically, we assessed shared orthologs across species within the same climate zone, and tracked, which genes increase or decrease in abundance within populations along elevation. Results In total, we found 16 orthogroups with shared orthologous genes in genomes at low elevation and 13 at high elevation. Coverage analysis revealed one ortholog that is exclusive to genomes at low elevation. Conserved domain search revealed domains common to the protein kinase superfamily. We traced the discovered ortholog in populations along five replicated elevation gradients on both continents and found that the number of this protein kinase gene linearly declined in abundance with increasing elevation, and was absent in the highest populations. Discussion We consider the parallel loss of an ortholog in two species and in two geographic settings a rare find, and a step forward in understanding the genomic underpinnings of climatic tolerances in lichenized fungi. In addition, the tracking of gene content variation provides a widely applicable framework for retrieving biogeographical determinants of gene presence/absence patterns. Our work provides insights into gene content variation of lichenized fungi in relation to climatic gradients, suggesting a new research direction with implications for understanding evolutionary trajectories of complex symbioses in relation to climatic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Merges
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Dominik Merges,
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Henrique Valim
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Garima Singh
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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11
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Role of carbohydrate-active enzymes in mycorrhizal symbioses. Essays Biochem 2022; 67:471-478. [PMID: 36562143 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mycorrhizal fungi form mutually beneficial interactions with a wide range of terrestrial plants. During this symbiosis, the associated fungus provides mineral nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, to its host plant in exchange of photosynthesis-derived carbohydrates. Genome sequencing of mycorrhizal fungi has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi have a restricted set of plant-cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDE) genes, while orchid and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi have an extended PCWDE repertoire similar to soil decomposers and wood-decay fungi. On the other hand, mycorrhizal fungi have retained a substantial set of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) acting on microbial polysaccharides. Functional analysis has shown that several of the remaining PCWDEs are involved in the fungal root colonization and establishment of the symbiotic interface. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge on the evolution and function of PCWDEs in mycorrhizal fungi.
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12
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Arnold AE. Mycology: Metagenomes illuminate evolutionary relationships and reframe symbiotic interactions. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1304-R1306. [PMID: 36473438 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An intriguing new study leverages newly generated metagenomes to remap the evolution of the most species-rich clade of fungi, highlighting how some of the most intriguing and visible manifestations of symbioses - lichens - may arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Elizabeth Arnold
- School of Plant Sciences and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. arnold,@,ag.arizona.edu
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13
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Díaz-Escandón D, Tagirdzhanova G, Vanderpool D, Allen CCG, Aptroot A, Češka O, Hawksworth DL, Huereca A, Knudsen K, Kocourková J, Lücking R, Resl P, Spribille T. Genome-level analyses resolve an ancient lineage of symbiotic ascomycetes. Curr Biol 2022; 32:5209-5218.e5. [PMID: 36423639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ascomycota account for about two-thirds of named fungal species.1 Over 98% of known Ascomycota belong to the Pezizomycotina, including many economically important species as well as diverse pathogens, decomposers, and mutualistic symbionts.2 Our understanding of Pezizomycotina evolution has until now been based on sampling traditionally well-defined taxonomic classes.3,4,5 However, considerable diversity exists in undersampled and uncultured, putatively early-diverging lineages, and the effect of these on evolutionary models has seldom been tested. We obtained genomes from 30 putative early-diverging lineages not included in recent phylogenomic analyses and analyzed these together with 451 genomes covering all available ascomycete genera. We show that 22 of these lineages, collectively representing over 600 species, trace back to a single origin that diverged from the common ancestor of Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes over 300 million years BP. The new clade, which we recognize as a more broadly defined Lichinomycetes, includes lichen and insect symbionts, endophytes, and putative mycorrhizae and encompasses a range of morphologies so disparate that they have recently been placed in six different taxonomic classes. To test for shared hidden features within this group, we analyzed genome content and compared gene repertoires to related groups in Ascomycota. Regardless of their lifestyle, Lichinomycetes have smaller genomes than most filamentous Ascomycota, with reduced arsenals of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes and secondary metabolite gene clusters. Our expanded genome sample resolves the relationships of numerous "orphan" ascomycetes and establishes the independent evolutionary origins of multiple mutualistic lifestyles within a single, morphologically hyperdiverse clade of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Díaz-Escandón
- Department of Biological Sciences CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Gulnara Tagirdzhanova
- Department of Biological Sciences CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Dan Vanderpool
- National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 800 E Beckwith, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Carmen C G Allen
- Department of Biological Sciences CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - André Aptroot
- Laboratório de Botânica / Liquenologia, Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa e Silva s/n Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | | | - David L Hawksworth
- Comparative Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK; Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130118, China
| | - Alejandro Huereca
- Department of Biological Sciences CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Kerry Knudsen
- Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Ecology, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Kocourková
- Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Ecology, Kamýcká 129, Praha-Suchdol 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Lücking
- Botanischer Garten, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Resl
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Toby Spribille
- Department of Biological Sciences CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
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14
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Puginier C, Keller J, Delaux PM. Plant-microbe interactions that have impacted plant terrestrializations. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:72-84. [PMID: 35642902 PMCID: PMC9434271 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Plants display a tremendous diversity of developmental and physiological features, resulting from gains and losses of functional innovations across the plant phylogeny. Among those, the most impactful have been undoubtedly the ones that allowed plant terrestrializations, the transitions from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment. Although the embryophyte terrestrialization has been particularly scrutinized, others occurred across the plant phylogeny with the involvement of mutualistic symbioses as a common theme. Here, we review the current pieces of evidence supporting that the repeated colonization of land by plants has been facilitated by interactions with mutualistic symbionts. In that context, we detail two of these mutualistic symbioses: the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in embryophytes and the lichen symbiosis in chlorophyte algae. We suggest that associations with bacteria should be revisited in that context, and we propose that overlooked symbioses might have facilitated the emergence of other land plant clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Puginier
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326, France
| | - Jean Keller
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326, France
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