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Ahmad N, Ritz M, Calchera A, Otte J, Schmitt I, Brueck T, Mehlmer N. Biosynthetic gene cluster synteny: Orthologous polyketide synthases in Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1386. [PMID: 37877655 PMCID: PMC10582450 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1386] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus), which together generate a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here, we provide a comparative view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of three lichen mycobionts derived from Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. In addition, we present a high-quality PacBio metagenome of Parmelia sulcata, from which we extracted the mycobiont bin containing 214 biosynthetic gene clusters. Most biosynthetic gene clusters in these genomes were associated with T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs and terpenes. This study focused on biosynthetic gene clusters related to polyketide synthesis. Based on ketosynthase homology, we identified nine highly syntenic clusters present in all three species. Among the four clusters belonging to nonreducing PKSs, two are putatively linked to lichen substances derived from orsellinic acid (orcinol depsides and depsidones, e.g., lecanoric acid, physodic acid, lobaric acid), one to compounds derived from methylated forms of orsellinic acid (beta orcinol depsides, e.g., atranorin), and one to melanins. Five clusters with orthologs in all three species are linked to reducing PKSs. Our study contributes to sorting and dereplicating the vast PKS diversity found in lichenized fungi. High-quality sequences of biosynthetic gene clusters of these three common species provide a foundation for further exploration into biotechnological applications and the molecular evolution of lichen substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Manfred Ritz
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Anjuli Calchera
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and DiversityGoethe University FrankfurtFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Thomas Brueck
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Norbert Mehlmer
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
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Paguirigan JAG, Kim JA, Hur JS, Kim W. Identification of a biosynthetic gene cluster for a red pigment cristazarin produced by a lichen-forming fungus Cladonia metacorallifera. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287559. [PMID: 37352186 PMCID: PMC10289310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are known to produce many novel bioactive metabolites. To date, approximately 1,000 secondary metabolites have been discovered, which are predominantly produced by the lichen mycobionts. However, despite the extensive studies on production of lichen secondary metabolites, little is known about the responsible biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, we identified a putative BGC that is implicated in production of a red pigment, cristazarin (a naphthazarin derivative), in Cladonia metacorallifera. Previously, cristazarin was shown to be specifically induced in growth media containing fructose as a sole carbon source. Thus, we performed transcriptome analysis of C. metacorallifera growing on different carbon sources including fructose to identify the BGC for cristazarin. Among 39 polyketide synthase (PKS) genes found in the genome of C. metacorallifera, a non-reducing PKS (coined crz7) was highly expressed in growth media containing either fructose or glucose. The borders of a cristazarin gene cluster were delimited by co-expression patterns of neighboring genes of the crz7. BGCs highly conserved to the cristazarin BGC were also found in C. borealis and C. macilenta, indicating that these related species also have metabolic potentials to produce cristazarin. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Crz7 is sister to fungal PKSs that biosynthesize an acetylated tetrahydoxynaphthalene as a precursor of melanin pigment. Based on the phylogenetic placement of the Crz7 and putative functions of its neighboring genes, we proposed a plausible biosynthetic route for cristazarin. In this study, we identified a lichen-specific BGC that is likely involved in the biosynthesis of a naphthazarin derivative, cristazarin, and confirmed that transcriptome profiling under inducing and non-inducing conditions is an effective strategy for linking metabolites of interest to biosynthetic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaycee Augusto Gumiran Paguirigan
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
| | - Jung A. Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea
| | - Jae-Seoun Hur
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea
| | - Wonyong Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea
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Ahmad N, Ritz M, Calchera A, Otte J, Schmitt I, Brueck T, Mehlmer N. Biosynthetic Potential of Hypogymnia Holobionts: Insights into Secondary Metabolite Pathways. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050546. [PMID: 37233257 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus). They are known to produce a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here we provide a comprehensive view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of all organisms comprising a lichen thallus: fungi, green algae, and bacteria. We present two high-quality PacBio metagenomes, in which we identified a total of 460 biosynthetic gene clusters. Lichen mycobionts yielded 73-114 clusters, other lichen associated ascomycetes 8-40, green algae of the genus Trebouxia 14-19, and lichen-associated bacteria 101-105 clusters. The mycobionts contained mainly T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs, and terpenes; Trebouxia reads harbored mainly clusters linked to terpenes, followed by NRPSs and T3PKSs. Other lichen-associated ascomycetes and bacteria contained a mix of diverse biosynthetic gene clusters. In this study, we identified for the first time the biosynthetic gene clusters of entire lichen holobionts. The yet untapped biosynthetic potential of two species of the genus Hypogymnia is made accessible for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Ahmad
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Manfred Ritz
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Anjuli Calchera
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Brueck
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Norbert Mehlmer
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
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Ren M, Jiang S, Wang Y, Pan X, Pan F, Wei X. Discovery and excavation of lichen bioactive natural products. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1177123. [PMID: 37138611 PMCID: PMC10149937 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1177123] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichen natural products are a tremendous source of new bioactive chemical entities for drug discovery. The ability to survive in harsh conditions can be directly correlated with the production of some unique lichen metabolites. Despite the potential applications, these unique metabolites have been underutilized by pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries due to their slow growth, low biomass availability, and technical challenges involved in their artificial cultivation. At the same time, DNA sequence data have revealed that the number of encoded biosynthetic gene clusters in a lichen is much higher than in natural products, and the majority of them are silent or poorly expressed. To meet these challenges, the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) strategy, as a comprehensive and powerful tool, has been developed to stimulate the activation of silent or cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters and exploit interesting lichen compounds for industrial applications. Furthermore, the development of molecular network techniques, modern bioinformatics, and genetic tools is opening up a new opportunity for the mining, modification, and production of lichen metabolites, rather than merely using traditional separation and purification techniques to obtain small amounts of chemical compounds. Heterologous expressed lichen-derived biosynthetic gene clusters in a cultivatable host offer a promising means for a sustainable supply of specialized metabolites. In this review, we summarized the known lichen bioactive metabolites and highlighted the application of OSMAC, molecular network, and genome mining-based strategies in lichen-forming fungi for the discovery of new cryptic lichen compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Ren
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, State Forestry Administration, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Shuhua Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinhua Pan
- Jiangxi Xiankelai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Jiujiang, China
| | - Feng Pan
- Jiangxi Xiankelai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Jiujiang, China
| | - Xinli Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Singh G. Linking Lichen Metabolites to Genes: Emerging Concepts and Lessons from Molecular Biology and Metagenomics. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020160. [PMID: 36836275 PMCID: PMC9964704 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020160] [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: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichen secondary metabolites have tremendous pharmaceutical and industrial potential. Although more than 1000 metabolites have been reported from lichens, less than 10 have been linked to the genes coding them. The current biosynthetic research focuses strongly on linking molecules to genes as this is fundamental to adapting the molecule for industrial application. Metagenomic-based gene discovery, which bypasses the challenges associated with culturing an organism, is a promising way forward to link secondary metabolites to genes in non-model, difficult-to-culture organisms. This approach is based on the amalgamation of the knowledge of the evolutionary relationships of the biosynthetic genes, the structure of the target molecule, and the biosynthetic machinery required for its synthesis. So far, metagenomic-based gene discovery is the predominant approach by which lichen metabolites have been linked to their genes. Although the structures of most of the lichen secondary metabolites are well-documented, a comprehensive review of the metabolites linked to their genes, strategies implemented to establish this link, and crucial takeaways from these studies is not available. In this review, I address the following knowledge gaps and, additionally, provide critical insights into the results of these studies, elaborating on the direct and serendipitous lessons that we have learned from them.
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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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Kalra R, Conlan XA, Goel M. Recent advances in research for potential utilization of unexplored lichen metabolites. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 62:108072. [PMID: 36464145 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108072] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Several research studies have shown that lichens are productive organisms for the synthesis of a broad range of secondary metabolites. Lichens are a self-sustainable stable microbial ecosystem comprising an exhabitant fungal partner (mycobiont) and at least one or more photosynthetic partners (photobiont). The successful symbiosis is responsible for their persistence throughout time and allows all the partners (holobionts) to thrive in many extreme habitats, where without the synergistic relationship they would be rare or non-existent. The ability to survive in harsh conditions can be directly correlated with the production of some unique metabolites. Despite the potential applications, these unique metabolites have been underutilised by pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries due to their slow growth, low biomass availability and technical challenges involved in their artificial cultivation. However, recent development of biotechnological tools such as molecular phylogenetics, modern tissue culture techniques, metabolomics and molecular engineering are opening up a new opportunity to exploit these compounds within the lichen holobiome for industrial applications. This review also highlights the recent advances in culturing the symbionts and the computational and molecular genetics approaches of lichen gene regulation recognized for the enhanced production of target metabolites. The recent development of multi-omics novel biodiscovery strategies aided by synthetic biology in order to study the heterologous expressed lichen-derived biosynthetic gene clusters in a cultivatable host offers a promising means for a sustainable supply of specialized metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishu Kalra
- Sustainable Agriculture Program, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Xavier A Conlan
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mayurika Goel
- Sustainable Agriculture Program, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
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Singh G, Dal Grande F, Schmitt I. Genome mining as a biotechnological tool for the discovery of novel biosynthetic genes in lichens. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:993171. [PMID: 37746187 PMCID: PMC10512267 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.993171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Natural products (NPs) and their derivatives are a major contributor to modern medicine. Historically, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi have been instrumental in generating drugs and lead compounds because of the ease of culturing and genetically manipulating them. However, the ever-increasing demand for novel drugs highlights the need to bioprospect previously unexplored taxa for their biosynthetic potential. Next-generation sequencing technologies have expanded the range of organisms that can be explored for their biosynthetic content, as these technologies can provide a glimpse of an organism's entire biosynthetic landscape, without the need for cultivation. The entirety of biosynthetic genes can be compared to the genes of known function to identify the gene clusters potentially coding for novel products. In this study, we mine the genomes of nine lichen-forming fungal species of the genus Umbilicaria for biosynthetic genes, and categorize the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) as "associated product structurally known" or "associated product putatively novel". Although lichen-forming fungi have been suggested to be a rich source of NPs, it is not known how their biosynthetic diversity compares to that of bacteria and non-lichenized fungi. We found that 25%-30% of biosynthetic genes are divergent as compared to the global database of BGCs, which comprises 1,200,000 characterized biosynthetic genes from plants, bacteria, and fungi. Out of 217 BGCs, 43 were highly divergant suggesting that they potentially encode structurally and functionally novel NPs. Clusters encoding the putatively novel metabolic diversity comprise polyketide synthases (30), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (12), and terpenes (1). Our study emphasizes the utility of genomic data in bioprospecting microorganisms for their biosynthetic potential and in advancing the industrial application of unexplored taxa. We highlight the untapped structural metabolic diversity encoded in the lichenized fungal genomes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation identifying genes coding for NPs with potentially novel properties in lichenized fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Singh
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Valim HF, Dal Grande F, Otte J, Singh G, Merges D, Schmitt I. Identification and expression of functionally conserved circadian clock genes in lichen-forming fungi. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15884. [PMID: 36151124 PMCID: PMC9508176 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19646-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen-forming fungi establish stable symbioses with green algae or cyanobacteria. Many species have broad distributions, both in geographic and ecological space, making them ideal subjects to study organism-environment interactions. However, little is known about the specific mechanisms that contribute to environmental adaptation in lichen-forming fungi. The circadian clock provides a well-described mechanism that contributes to regional adaptation across a variety of species, including fungi. Here, we identify the putative circadian clock components in phylogenetically divergent lichen-forming fungi. The core circadian genes (frq, wc-1, wc-2, frh) are present across the Fungi, including 31 lichen-forming species, and their evolutionary trajectories mirror overall fungal evolution. Comparative analyses of the clock genes indicate conserved domain architecture among lichen- and non-lichen-forming taxa. We used RT-qPCR to examine the core circadian loop of two unrelated lichen-forming fungi, Umbilicaria pustulata (Lecanoromycetes) and Dermatocarpon miniatum (Eurotiomycetes), to determine that the putative frq gene is activated in a light-dependent manner similar to the model fungus Neurospora crassa. Together, these results demonstrate that lichen-forming fungi retain functional light-responsive mechanisms, including a functioning circadian clock. Our findings provide a stepping stone into investigating the circadian clock in the lichen symbiosis, e.g. its role in adaptation, and in synchronizing the symbiotic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique F Valim
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padua, Italy
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Garima Singh
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padua, Italy
| | - Dominik Merges
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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A Candidate Gene Cluster for the Bioactive Natural Product Gyrophoric Acid in Lichen-Forming Fungi. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0010922. [PMID: 35867425 PMCID: PMC9430680 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00109-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products of lichen-forming fungi are structurally diverse and have a variety of medicinal properties. Despite this, they have limited implementation in industry mostly because the corresponding genes are unknown for most of their natural products. Here, we implement a long-read sequencing and bioinformatic approach to identify the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of the bioactive natural product gyrophoric acid (GA). Using 15 high-quality genomes representing nine GA-producing species of the lichen-forming fungal genus Umbilicaria, we identify the most likely GA cluster and investigate the cluster gene organization and composition across the nine species. Our results show that GA clusters are promiscuous within Umbilicaria, and only three genes are conserved across species, including the polyketide synthase (PKS) gene. In addition, our results suggest that the same cluster codes for different, but structurally similar compounds, namely, GA, umbilicaric-, and hiascic acid, bringing new evidence that lichen metabolite diversity is also generated through regulatory mechanisms at the molecular level. Ours is the first study to identify the most likely GA cluster and, thus, provides essential information to open new avenues for biotechnological approaches to producing and modifying GA and similar lichen-derived compounds. GA PKS is the first tridepside PKS to be identified. IMPORTANCE The implementation of natural products in the pharmaceutical industry relies on the possibility of modifying the natural product (NP) pathway to optimize yields and pharmacological effects. Characterization of genes and pathways underlying natural product biosynthesis is a major bottleneck for exploiting the medicinal properties of the natural products. Genome mining is a promising and relatively cost- and time-effective approach to utilize unexplored NP resources for drug discovery. In this study, we identify the most likely gene cluster for the lichen-forming fungal depside gyrophoric acid in nine Umbilicaria species. This compound shows cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties against several cancer cell lines and is also a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. This information paves the way for generating GA analogs with modified properties by selective activation/deactivation of genes.
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Distribution Types of Lichens in Hungary That Indicate Changing Environmental Conditions. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8060600. [PMID: 35736083 PMCID: PMC9225213 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary As the occurrences of lichens are strongly correlated to background environmental conditions (e.g., air pollution, global warming), the analysis of their distribution has a great value for bioindication. Distribution data are originating from earlier herbarium collections, recent field and literature studies. The distribution analyses in lichen species with different ecological requirements allowed comparisons and showed clear trends. Five distribution types were introduced—presented by characteristic examples—according to lichen distribution maps prepared in different periods of time (representing changing environmental conditions): (1) species of decreasing occurrences by time (acidic pollution sensitive species), (2) species with no or few former records but with increasing occurrences in recent decades (sub-Mediterranean species), (3) species with increasing and then (from c. 2000) decreasing occurrences (acidofrequent species), (4) species with widely increasing occurrences in recent decades (nitrofrequent species), and (5) species with rapidly increasing occurrences (rapidly spreading species of uncertain reasons). The discussed trends are known for some species at a global scale or European level, other examples are characteristic for Central Europe or Hungary. By studying the distribution maps of lichen bioindicators, tendencies of climate change and type of pollution can be determined and further changes can be predicted. Abstract Distribution data originating from earlier herbarium collections and recent biodiversity records form the basis of distribution analyses in lichen species with different ecological requirements, where the records allowed comparisons or showed clear trends. As the occurrences of lichens are strongly correlated to background environmental conditions (e.g., air pollution, global warming), confirmed by Wirth’s ecological indicator values, the analysis of distribution types has a great value for bioindication and the establishment of current and future climatic and pollution situations. Five distribution types were introduced—presented by characteristic examples (13)—according to lichen distribution maps prepared in different periods of time (representing changing environmental conditions): (1) species of decreasing occurrences by time (e.g., Lobaria pulmonaria, Menegazzia terebrata, suboceanic, acidic pollution sensitive species), (2) species with no or few former records but with increasing occurrences in recent decades (e.g., Flavoparmelia soredians, Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Solenopsora candicans, sub-Mediterranean species), (3) species with increasing and then (from c. 2000) decreasing occurrences (e.g., Scoliciosporum chlorococcum, Straminella conizaeoides, acidofrequent species), (4) species with widely increasing occurrences in recent decades (e.g., Physcia aipolioides, Piccolia ochrophora, Xanthoria parietina, nitrofrequent species), and (5) species with rapidly increasing occurrences (e.g., Absconditella lignicola, Coenogonium pineti, Evernia divaricata, rapidly spreading species). The proposed distribution types of lichen species may be applied to wider regions (the European or the global level).
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12
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High Diversity of Type I Polyketide Genes in Bacidia rubella as Revealed by the Comparative Analysis of 23 Lichen Genomes. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050449. [PMID: 35628705 PMCID: PMC9146135 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi involved in lichen symbioses produce a large array of secondary metabolites that are often diagnostic in the taxonomic delimitation of lichens. The most common lichen secondary metabolites—polyketides—are synthesized by polyketide synthases, particularly by Type I PKS (TI-PKS). Here, we present a comparative genomic analysis of the TI-PKS gene content of 23 lichen-forming fungal genomes from Ascomycota, including the de novo sequenced genome of Bacidia rubella. Firstly, we identify a putative atranorin cluster in B. rubella. Secondly, we provide an overview of TI-PKS gene diversity in lichen-forming fungi, and the most comprehensive Type I PKS phylogeny of lichen-forming fungi to date, including 624 sequences. We reveal a high number of biosynthetic gene clusters and examine their domain composition in the context of previously characterized genes, confirming that PKS genes outnumber known secondary substances. Moreover, two novel groups of reducing PKSs were identified. Although many PKSs remain without functional assignments, our findings highlight that genes from lichen-forming fungi represent an untapped source of novel polyketide compounds.
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13
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Depside and Depsidone Synthesis in Lichenized Fungi Comes into Focus through a Genome-Wide Comparison of the Olivetoric Acid and Physodic Acid Chemotypes of Pseudevernia furfuracea. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101445. [PMID: 34680078 PMCID: PMC8533459 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biosynthetic enzymes involved in the synthesis of lichen polyphenolic compounds depsides and depsidones are non-reducing polyketide synthases (NR-PKSs), and cytochrome P450s. However, for most depsides and depsidones the corresponding PKSs are unknown. Additionally, in non-lichenized fungi specific fatty acid synthases (FASs) provide starters to the PKSs. Yet, the presence of such FASs in lichenized fungi remains to be investigated. Here we implement comparative genomics and metatranscriptomics to identify the most likely PKS and FASs for olivetoric acid and physodic acid biosynthesis, the primary depside and depsidone defining the two chemotypes of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea. We propose that the gene cluster PF33-1_006185, found in both chemotypes, is the most likely candidate for the olivetoric acid and physodic acid biosynthesis. This is the first study to identify the gene cluster and the FAS likely responsible for olivetoric acid and physodic acid biosynthesis in a lichenized fungus. Our findings suggest that gene regulation and other epigenetic factors determine whether the mycobiont produces the depside or the depsidone, providing the first direct indication that chemotype diversity in lichens can arise through regulatory and not only through genetic diversity. Combining these results and existing literature, we propose a detailed scheme for depside/depsidone synthesis.
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14
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Pizarro D, Divakar PK, Grewe F, Crespo A, Dal Grande F, Lumbsch HT. Genome-Wide Analysis of Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Reveals Correlated Gene Loss with Absence of Usnic Acid in Lichen-Forming Fungi. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:1858-1868. [PMID: 33151307 PMCID: PMC7643366 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen-forming fungi are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites. Some metabolites are deposited in the cortical layer of the lichen thallus where they exert important ecological functions, such as UV filtering. The fact that closely related lineages of lichen-forming fungi can differ in cortical chemistry suggests that natural product biosynthesis in lichens can evolve independent from phylogenetic constraints. Usnic acid is one of the major cortical pigments in lichens. Here we used a comparative genomic approach on 46 lichen-forming fungal species of the Lecanoromycetes to elucidate the biosynthetic gene content and evolution of the gene cluster putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of usnic acid. Whole-genome sequences were gathered from taxa belonging to different orders and families of Lecanoromycetes, where Parmeliaceae is the most well-represented taxon, and analyzed with a variety of genomic tools. The highest number of biosynthetic gene clusters was found in Evernia prunastri, Pannoparmelia angustata, and Parmotrema austrosinense, respectively, and lowest in Canoparmelia nairobiensis, Bulbothrix sensibilis, and Hypotrachyna scytodes. We found that all studied species producing usnic acid contain the putative usnic acid biosynthetic gene cluster, whereas the cluster was absent in all genomes of species lacking usnic acid. The absence of the gene cluster was supported by an additional unsuccessful search for ß-ketoacylsynthase, the most conserved domain of the gene cluster, in the genomes of species lacking usnic acid. The domain architecture of this PKS cluster—homologous to the already known usnic acid PKS cluster (MPAS) and CYT450 (MPAO)—varies within the studied species, whereas the gene arrangement is highly similar in closely related taxa. We hypothesize that the ancestor of these lichen-forming fungi contained the putative usnic acid producing PKS cluster and that the gene cluster was lost repeatedly during the evolution of these groups. Our study provides insight into the genomic adaptations to the evolutionary success of these lichen-forming fungal species and sets a baseline for further exploration of biosynthetic gene content and its evolutionary significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pizarro
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Pradeep K Divakar
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Felix Grewe
- Department of Science & Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ana Crespo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main D-60325, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt am Main D-60325, Germany
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15
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Identification of a lichen depside polyketide synthase gene by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Metab Eng Commun 2021; 13:e00172. [PMID: 34430202 PMCID: PMC8365352 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2021.e00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen-forming fungi produce a variety of secondary metabolites including bioactive polyketides. Advances in DNA and RNA sequencing have led to a growing database of new lichen gene clusters encoding polyketide synthases (PKS) and associated ancillary activities. Definitive assignment of a PKS gene to a metabolic product has been challenging in the lichen field due to a lack of established gene knockout or heterologous gene expression systems. Here, we report the reconstitution of a non-reducing PKS gene from the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea and successful heterologous expression of the synthetic lichen PKS gene in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that P. furfuracea PFUR17_02294 produces lecanoric acid, the depside dimer of orsellinic acid, at 360 mg/L in small-scale yeast cultures. Our results unequivocally identify PFUR17_02294 as a lecanoric acid synthase and establish that a single lichen PKS synthesizes two phenolic rings and joins them by an ester linkage to form the depside product.
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16
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Shishido TK, Wahlsten M, Laine P, Rikkinen J, Lundell T, Auvinen P. Microbial Communities of Cladonia Lichens and Their Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Potentially Encoding Natural Products. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1347. [PMID: 34206222 PMCID: PMC8304397 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens have been widely used in traditional medicine, especially by indigenous communities worldwide. However, their slow growth and difficulties in the isolation of lichen symbionts and associated microbes have hindered the pharmaceutical utilisation of lichen-produced compounds. Advances in high-throughput sequencing techniques now permit detailed investigations of the complex microbial communities formed by fungi, green algae, cyanobacteria, and other bacteria within the lichen thalli. Here, we used amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and in silico metabolomics together with compound extractions to study reindeer lichens collected from Southern Finland. Our aim was to evaluate the potential of Cladonia species as sources of novel natural products. We compared the predicted biosynthetic pathways of lichen compounds from isolated genome-sequenced lichen fungi and our environmental samples. Potential biosynthetic genes could then be further used to produce secondary metabolites in more tractable hosts. Furthermore, we detected multiple compounds by metabolite analyses, which revealed connections between the identified biosynthetic gene clusters and their products. Taken together, our results contribute to metagenomic data studies from complex lichen-symbiotic communities and provide valuable new information for use in further biochemical and pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Keiko Shishido
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Matti Wahlsten
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Pia Laine
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
| | - Jouko Rikkinen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, Botany Unit, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 7, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Taina Lundell
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (M.W.); (T.L.)
| | - Petri Auvinen
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (P.L.); (P.A.)
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17
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Singh G, Calchera A, Schulz M, Drechsler M, Bode HB, Schmitt I, Dal Grande F. Climate-specific biosynthetic gene clusters in populations of a lichen-forming fungus. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4260-4275. [PMID: 34097344 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Natural products can contribute to abiotic stress tolerance in plants and fungi. We hypothesize that biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), the genomic elements that underlie natural product biosynthesis, display structured differences along elevation gradients. We analysed biosynthetic gene variation in natural populations of the lichen-forming fungus Umbilicaria pustulata. We collected a total of 600 individuals from the Mediterranean and cold-temperate climates. Population genomic analyses indicate that U. pustulata contains three clusters that are highly differentiated between the Mediterranean and cold-temperate populations. One entire cluster is exclusively present in cold-temperate populations, and a second cluster is putatively dysfunctional in all cold-temperate populations. In the third cluster variation is fixed in all cold-temperate populations due to hitchhiking. In these two clusters the presence of consistent allele frequency differences among replicate populations/gradients suggests that selection rather than drift is driving the pattern. We advocate that the landscape of fungal biosynthetic genes is shaped by both positive and hitchhiking selection. We demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of climate-associated BGCs and BGC variations in lichen-forming fungi. While the associated secondary metabolites of the candidate clusters are presently unknown, our study paves the way for targeted discovery of natural products with ecological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Singh
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany
| | - Anjuli Calchera
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany
| | - Meike Schulz
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany
| | - Moritz Drechsler
- Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.,Department Natural Products in Organismic Interactions, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, 35043, Germany
| | - Helge B Bode
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany.,Department Natural Products in Organismic Interactions, Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, 35043, Germany.,Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Frankfurt, 60325, Germany
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18
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Kim W, Jeong MH, Yun SH, Hur JS. Transcriptome Analysis Identifies a Gene Cluster for the Biosynthesis of Biruloquinone, a Rare Phenanthraquinone, in a Lichen-Forming Fungus Cladonia macilenta. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:398. [PMID: 34065383 PMCID: PMC8161216 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichens are prolific producers of natural products of polyketide origin. We previously described a culture of lichen-forming fungus (LFF) Cladonia macilenta that produces biruloquinone, a purple pigment that is a phenanthraquinone rarely found in nature. However, there was no genetic information on the biosynthesis of biruloquinone. To identify a biosynthetic gene cluster for biruloquinone, we mined polyketide synthase (PKS) genes from the genome sequence of a LFF isolated from thalli of C. macilenta. The 38 PKS in C. macilenta are highly diverse, many of which form phylogenetic clades with PKS previously characterized in non-lichenized fungi. We compared transcriptional profiles of the 38 PKS genes in two chemotypic variants, one producing biruloquinone and the other producing no appreciable metabolite in vitro. We identified a PKS gene (hereafter PKS21) that was highly upregulated in the LFF that produces biruloquinone. The boundaries of a putative biruloquinone gene cluster were demarcated by co-expression patterns of six clustered genes, including the PKS21. Biruloquinone gene clusters exhibited a high degree of synteny between related species. In this study we identified a novel PKS family responsible for the biosynthesis of biruloquinone through whole-transcriptome analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyong Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea;
| | - Min-Hye Jeong
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea;
| | - Sung-Hwan Yun
- Department of Medical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Korea;
| | - Jae-Seoun Hur
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Korea;
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19
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Erken MT, Cansaran-Duman D, Tanman U. In silico prediction of type I PKS gene modules in nine lichenized fungi. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2021.1879679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Demet Cansaran-Duman
- System Biotechnology Advance Research Unit, Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ummugulsum Tanman
- System Biotechnology Advance Research Unit, Biotechnology Institute, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
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20
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Complete Genome Sequence of an Australian Strain of the Lichen-Forming Fungus Endocarpon pusillum (Hedwig). Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/50/e01079-20. [PMID: 33303659 PMCID: PMC7729407 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01079-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum (Hedwig) has previously been used as a model for the study of symbiosis and drought resistance. Here, we present the annotated genome of the Australian strain Endocarpon pusillum EPUS1.4. This genome sequence provides additional information on the ability of this species to produce secondary metabolites. The cosmopolitan lichen-forming fungus Endocarpon pusillum (Hedwig) has previously been used as a model for the study of symbiosis and drought resistance. Here, we present the annotated genome of the Australian strain Endocarpon pusillum EPUS1.4. This genome sequence provides additional information on the ability of this species to produce secondary metabolites.
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21
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Axenic culture and biosynthesis of secondary compounds in lichen symbiotic fungi, the Parmeliaceae. Symbiosis 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-020-00719-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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22
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Greshake Tzovaras B, Segers FHID, Bicker A, Dal Grande F, Otte J, Anvar SY, Hankeln T, Schmitt I, Ebersberger I. What Is in Umbilicaria pustulata? A Metagenomic Approach to Reconstruct the Holo-Genome of a Lichen. Genome Biol Evol 2020; 12:309-324. [PMID: 32163141 PMCID: PMC7186782 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichens are valuable models in symbiosis research and promising sources of biosynthetic genes for biotechnological applications. Most lichenized fungi grow slowly, resist aposymbiotic cultivation, and are poor candidates for experimentation. Obtaining contiguous, high-quality genomes for such symbiotic communities is technically challenging. Here, we present the first assembly of a lichen holo-genome from metagenomic whole-genome shotgun data comprising both PacBio long reads and Illumina short reads. The nuclear genomes of the two primary components of the lichen symbiosis-the fungus Umbilicaria pustulata (33 Mb) and the green alga Trebouxia sp. (53 Mb)-were assembled at contiguities comparable to single-species assemblies. The analysis of the read coverage pattern revealed a relative abundance of fungal to algal nuclei of ∼20:1. Gap-free, circular sequences for all organellar genomes were obtained. The bacterial community is dominated by Acidobacteriaceae and encompasses strains closely related to bacteria isolated from other lichens. Gene set analyses showed no evidence of horizontal gene transfer from algae or bacteria into the fungal genome. Our data suggest a lineage-specific loss of a putative gibberellin-20-oxidase in the fungus, a gene fusion in the fungal mitochondrion, and a relocation of an algal chloroplast gene to the algal nucleus. Major technical obstacles during reconstruction of the holo-genome were coverage differences among individual genomes surpassing three orders of magnitude. Moreover, we show that GC-rich inverted repeats paired with nonrandom sequencing error in PacBio data can result in missing gene predictions. This likely poses a general problem for genome assemblies based on long reads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Greshake Tzovaras
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California
- Center for Research & Interdisciplinarity, Université de Paris, France
| | - Francisca H I D Segers
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anne Bicker
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Seyed Yahya Anvar
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hankeln
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Molecular Genetics and Genome Analysis, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
- Molecular Evolutionary Biology Group, Institute of Ecology, Diversity, and Evolution, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
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23
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Kuhn V, Geisberger T, Huber C, Beck A, Eisenreich W. A facile in vivo procedure to analyze metabolic pathways in intact lichens. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 224:1657-1667. [PMID: 31135955 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Lichen secondary metabolites show important biological activities as well as pharmaceutical and chemotaxonomic potential. In order to utilize such substances of interest, detailed knowledge of their biosynthetic pathways is essential. 13 CO2 -pulse/chase experiments using intact thalli of the lichen Usnea dasopoga resulted in multiple 13 C-labeled isotopologs in amino acids, but not in the dibenzofuran derivative usnic acid - one of the best-studied lichen metabolites, with considerable and renewed interest for pharmaceutical and lifestyle applications. Spraying an aqueous solution of [U-13 C6 ]glucose onto the thalli of U. dasopoga afforded a specific mixture of multiple 13 C-labeled isotopologs in usnic acid. One- and two-dimensional NMR analysis of the crude lichen extract corroborated the polyketide biosynthetic pathway via methylphloroacetophenone but not via phloroacetophenone. With usnic acid as an exemplar, we provide proof-of-principle experiments that can be used in general to study metabolic pathways and fluxes in intact lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kuhn
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas Geisberger
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Claudia Huber
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Andreas Beck
- Department of Lichenology and Bryology, Botanische Staatssammlung München, SNSB-BSM, Menzinger Str. 67, Munich, D-80638, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, D-80333, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Eisenreich
- Lehrstuhl für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747, Garching, Germany
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24
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Transcriptional heterologous expression of two type III PKS from the lichen Cladonia uncialis. Mycol Prog 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11557-019-01539-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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25
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Bertrand RL, Sorensen JL. Lost in Translation: Challenges with Heterologous Expression of Lichen Polyketide Synthases. ChemistrySelect 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201901762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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