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Gutiérrez-Sánchez A, Plasencia J, Monribot-Villanueva JL, Rodríguez-Haas B, Ruíz-May E, Guerrero-Analco JA, Sánchez-Rangel D. Virulence factors of the genus Fusarium with targets in plants. Microbiol Res 2023; 277:127506. [PMID: 37783182 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127506] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium spp. comprise various species of filamentous fungi that cause severe diseases in plant crops of both agricultural and forestry interest. These plant pathogens produce a wide range of molecules with diverse chemical structures and biological activities. Genetic functional analyses of some of these compounds have shown their role as virulence factors (VF). However, their mode of action and contributions to the infection process for many of these molecules are still unknown. This review aims to analyze the state of the art in Fusarium VF, emphasizing their biological targets on the plant hosts. It also addresses the current experimental approaches to improve our understanding of their role in virulence and suggests relevant research questions that remain to be answered with a greater focus on species of agroeconomic importance. In this review, a total of 37 confirmed VF are described, including 22 proteinaceous and 15 non-proteinaceous molecules, mainly from Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium graminearum and, to a lesser extent, in Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium solani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Gutiérrez-Sánchez
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico; Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Javier Plasencia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Juan L Monribot-Villanueva
- Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Rodríguez-Haas
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - Eliel Ruíz-May
- Laboratorio de Proteómica, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico
| | - José A Guerrero-Analco
- Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico.
| | - Diana Sánchez-Rangel
- Laboratorios de Fitopatología y Biología Molecular, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Clúster BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico; Investigador por México - CONAHCyT en la Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados del Instituto de Ecología, A. C. (INECOL), Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, Mexico.
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Wang X, Jarmusch SA, Frisvad JC, Larsen TO. Current status of secondary metabolite pathways linked to their related biosynthetic gene clusters in Aspergillus section Nigri. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:237-274. [PMID: 35587705 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00074h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to the end of 2021Aspergilli are biosynthetically 'talented' micro-organisms and therefore the natural products community has continually been interested in the wealth of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding numerous secondary metabolites related to these fungi. With the rapid increase in sequenced fungal genomes combined with the continuous development of bioinformatics tools such as antiSMASH, linking new structures to unknown BGCs has become much easier when taking retro-biosynthetic considerations into account. On the other hand, in most cases it is not as straightforward to prove proposed biosynthetic pathways due to the lack of implemented genetic tools in a given fungal species. As a result, very few secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways have been characterized even amongst some of the most well studied Aspergillus spp., section Nigri (black aspergilli). This review will cover all known biosynthetic compound families and their structural diversity known from black aspergilli. We have logically divided this into sub-sections describing major biosynthetic classes (polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, terpenoids, meroterpenoids and hybrid biosynthesis). Importantly, we will focus the review on metabolites which have been firmly linked to their corresponding BGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhui Wang
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Scott A Jarmusch
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Jens C Frisvad
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Thomas O Larsen
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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3
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Noriler S, Navarro-Muñoz JC, Glienke C, Collemare J. Evolutionary relationships of adenylation domains in fungi. Genomics 2022; 114:110525. [PMID: 36423773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110525] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and NRPS-like enzymes are abundant in microbes as they are involved in the production of primary and secondary metabolites. In contrast to the well-studied NRPSs, known to produce non-ribosomal peptides, NRPS-like enzymes exhibit more diverse activities and their evolutionary relationships are unclear. Here, we present the first in-depth phylogenetic analysis of fungal NRPS-like A domains from functionally characterized pathways, and their relationships to characterized A domains found in fungal NRPSs. This study clearly differentiated amino acid reductases, including NRPSs, from CoA/AMP ligases, which could be divided into 10 distinct phylogenetic clades that reflect their conserved domain organization, substrate specificity and enzymatic activity. In particular, evolutionary relationships of adenylate forming reductases could be refined and explained the substrate specificity difference. Consistent with their phylogeny, the deduced amino acid code of A domains differentiated amino acid reductases from other enzymes. However, a diagnostic code was found for α-keto acid reductases and clade 7 CoA/AMP ligases only. Comparative genomics of loci containing these enzymes revealed that they can be independently recruited as tailoring genes in diverse secondary metabolite pathways. Based on these results, we propose a refined and clear phylogeny-based classification of A domain-containing enzymes, which will provide a robust framework for future functional analyses and engineering of these enzymes to produce new bioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandriele Noriler
- Postgraduate Program of Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Department of Pathology, Universidade Federal do Parana, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, CEP: 81531-970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jorge C Navarro-Muñoz
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584, CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Chirlei Glienke
- Postgraduate Program of Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Department of Pathology, Universidade Federal do Parana, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, CEP: 81531-970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Postgraduate Program of Genetics, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Parana, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 210, CEP: 81531-970, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jérôme Collemare
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584, CT, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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4
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Hoefgen S, Bissell AU, Huang Y, Gherlone F, Raguž L, Beemelmanns C, Valiante V. Desaturation of the Sphingofungin Polyketide Tail Results in Increased Serine Palmitoyltransferase Inhibition. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0133122. [PMID: 36121228 PMCID: PMC9603476 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01331-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine palmitoyltransferase catalyzes the first step of the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Recently, sphingolipid homeostasis has been connected to several human diseases, making serine palmitoyltransferases an interesting therapeutic target. Known and efficient serine palmitoyltransferase-inhibitors are sphingofungins, a group of natural products isolated from fungi. To further characterize newly isolated sphingofungins, we designed an easy to use colorimetric serine palmitoyltransferase activity assay using FadD, which can be performed in 96-well plates. Because sphingofungins exert antifungal activitiy as well, we compared the in vitro assay results with an in vivo growth assay using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The reported experiments showed differences among the assayed sphingofungins, highlighting an increase of activity based on the saturation levels of the polyketide tail. IMPORTANCE Targeting the cellular sphingolipid metabolism is often discussed as a potential approach to treat associated human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Alternatively, it is also a possible target for the development of antifungal compounds, which are direly needed. A central role is played by the serine palmitoyltransferase, which catalyzes the initial and rate limiting step of sphingolipid de novo synthesis and, as such, the development of inhibitory compounds for this enzyme is of interest. Our work here established an alternative approach for determining the activity of serine palmitoyltransferase adding another tool for the validation of its inhibition. We also determined the effect of different modifications to sphingofungins on their inhibitory activity against serine palmitoyltransferase, revealing important differences on said activity against enzymes of bacterial and fungal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hoefgen
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander U. Bissell
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ying Huang
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabio Gherlone
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Luka Raguž
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Vito Valiante
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
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5
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Wang L, Ge S, Liang W, Liao W, Li W, Jiao G, Wei X, Shao G, Xie L, Sheng Z, Hu S, Tang S, Hu P. Genome-Wide Characterization Reveals Variation Potentially Involved in Pathogenicity and Mycotoxins Biosynthesis of Fusarium proliferatum Causing Spikelet Rot Disease in Rice. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14080568. [PMID: 36006230 PMCID: PMC9414198 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium proliferatum is the primary cause of spikelet rot disease in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in China. The pathogen not only infects a wide range of cereals, causing severe yield losses but also contaminates grains by producing various mycotoxins that are hazardous to humans and animals. Here, we firstly reported the whole-genome sequence of F. proliferatum strain Fp9 isolated from the rice spikelet. The genome was approximately 43.9 Mb with an average GC content of 48.28%, and it was assembled into 12 scaffolds with an N50 length of 4,402,342 bp. There is a close phylogenetic relationship between F. proliferatum and Fusarium fujikuroi, the causal agent of the bakanae disease of rice. The expansion of genes encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters was observed in F. proliferatum relative to other fungi with different nutritional lifestyles. Species-specific genes responsible for mycotoxins biosynthesis were identified among F. proliferatum and other Fusarium species. The expanded and unique genes were supposed to promote F. proliferatum adaptation and the rapid response to the host's infection. The high-quality genome of F. proliferatum strain Fp9 provides a valuable resource for deciphering the mechanisms of pathogenicity and secondary metabolism, and therefore shed light on development of the disease management strategies and detoxification of mycotoxins contamination for spikelet rot disease in rice.
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Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the primary mold pathogen in humans. It can cause a wide range of diseases in humans, with high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. The first-line treatments for invasive A. fumigatus infections are the triazole antifungals that inhibit Cyp51 lanosterol demethylase activity, blocking ergosterol biosynthesis. However, triazole-resistant strains of A. fumigatus are increasingly encountered, leading to increased mortality. The most common triazole resistance mechanisms in A. fumigatus are alterations in the cyp51A gene or promoter. We tested the hypothesis that A. fumigatus can acquire triazole resistance by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of resistance-conferring gene cyp51A. HGT has not been experimentally analyzed in filamentous fungi. Therefore, we developed an HGT assay containing donor A. fumigatus strains carrying resistance-conferring mutated cyp51A, either in its chromosomal locus or in a self-replicating plasmid, and recipient strains that were hygromycin resistant and triazole sensitive. Donor and recipient A. fumigatus strains were cocultured and transferred to selective conditions, and the recipient strain tested for transferred triazole resistance. We found that chromosomal transfer of triazole resistance required selection under both voriconazole and hygromycin, resulting in diploid formation. Notably, plasmid-mediated transfer was also activated by voriconazole or hypoxic stress alone, suggesting a possible route to HGT of antifungal resistance in A. fumigatus, both in the environment and during host infection. This study provides, for the first time, preliminary experimental evidence for HGT mediating antifungal resistance in a pathogenic fungus. IMPORTANCE It is well known that bacteria can transfer antibiotic resistance from one strain to another by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), leading to the current worldwide crisis of rapidly emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, in fungi, HGT events have only been indirectly documented by whole-genome sequencing. This study directly examined fungal HGT of antibiotic resistance in a laboratory setting. We show that HGT of antifungal triazole resistance occurs in the important human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Importantly, we show a plasmid-mediated transfer of triazole resistance occurs under conditions likely to prevail in the environment and in infected patients. This study provides an experimental foundation for future work identifying the drivers and mechanistic underpinnings of HGT in fungi.
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7
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Perera D, Savocchia S, Prenzler PD, Thomson PC, Steel CC. Occurrence of fumonisin-producing black aspergilli in Australian wine grapes: effects of temperature and water activity on fumonisin production by A. niger and A. welwitschiae. Mycotoxin Res 2021; 37:327-339. [PMID: 34694577 DOI: 10.1007/s12550-021-00438-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Black aspergilli are some of the most common mycotoxigenic fungi in vineyards worldwide. The aims of this research were to assess the occurrence of fumonisin-producing black aspergilli in Australian wine grapes and the effects of environmental factors on fumonisin production by A. niger and A. welwitschiae (syn. A. awamori). Thirty-eight Aspergillus isolates (black aspergilli) were collected from six wine grape varieties grown in Australian vineyards. LC-MS/MS analysis of culture extracts revealed that six isolates produced fumonisins FB2 and FB4. Molecular data revealed that all fumonisin-producing isolates were A. niger and A. welwitschiae. None of the reference isolates, A. carbonarius, A. tubingensis, A. japonicus, and A. foetidus, were positive for fumonisin production. The effects of temperature and water activity on the growth and production of fumonisins were studied using two A. niger and an isolate of A. welwitschiae on synthetic grape juice medium (SGJM) at 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C, and 0.92 aw, 0.95 aw, and 0.98 aw levels. All isolates produced FB2 and FB4 at 0.95 aw and 0.98 aw and 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C. The highest growth rate observed was 14.89 mm/day for A. welwitschiae at 0.98 aw and 35 °C, whereas the highest fumonisin production observed was 25.3 mg/kg at 0.98 aw and 20 °C for A. welwitschiae. None of the isolates produced fumonisins at 35 °C at any water activity levels. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of fumonisin-positive isolates of Aspergillus from Australian wine grapes and the impact of the environmental factors on fumonisin production by A. welwitschiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Perera
- National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia. .,School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia.
| | - S Savocchia
- National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia.,School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
| | - P D Prenzler
- School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
| | - P C Thomson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, The University of Sydney, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - C C Steel
- National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia.,School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
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Liu Q, Zhong S, Wang X, Gao S, Yang X, Chen F, Molnár I. An Integrated Approach to Determine the Boundaries of the Azaphilone Pigment Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of Monascus ruber M7 Grown on Potato Dextrose Agar. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:680629. [PMID: 34220766 PMCID: PMC8241920 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.680629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monascus-type azaphilone pigments (MonAzPs) are produced in multi-thousand ton quantities each year and used as food colorants and nutraceuticals in East Asia. Several groups, including ours, described MonAzPs biosynthesis as a highly complex pathway with many branch points, affording more than 110 MonAzP congeners in a small group of fungi in the Eurotiales order. MonAzPs biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are also very complex and mosaic-like, with some genes involved in more than one pathway, while other genes playing no apparent role in MonAzPs production. Due to this complexity, MonAzPs BGCs have been delimited differently in various fungi. Since most of these predictions rely primarily on bioinformatic analyses, it is possible that genes immediately outside the currently predicted BGC borders are also involved, especially those whose function cannot be predicted from sequence similarities alone. Conversely, some peripheral genes presumed to be part of the BGC may in fact lay outside the boundaries. This study uses a combination of computational and transcriptional analyses to predict the extent of the MonAzPs BGC in Monascus ruber M7. Gene knockouts and analysis of MonAzPs production of the mutants are then used to validate the prediction, revealing that the BGC consists of 16 genes, extending from mrpigA to mrpigP. We further predict that two strains of Talaromyces marneffei, ATCC 18224 and PM1, encode an orthologous but non-syntenic MonAzPs BGC with 14 genes. This work highlights the need to use comprehensive, integrated approaches for the more precise determination of secondary metabolite BGC boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingpei Liu
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China.,Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Siyu Zhong
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuaibiao Gao
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- The Modernization Engineering Technology Research Center of Ethnic Minority Medicine of Hubei Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Fusheng Chen
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Traditional Fermented Foods, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - István Molnár
- Southwest Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Bhattarai K, Bhattarai K, Kabir ME, Bastola R, Baral B. Fungal natural products galaxy: Biochemistry and molecular genetics toward blockbuster drugs discovery. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2021; 107:193-284. [PMID: 33641747 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Secondary metabolites synthesized by fungi have become a precious source of inspiration for the design of novel drugs. Indeed, fungi are prolific producers of fascinating, diverse, structurally complex, and low-molecular-mass natural products with high therapeutic leads, such as novel antimicrobial compounds, anticancer compounds, immunosuppressive agents, among others. Given that these microorganisms possess the extraordinary capacity to secrete diverse chemical scaffolds, they have been highly exploited by the giant pharma companies to generate small molecules. This has been made possible because the isolation of metabolites from fungal natural sources is feasible and surpasses the organic synthesis of compounds, which otherwise remains a significant bottleneck in the drug discovery process. Here in this comprehensive review, we have discussed recent studies on different fungi (pathogenic, non-pathogenic, commensal, and endophytic/symbiotic) from different habitats (terrestrial and marines), the specialized metabolites they biosynthesize, and the drugs derived from these specialized metabolites. Moreover, we have unveiled the logic behind the biosynthesis of vital chemical scaffolds, such as NRPS, PKS, PKS-NRPS hybrid, RiPPS, terpenoids, indole alkaloids, and their genetic mechanisms. Besides, we have provided a glimpse of the concept behind mycotoxins, virulence factor, and host immune response based on fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshab Bhattarai
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Keshab Bhattarai
- Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Md Ehsanul Kabir
- Animal Health Research Division, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rina Bastola
- Spinal Cord Injury Association-Nepal (SCIAN), Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Bikash Baral
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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10
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Rokas A, Mead ME, Steenwyk JL, Raja HA, Oberlies NH. Biosynthetic gene clusters and the evolution of fungal chemodiversity. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:868-878. [PMID: 31898704 PMCID: PMC7332410 DOI: 10.1039/c9np00045c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2019Fungi produce a remarkable diversity of secondary metabolites: small, bioactive molecules not required for growth but which are essential to their ecological interactions with other organisms. Genes that participate in the same secondary metabolic pathway typically reside next to each other in fungal genomes and form biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). By synthesizing state-of-the-art knowledge on the evolution of BGCs in fungi, we propose that fungal chemodiversity stems from three molecular evolutionary processes involving BGCs: functional divergence, horizontal transfer, and de novo assembly. We provide examples of how these processes have contributed to the generation of fungal chemodiversity, discuss their relative importance, and outline major, outstanding questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Deng Y, Zhang X, Xie B, Lin L, Hsiang T, Lin X, Lin Y, Zhang X, Ma Y, Miao W, Ming R. Intra-specific comparison of mitochondrial genomes reveals host gene fragment exchange via intron mobility in Tremella fuciformis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:426. [PMID: 32580700 PMCID: PMC7315562 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-06846-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondrial genomic sequences are known to be variable. Comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes can reveal the nature and extent of their variation. Results Draft mitochondrial genomes of 16 Tremella fuciformis isolates (TF01-TF16) were assembled from Illumina and PacBio sequencing data. Mitochondrial DNA contigs were extracted and assembled into complete circular molecules, ranging from 35,104 bp to 49,044 bp in size. All mtDNAs contained the same set of 41 conserved genes with identical gene order. Comparative analyses revealed that introns and intergenic regions were variable, whereas genic regions (including coding sequences, tRNA, and rRNA genes) were conserved. Among 24 introns detected, 11 were in protein-coding genes, 3 in tRNA genes, and the other 10 in rRNA genes. In addition, two mobile fragments were found in intergenic regions. Interestingly, six introns containing N-terminal duplication of the host genes were found in five conserved protein-coding gene sequences. Comparison of genes with and without these introns gave rise to the following proposed model: gene fragment exchange with other species can occur via gain or loss of introns with N-terminal duplication of the host genes. Conclusions Our findings suggest a novel mechanism of fungal mitochondrial gene evolution: partial foreign gene replacement though intron mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youjin Deng
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Xunxiao Zhang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Baogui Xie
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Longji Lin
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Xiangzhi Lin
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yiying Lin
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xingtan Zhang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yanhong Ma
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Wenjing Miao
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Ray Ming
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China. .,Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1201 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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12
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Self-Protection against the Sphingolipid Biosynthesis Inhibitor Fumonisin B 1 Is Conferred by a FUM Cluster-Encoded Ceramide Synthase. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.00455-20. [PMID: 32546615 PMCID: PMC7298705 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00455-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fumonisin (FB) mycotoxins produced by species of the genus Fusarium detrimentally affect human and animal health upon consumption, due to the inhibition of ceramide synthase. In the present work, we set out to identify mechanisms of self-protection employed by the FB1 producer Fusarium verticillioides FB1 biosynthesis was shown to be compartmentalized, and two cluster-encoded self-protection mechanisms were identified. First, the ATP-binding cassette transporter Fum19 acts as a repressor of the FUM gene cluster. Appropriately, FUM19 deletion and overexpression increased and decreased, respectively, the levels of intracellular and secreted FB1 Second, the cluster genes FUM17 and FUM18 were shown to be two of five ceramide synthase homologs in Fusarium verticillioides, grouping into the two clades CS-I and CS-II in a phylogenetic analysis. The ability of FUM18 to fully complement the yeast ceramide synthase null mutant LAG1/LAC1 demonstrated its functionality, while coexpression of FUM17 and CER3 partially complemented, likely via heterodimer formation. Cell viability assays revealed that Fum18 contributes to the fungal self-protection against FB1 and increases resistance by providing FUM cluster-encoded ceramide synthase activity.IMPORTANCE The biosynthesis of fungal natural products is highly regulated not only in terms of transcription and translation but also regarding the cellular localization of the biosynthetic pathway. In all eukaryotes, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in the production of organelles, which are subject to cellular traffic or secretion. Here, we show that in Fusarium verticillioides, early steps in fumonisin production take place in the ER, together with ceramide biosynthesis, which is targeted by the mycotoxin. A first level of self-protection is given by the presence of a FUM cluster-encoded ceramide synthase, Fum18, hitherto uncharacterized. In addition, the final fumonisin biosynthetic step occurs in the cytosol and is thereby spatially separate from the fungal ceramide synthases. We suggest that these strategies help the fungus to avoid self-poisoning during mycotoxin production.
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13
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Fusarium Secondary Metabolism Biosynthetic Pathways: So Close but So Far Away. REFERENCE SERIES IN PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-96397-6_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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14
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Nevalainen H. Strategies and Challenges for the Development of Industrial Enzymes Using Fungal Cell Factories. GRAND CHALLENGES IN FUNGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020. [PMCID: PMC7123961 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29541-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Industrial enzymes have been produced from microorganisms for more than a century. Today, a large share of enzyme products is manufactured using recombinant microorganisms. This chapter focuses on major industrial fungal species belonging to the ascomycetes like Aspergillus niger, A. oryzae, and Trichoderma reesei. Many of the commercially available recombinant enzymes are manufactured using fungi. Examples of fungal enzymes used in food products are described. The enzyme industry is to a large extent cost-driven, so the enzyme product needs to meet strict COGS (cost of goods sold) targets. Therefore, the cell factory must be very efficient to produce the enzyme in high titers and efficiently utilize raw materials. Secondly, it must be designed for a robust and generic fermentation process. When developing fungal hosts for enzyme production, several properties of the system need to be considered relating to efficiency of the cell factory, purity of the product, and safety of both the cell factory and the product. Purity is secured by engineering of the cell factory, and properties related to safety must also be engineered into the fungal host. The methods used for strain improvement are continuously being developed to increase yields and are described herein. More automation using precision tools for modification of the genome (i.e., CRISPR) and low-cost sequencing have vastly expanded the possibilities and enabled fast strain development. Using systems biology approaches, better understanding of cellular processes is now possible enabling advanced engineering of fungal cell factories. Surprisingly, a survey of innovation in the field revealed a decrease in the number of patent applications in recent years. Finally, the requirements for enzyme approval, especially in food and feed, have increased significantly worldwide in the last few years. A description of the regulatory landscape and its challenges in food and feed is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Nevalainen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW Australia
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15
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Tralamazza SM, Rocha LO, Oggenfuss U, Corrêa B, Croll D. Complex Evolutionary Origins of Specialized Metabolite Gene Cluster Diversity among the Plant Pathogenic Fungi of the Fusarium graminearum Species Complex. Genome Biol Evol 2019; 11:3106-3122. [PMID: 31609418 PMCID: PMC6836718 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evz225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal genomes encode highly organized gene clusters that underlie the production of specialized (or secondary) metabolites. Gene clusters encode key functions to exploit plant hosts or environmental niches. Promiscuous exchange among species and frequent reconfigurations make gene clusters some of the most dynamic elements of fungal genomes. Despite evidence for high diversity in gene cluster content among closely related strains, the microevolutionary processes driving gene cluster gain, loss, and neofunctionalization are largely unknown. We analyzed the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) composed of plant pathogens producing potent mycotoxins and causing Fusarium head blight on cereals. We de novo assembled genomes of previously uncharacterized FGSC members (two strains of F. austroamericanum, F. cortaderiae, and F. meridionale). Our analyses of 8 species of the FGSC in addition to 15 other Fusarium species identified a pangenome of 54 gene clusters within FGSC. We found that multiple independent losses were a key factor generating extant cluster diversity within the FGSC and the Fusarium genus. We identified a modular gene cluster conserved among distantly related fungi, which was likely reconfigured to encode different functions. We also found strong evidence that a rare cluster in FGSC was gained through an ancient horizontal transfer between bacteria and fungi. Chromosomal rearrangements underlying cluster loss were often complex and were likely facilitated by an enrichment in specific transposable elements. Our findings identify important transitory stages in the birth and death process of specialized metabolism gene clusters among very closely related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Moser Tralamazza
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Liliana Oliveira Rocha
- Food Engineering Faculty, Department of Food Science, University of Campinas, Av. Monteiro Lobato, Brazil
| | - Ursula Oggenfuss
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Benedito Corrêa
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Croll
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland
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16
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Marcet-Houben M, Gabaldón T. Evolutionary and functional patterns of shared gene neighbourhood in fungi. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:2383-2392. [PMID: 31527797 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0552-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Gene clusters comprise genomically co-localized and potentially co-regulated genes that tend to be conserved across species. In eukaryotes, multiple examples of metabolic gene clusters are known, particularly among fungi and plants. However, little is known about how gene clustering patterns vary among taxa or with respect to functional roles. Furthermore, mechanisms of the formation, maintenance and evolution of gene clusters remain unknown. We surveyed 341 fungal genomes to discover gene clusters shared by different species, independently of their functions. We inferred 12,120 cluster families, which comprised roughly one third of the gene space and were enriched in genes associated with diverse cellular functions. Additionally, most clusters did not encode transcription factors, suggesting that they are regulated distally. We used phylogenomics to characterize the evolutionary history of these clusters. We found that most clusters originated once and were transmitted vertically, coupled to differential loss. However, convergent evolution-that is, independent appearance of the same cluster-was more prevalent than anticipated. Finally, horizontal gene transfer of entire clusters was somewhat restricted, with the exception of those associated with secondary metabolism. Altogether, our results provide insights on the evolution of gene clustering as well as a broad catalogue of evolutionarily conserved gene clusters whose function remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Marcet-Houben
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain. .,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. .,ICREA, Barcelona, Spain. .,Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Tuanny Franco L, Mousavi Khaneghah A, In Lee SH, Fernandes Oliveira CA. Biomonitoring of mycotoxin exposure using urinary biomarker approaches: a review. TOXIN REV 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2019.1619086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Tuanny Franco
- Department of Food Engineering, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah Hwa In Lee
- Department of Food Engineering, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Genetic regulation of aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, trichothecene, and fumonisin biosynthesis: A review. Int Microbiol 2019; 23:89-96. [DOI: 10.1007/s10123-019-00084-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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19
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Gil-Serna J, García-Díaz M, Vázquez C, González-Jaén MT, Patiño B. Significance of Aspergillus niger aggregate species as contaminants of food products in Spain regarding their occurrence and their ability to produce mycotoxins. Food Microbiol 2019; 82:240-248. [PMID: 31027779 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The Aspergillus niger aggregate contains 15 morphologically indistinguishable species which presence is related to ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) contamination of foodstuffs. The taxonomy of this group was recently reevaluated and there is a need of new studies regarding the risk that these species might pose to food security. 258 isolates of A. niger aggregate obtained from a variety of products from Spain were classified by molecular methods being A. tubingensis the most frequently occurring (67.5%) followed by A. welwitschiae (19.4%) and A. niger (11.7%). Their potential ability to produce mycotoxins was evaluated by PCR protocols which allow a rapid detection of OTA and FB2 biosynthetic genes in their genomes. OTA production is not widespread in A. niger aggregate since only 17% of A. niger and 6% of A. welwitschiae isolates presented the complete biosynthetic cluster whereas the lack of the cluster was confirmed in all A. tubingensis isolates. On the other hand, A. niger and A. welwitschiae seem to be important FB2 producers with 97% and 29% of the isolates, respectively, presenting the complete cluster. The genes involved in OTA and FB2 were overexpressed in producing isolates and their expression was related to mycotoxin synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Gil-Serna
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid. Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marta García-Díaz
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid. Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Covadonga Vázquez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid. Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Teresa González-Jaén
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid. Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Patiño
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid. Jose Antonio Nováis 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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20
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Geisen R, Schmidt-Heydt M, Touhami N, Himmelsbach A. New aspects of ochratoxin A and citrinin biosynthesis in Penicillium. Curr Opin Food Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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21
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Luo H, Cai Q, Lüli Y, Li X, Sinha R, Hallen-Adams HE, Yang ZL. The MSDIN family in amanitin-producing mushrooms and evolution of the prolyl oligopeptidase genes. IMA Fungus 2018; 9:225-242. [PMID: 30622880 PMCID: PMC6317590 DOI: 10.5598/imafungus.2018.09.02.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway for amanitins and related cyclic peptides in deadly Amanita (Amanitaceae) mushrooms represents the first known ribosomal cyclic peptide pathway in the Fungi. Amanitins are found outside of the genus in distantly related agarics Galerina (Strophariaceae) and Lepiota (Agaricaceae). A long-standing question in the field persists: why is this pathway present in these phylogenetically disjunct agarics? Two deadly mushrooms, A. pallidorosea and A. subjunquillea, were deep sequenced, and sequences of biosynthetic genes encoding MSDINs (cyclic peptide precursor) and prolyl oligopeptidases (POPA and POPB) were obtained. The two Amanita species yielded 29 and 18 MSDINs, respectively. In addition, two MSDIN sequences were cloned from L. brunneoincarnata basidiomes. The toxin MSDIN genes encoding amatoxins or phallotoxins from the three genera were compared, and a phylogenetic tree constructed. Prolyl oligopeptidase B (POPB), a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway, was used in phylogenetic reconstruction to infer the evolutionary history of the genes. Phylogenies of POPB and POPA based on both coding and amino acid sequences showed very different results: while POPA genes clearly reflected the phylogeny of the host species, POPB did not; strikingly, it formed a well-supported monophyletic clade, despite that the species belong to different genera in disjunct families. POPA, a known house-keeping gene, was shown to be restricted in a branch containing only Amanita species and the phylogeny resembled that of those Amanita species. Phylogenetic analyses of MSDIN and POPB genes showed tight coordination and disjunct distribution. A POPB gene tree was compared with a corresponding species tree, and distances and substitution rates were compared. The result suggested POPB genes have significant smaller distances and rates than the house-keeping rpb2, discounting massive gene loss. Under this assumption, the incongruency between the gene tree and species tree was shown with strong support. Additionally, k-mer analyses consistently cluster Galerina and Amanita POPB genes, while Lepiota POPB is distinct. Our result suggests that horizontal gene transfer (HGT), at least between Amanita and Galerina, was involved in the acquisition of POPB genes, which may shed light on the evolution of the α-amanitin biosynthetic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Luo
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Qing Cai
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunjiao Lüli
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China
| | | | - Heather E Hallen-Adams
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Zhu L Yang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China
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22
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Diversity and evolution of polyketide biosynthesis gene clusters in the Ceratocystidaceae. Fungal Biol 2018; 122:856-866. [PMID: 30115319 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Polyketides are secondary metabolites with diverse biological activities. Polyketide synthases (PKS) are often encoded from genes clustered in the same genomic region. Functional analyses and genomic studies show that most fungi are capable of producing a repertoire of polyketides. We considered the potential of Ceratocystidaceae for producing polyketides using a comparative genomics approach. Our aims were to identify the putative polyketide biosynthesis gene clusters, to characterize them and predict the types of polyketide compounds they might produce. We used sequences from nineteen species in the genera, Ceratocystis, Endoconidiophora, Davidsoniella, Huntiella, Thielaviopsis and Bretziella, to identify and characterize PKS gene clusters, by employing a range of bioinformatics and phylogenetic tools. We showed that the genomes contained putative clusters containing a non-reducing type I PKS and a type III PKS. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that these genes were already present in the ancestor of the Ceratocystidaceae. By contrast, the various reducing type I PKS-containing clusters identified in these genomes appeared to have distinct evolutionary origins. Although one of the identified clusters potentially allows for the production of melanin, their functional characterization will undoubtedly reveal many novel and important compounds implicated in the biology of the Ceratocystidaceae.
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23
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Gonçalves C, Wisecaver JH, Kominek J, Oom MS, Leandro MJ, Shen XX, Opulente DA, Zhou X, Peris D, Kurtzman CP, Hittinger CT, Rokas A, Gonçalves P. Evidence for loss and reacquisition of alcoholic fermentation in a fructophilic yeast lineage. eLife 2018; 7:33034. [PMID: 29648535 PMCID: PMC5897096 DOI: 10.7554/elife.33034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fructophily is a rare trait that consists of the preference for fructose over other carbon sources. Here, we show that in a yeast lineage (the Wickerhamiella/Starmerella, W/S clade) comprised of fructophilic species thriving in the high-sugar floral niche, the acquisition of fructophily is concurrent with a wider remodeling of central carbon metabolism. Coupling comparative genomics with biochemical and genetic approaches, we gathered ample evidence for the loss of alcoholic fermentation in an ancestor of the W/S clade and subsequent reinstatement through either horizontal acquisition of homologous bacterial genes or modification of a pre-existing yeast gene. An enzyme required for sucrose assimilation was also acquired from bacteria, suggesting that the genetic novelties identified in the W/S clade may be related to adaptation to the high-sugar environment. This work shows how even central carbon metabolism can be remodeled by a surge of HGT events. Cells build their components, such as the molecular machinery that helps them obtain energy from their environment, by following the instructions contained in genes. This genetic information is usually transferred from parents to offspring. Over the course of several generations, genes can accumulate small changes and the molecules they code for can acquire new roles: yet, this process is normally slow. However, certain organisms can also obtain completely new genes by ‘stealing’ them from other species. For example, yeasts, such as the ones used to make bread and beer, can take genes from nearby bacteria. This ‘horizontal gene transfer’ helps organisms to rapidly gain new characteristics, which is particularly useful if the environment changes quickly. One way that yeasts get the energy they need is by breaking down sugars through a process called alcoholic fermentation. To do this, most yeast species prefer to use a sugar called glucose, but a small group of ‘fructophilic’ species instead favors a type of sugar known as fructose. Scientists do not know exactly how fructophilic yeasts came to be, but there is some evidence horizontal gene transfers may have been involved in the process. Now, Gonçalves et al. have compared the genetic material of fructophilic yeasts with that of other groups of yeasts . Comparing genetic material helps scientists identify similarities and differences between species, and gives clues about why specific genetic features first evolved. The experiments show that, early in their history, fructophilic yeasts lost the genes that allowed them to do alcoholic fermentation, probably since they could obtain energy in a different way. However, at a later point in time, these yeasts had to adapt to survive in flower nectar, an environment rich in sugar. They then favored fructose as their source of energy, possibly because this sugar can compensate more effectively for the absence of alcoholic fermentation. Later, the yeasts acquired a gene from nearby bacteria, which allowed them to do alcoholic fermentation again: this improved their ability to use the other sugars present in flower nectars. When obtaining energy, yeasts and other organisms produce substances that are relevant to industry. Studying natural processes of evolution can help scientists understand how organisms can change the way they get their energy and adapt to new challenges. In turn, this helps to engineer yeasts into ‘cell factories’ that produce valuable chemicals in environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Gonçalves
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Jennifer H Wisecaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, United States
| | - Jacek Kominek
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Madalena Salema Oom
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal.,Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz, Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Maria José Leandro
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal.,LNEG - Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Unidade de Bioenergia (UB), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Xing-Xing Shen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Dana A Opulente
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Xiaofan Zhou
- Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - David Peris
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,Department of Food Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cletus P Kurtzman
- Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, United States
| | - Chris Todd Hittinger
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States.,Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Paula Gonçalves
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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24
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Lind AL, Wisecaver JH, Lameiras C, Wiemann P, Palmer JM, Keller NP, Rodrigues F, Goldman GH, Rokas A. Drivers of genetic diversity in secondary metabolic gene clusters within a fungal species. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2003583. [PMID: 29149178 PMCID: PMC5711037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites (SMs) critical for defense, virulence, and communication. The metabolic pathways that produce SMs are found in contiguous gene clusters in fungal genomes, an atypical arrangement for metabolic pathways in other eukaryotes. Comparative studies of filamentous fungal species have shown that SM gene clusters are often either highly divergent or uniquely present in one or a handful of species, hampering efforts to determine the genetic basis and evolutionary drivers of SM gene cluster divergence. Here, we examined SM variation in 66 cosmopolitan strains of a single species, the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Investigation of genome-wide within-species variation revealed 5 general types of variation in SM gene clusters: nonfunctional gene polymorphisms; gene gain and loss polymorphisms; whole cluster gain and loss polymorphisms; allelic polymorphisms, in which different alleles corresponded to distinct, nonhomologous clusters; and location polymorphisms, in which a cluster was found to differ in its genomic location across strains. These polymorphisms affect the function of representative A. fumigatus SM gene clusters, such as those involved in the production of gliotoxin, fumigaclavine, and helvolic acid as well as the function of clusters with undefined products. In addition to enabling the identification of polymorphisms, the detection of which requires extensive genome-wide synteny conservation (e.g., mobile gene clusters and nonhomologous cluster alleles), our approach also implicated multiple underlying genetic drivers, including point mutations, recombination, and genomic deletion and insertion events as well as horizontal gene transfer from distant fungi. Finally, most of the variants that we uncover within A. fumigatus have been previously hypothesized to contribute to SM gene cluster diversity across entire fungal classes and phyla. We suggest that the drivers of genetic diversity operating within a fungal species shown here are sufficient to explain SM cluster macroevolutionary patterns. All organisms produce metabolites, which are small molecules important for growth, reproduction, and other essential functions. Some organisms, including fungi, plants, and bacteria, make specialized forms of metabolites known as “secondary” metabolites that are ecologically important and improve their producers’ chances of survival and reproduction. In fungi, the genes in pathways that synthesize secondary metabolites are typically located next to each other in the genome and organized in contiguous gene clusters. These gene clusters, along with the metabolites they produce, are highly distinct, even between otherwise similar fungi, and it is often difficult to reconstruct how these differences evolved. To understand how secondary metabolic pathways evolve in fungi, we compared secondary metabolic gene clusters in 66 strains of one species of filamentous fungus, the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We show that these gene clusters vary extensively within this species, and describe the genetic processes that cause these differences. We identify 5 types of variants: single nucleotide changes, gene and gene cluster gain and loss, different gene clusters at the same genomic position, and mobile gene clusters that “jump” around the genome. These results provide a road map to the types and frequencies of genomic changes underlying the extensive diversity of fungal secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L. Lind
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jennifer H. Wisecaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Catarina Lameiras
- Department of Microbiology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Philipp Wiemann
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jonathan M. Palmer
- Center for Forest Mycology Research, Northern Research Station, US Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B′s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Gustavo H. Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Metabolic gene clusters (MGCs) have provided some of the earliest glimpses at the biochemical machinery of yeast and filamentous fungi. MGCs encode diverse genetic mechanisms for nutrient acquisition and the synthesis/degradation of essential and adaptive metabolites. Beyond encoding the enzymes performing these discrete anabolic or catabolic processes, MGCs may encode a range of mechanisms that enable their persistence as genetic consortia; these include enzymatic mechanisms to protect their host fungi from their inherent toxicities, and integrated regulatory machinery. This modular, self-contained nature of MGCs contributes to the metabolic and ecological adaptability of fungi. The phylogenetic and ecological patterns of MGC distribution reflect the broad diversity of fungal life cycles and nutritional modes. While the origins of most gene clusters are enigmatic, MGCs are thought to be born into a genome through gene duplication, relocation, or horizontal transfer, and analyzing the death and decay of gene clusters provides clues about the mechanisms selecting for their assembly. Gene clustering may provide inherent fitness advantages through metabolic efficiency and specialization, but experimental evidence for this is currently limited. The identification and characterization of gene clusters will continue to be powerful tools for elucidating fungal metabolism as well as understanding the physiology and ecology of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Slot
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
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Geisen R, Touhami N, Schmidt-Heydt M. Mycotoxins as adaptation factors to food related environments. Curr Opin Food Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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The FlbA-regulated predicted transcription factor Fum21 of Aspergillus niger is involved in fumonisin production. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2017; 111:311-322. [PMID: 28965153 PMCID: PMC5816093 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-017-0952-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus niger secretes proteins throughout the colony except for the zone that forms asexual spores called conidia. Inactivation of flbA that encodes a regulator of G-protein signaling results in colonies that are unable to reproduce asexually and that secrete proteins throughout the mycelium. In addition, the ΔflbA strain shows cell lysis and has thinner cell walls. Expression analysis showed that 38 predicted transcription factor genes are differentially expressed in strain ΔflbA. Here, the most down-regulated predicted transcription factor gene, called fum21, was inactivated. Growth, conidiation, and protein secretion were not affected in strain Δfum21. Whole genome expression analysis revealed that 63 and 11 genes were down- and up-regulated in Δfum21, respectively, when compared to the wild-type strain. Notably, 24 genes predicted to be involved in secondary metabolism were down-regulated in Δfum21, including 10 out of 12 genes of the fumonisin cluster. This was accompanied by absence of fumonisin production in the deletion strain and a 25% reduction in production of pyranonigrin A. Together, these results link FlbA-mediated sporulation-inhibited secretion with mycotoxin production.
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Niehaus EM, Münsterkötter M, Proctor RH, Brown DW, Sharon A, Idan Y, Oren-Young L, Sieber CM, Novák O, Pěnčík A, Tarkowská D, Hromadová K, Freeman S, Maymon M, Elazar M, Youssef SA, El-Shabrawy ESM, Shalaby ABA, Houterman P, Brock NL, Burkhardt I, Tsavkelova EA, Dickschat JS, Galuszka P, Güldener U, Tudzynski B. Comparative "Omics" of the Fusarium fujikuroi Species Complex Highlights Differences in Genetic Potential and Metabolite Synthesis. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:3574-3599. [PMID: 28040774 PMCID: PMC5203792 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Species of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFC) cause a wide spectrum of often devastating diseases on diverse agricultural crops, including coffee, fig, mango, maize, rice, and sugarcane. Although species within the FFC are difficult to distinguish by morphology, and their genes often share 90% sequence similarity, they can differ in host plant specificity and life style. FFC species can also produce structurally diverse secondary metabolites (SMs), including the mycotoxins fumonisins, fusarins, fusaric acid, and beauvericin, and the phytohormones gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins. The spectrum of SMs produced can differ among closely related species, suggesting that SMs might be determinants of host specificity. To date, genomes of only a limited number of FFC species have been sequenced. Here, we provide draft genome sequences of three more members of the FFC: a single isolate of F. mangiferae, the cause of mango malformation, and two isolates of F. proliferatum, one a pathogen of maize and the other an orchid endophyte. We compared these genomes to publicly available genome sequences of three other FFC species. The comparisons revealed species-specific and isolate-specific differences in the composition and expression (in vitro and in planta) of genes involved in SM production including those for phytohormome biosynthesis. Such differences have the potential to impact host specificity and, as in the case of F. proliferatum, the pathogenic versus endophytic life style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Münsterkötter
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Robert H Proctor
- United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, Illinois
| | - Daren W Brown
- United States Department of Agriculture, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, Illinois
| | - Amir Sharon
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yifat Idan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Liat Oren-Young
- Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Christian M Sieber
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, University of California, Walnut Creek, Berkeley, California
| | - Ondřej Novák
- Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Pěnčík
- Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Danuše Tarkowská
- Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Hromadová
- Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Stanley Freeman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Marcel Maymon
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Meirav Elazar
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Sahar A Youssef
- Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | | | | | - Petra Houterman
- University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Plant Pathology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nelson L Brock
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Germany
| | - Immo Burkhardt
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Germany
| | - Elena A Tsavkelova
- Department of Microbiology Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Germany
| | - Petr Galuszka
- Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Department of Genome-oriented Bioinformatics, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Maximus-von-Imhof-Forum 3, Freising, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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Druzhinina IS, Kubicek EM, Kubicek CP. Several steps of lateral gene transfer followed by events of 'birth-and-death' evolution shaped a fungal sorbicillinoid biosynthetic gene cluster. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:269. [PMID: 28010735 PMCID: PMC5182515 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0834-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sorbicillinoids are a family of complex cyclic polyketides produced by only a small number of distantly related ascomycete fungi such as Trichoderma (Sordariomycetes) and Penicillium (Eurotiomycetes). In T. reesei, they are synthesized by a gene cluster consisting of eight genes including two polyketide synthases (PKS). To reconstruct the evolutionary origin of this gene cluster, we examined the occurrence of these eight genes in ascomycetes. Results A cluster comprising at least six of them was only found in Hypocreales (Acremonium chrysogenum, Ustilaginoidea virens, Trichoderma species from section Longibrachiatum) and in Penicillium rubens (Eurotiales). In addition, Colletotrichum graminicola contained the two pks (sor1 and sor2), but not the other sor genes. A. chrysogenum was the evolutionary eldest species in which sor1, sor2, sor3, sor4 and sor6 were present. Sor5 was gained by lateral gene transfer (LGT) from P. rubens. In the younger Hypocreales (U. virens, Trichoderma spp.), the cluster evolved by vertical transfer, but sor2 was lost and regained by LGT from C. graminicola. SorB (=sor2) and sorD (=sor4) were symplesiomorphic in P. rubens, whereas sorA, sorC and sorF were obtained by LGT from A. chrysogenum, and sorE by LGT from Pestalotiopsis fici (Xylariales). The sorbicillinoid gene cluster in Trichoderma section Longibrachiatum is under strong purifying selection. The T. reesei sor genes are expressed during fast vegetative growth, during antagonism of other fungi and regulated by the secondary metabolism regulator LAE1. Conclusions Our findings pinpoint the evolution of the fungal sorbicillinoid biosynthesis gene cluster. The core cluster arose in early Hypocreales, and was complemented by LGT. During further speciation in the Hypocreales, it became subject to birth and death evolution in selected lineages. In P. rubrens (Eurotiales), two cluster genes were symplesiomorphic, and the whole cluster formed by LGT from at least two different fungal donors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0834-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S Druzhinina
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva M Kubicek
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,, Present address: Steinschötelgasse 7, 1100, Wien, Austria
| | - Christian P Kubicek
- Microbiology Group, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria. .,, Present address: Steinschötelgasse 7, 1100, Wien, Austria.
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Koczyk G, Dawidziuk A, Popiel D. The Distant Siblings-A Phylogenomic Roadmap Illuminates the Origins of Extant Diversity in Fungal Aromatic Polyketide Biosynthesis. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:3132-54. [PMID: 26537223 PMCID: PMC5635595 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the influx of newly sequenced fungal genomes has enabled sampling of secondary metabolite biosynthesis on an unprecedented scale. However, explanations of extant diversity which take into account both large-scale phylogeny reconstructions and knowledge gained from multiple genome projects are still lacking. We analyzed the evolutionary sources of genetic diversity in aromatic polyketide biosynthesis in over 100 model fungal genomes. By reconciling the history of over 400 nonreducing polyketide synthases (NR-PKSs) with corresponding species history, we demonstrate that extant fungal NR-PKSs are clades of distant siblings, originating from a burst of duplications in early Pezizomycotina and thinned by extensive losses. The capability of higher fungi to biosynthesize the simplest precursor molecule (orsellinic acid) is highlighted as an ancestral trait underlying biosynthesis of aromatic compounds. This base activity was modified during early evolution of filamentous fungi, toward divergent reaction schemes associated with biosynthesis of, for example, aflatoxins and fusarubins (C4–C9 cyclization) or various anthraquinone derivatives (C6–C11 cyclization). The functional plasticity is further shown to have been supplemented by modularization of domain architecture into discrete pieces (conserved splice junctions within product template domain), as well as tight linkage of key accessory enzyme families and divergence in employed transcriptional factors. Although the majority of discord between species and gene history is explained by ancient duplications, this landscape has been altered by more recent duplications, as well as multiple horizontal gene transfers. The 25 detected transfers include previously undescribed events leading to emergence of, for example, fusarubin biosynthesis in Fusarium genus. Both the underlying data and the results of present analysis (including alternative scenarios revealed by sampling multiple reconciliation optima) are maintained as a freely available web-based resource: http://cropnet.pl/metasites/sekmet/nrpks_2014.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Dawidziuk
- Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance and Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Delfina Popiel
- Department of Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance and Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile Gluck-Thaler
- Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jason C Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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Gonçalves C, Coelho MA, Salema-Oom M, Gonçalves P. Stepwise Functional Evolution in a Fungal Sugar Transporter Family. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:352-66. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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Arai T, Kojima R, Motegi Y, Kato J, Kasumi T, Ogihara J. PP-O and PP-V, Monascus pigment homologues, production, and phylogenetic analysis in Penicillium purpurogenum. Fungal Biol 2015; 119:1226-1236. [PMID: 26615745 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2015.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The production of pigments as secondary metabolites by microbes is known to vary by species and by physiological conditions within a single strain. The fungus strain Penicillium purpurogenum IAM15392 has been found to produce violet pigment (PP-V) and orange pigment (PP-O),Monascus azaphilone pigment homologues, when grown under specific culture conditions. In this study, we analysed PP-V and PP-O production capability in seven strains of P. purpurogenum in addition to strain IAM15392 under specific culture conditions. The pigment production pattern of five strains cultivated in PP-V production medium was similar to that of strain IAM15392, and all violet pigments produced by these five strains were confirmed to be PP-V. Strains that did not produce pigment were also identified. In addition, two strains cultivated in PP-O production medium produced a violet pigment identified as PP-V. The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences from the eight P. purpurogenum strains were sequenced and used to construct a neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree. PP-O and PP-V production of P. purpurogenum was shown to be related to phylogenetic placement based on rDNA ITS sequence. Based on these results, two hypotheses for the alteration of pigment production of P. purpurogenum in evolution were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teppei Arai
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Ryo Kojima
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Motegi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Jun Kato
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Takafumi Kasumi
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan
| | - Jun Ogihara
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, College of Bioresource Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan.
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Frisvad JC, Larsen TO. Chemodiversity in the genus Aspergillus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:7859-77. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6839-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Draft genomes of two sordariomycete fungi that produce novel secondary metabolites. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2015; 3:3/2/e00291-15. [PMID: 25883292 PMCID: PMC4400435 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.00291-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The genomes of two fungi isolated from soil (MEA-2) and sediment (SUP5-1) were sequenced. Both were members of the order Hypocreales, closely related to Tolypocladium inflatum, and capable of producing novel secondary metabolites. The draft genomes enabled the characterization of key biosynthetic pathways.
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Kim W, Park CM, Park JJ, Akamatsu HO, Peever TL, Xian M, Gang DR, Vandemark G, Chen W. Functional Analyses of the Diels-Alderase Gene sol5 of Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani Indicate that the Solanapyrone Phytotoxins Are Not Required for Pathogenicity. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2015; 28:482-96. [PMID: 25372118 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-14-0234-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani, the causal agents of Ascochyta blight of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and early blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum), respectively, produce a set of phytotoxic compounds including solanapyrones A, B, and C. Although both the phytotoxicity of solanapyrones and their universal production among field isolates have been documented, the role of solanapyrones in pathogenicity is not well understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of the sol5 gene, which encodes a Diels-Alderase that catalyzes the final step of solanapyrone biosynthesis. Deletion of sol5 in both Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani completely prevented production of solanapyrones and led to accumulation of the immediate precursor compound, prosolanapyrone II-diol, which is not toxic to plants. Deletion of sol5 did not negatively affect growth rate or spore production in vitro, and led to overexpression of the other solanapyrone biosynthesis genes, suggesting a possible feedback regulation mechanism. Phytotoxicity tests showed that solanapyrone A is highly toxic to several legume species and Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite the apparent phytotoxicity of solanapyrone A, pathogenicity tests showed that solanapyrone-minus mutants of Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani were equally virulent as their corresponding wild-type progenitors, suggesting that solanapyrones are not required for pathogenicity.
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Lind AL, Wisecaver JH, Smith TD, Feng X, Calvo AM, Rokas A. Examining the evolution of the regulatory circuit controlling secondary metabolism and development in the fungal genus Aspergillus. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005096. [PMID: 25786130 PMCID: PMC4364702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi produce diverse secondary metabolites (SMs) essential to their ecology and adaptation. Although each SM is typically produced by only a handful of species, global SM production is governed by widely conserved transcriptional regulators in conjunction with other cellular processes, such as development. We examined the interplay between the taxonomic narrowness of SM distribution and the broad conservation of global regulation of SM and development in Aspergillus, a diverse fungal genus whose members produce well-known SMs such as penicillin and gliotoxin. Evolutionary analysis of the 2,124 genes comprising the 262 SM pathways in four Aspergillus species showed that most SM pathways were species-specific, that the number of SM gene orthologs was significantly lower than that of orthologs in primary metabolism, and that the few conserved SM orthologs typically belonged to non-homologous SM pathways. RNA sequencing of two master transcriptional regulators of SM and development, veA and mtfA, showed that the effects of deletion of each gene, especially veA, on SM pathway regulation were similar in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, even though the underlying genes and pathways regulated in each species differed. In contrast, examination of the role of these two regulators in development, where 94% of the underlying genes are conserved in both species showed that whereas the role of veA is conserved, mtfA regulates development in the homothallic A. nidulans but not in the heterothallic A. fumigatus. Thus, the regulation of these highly conserved developmental genes is divergent, whereas-despite minimal conservation of target genes and pathways-the global regulation of SM production is largely conserved. We suggest that the evolution of the transcriptional regulation of secondary metabolism in Aspergillus represents a novel type of regulatory circuit rewiring and hypothesize that it has been largely driven by the dramatic turnover of the target genes involved in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L. Lind
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jennifer H. Wisecaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Timothy D. Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Xuehuan Feng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ana M. Calvo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America,Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America,* E-mail:
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Wisecaver JH, Rokas A. Fungal metabolic gene clusters-caravans traveling across genomes and environments. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:161. [PMID: 25784900 PMCID: PMC4347624 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic gene clusters (MGCs), physically co-localized genes participating in the same metabolic pathway, are signature features of fungal genomes. MGCs are most often observed in specialized metabolism, having evolved in individual fungal lineages in response to specific ecological needs, such as the utilization of uncommon nutrients (e.g., galactose and allantoin) or the production of secondary metabolic antimicrobial compounds and virulence factors (e.g., aflatoxin and melanin). A flurry of recent studies has shown that several MGCs, whose functions are often associated with fungal virulence as well as with the evolutionary arms race between fungi and their competitors, have experienced horizontal gene transfer (HGT). In this review, after briefly introducing HGT as a source of gene innovation, we examine the evidence for HGT's involvement on the evolution of MGCs and, more generally of fungal metabolism, enumerate the molecular mechanisms that mediate such transfers and the ecological circumstances that favor them, as well as discuss the types of evidence required for inferring the presence of HGT in MGCs. The currently available examples indicate that transfers of entire MGCs have taken place between closely related fungal species as well as distant ones and that they sometimes involve large chromosomal segments. These results suggest that the HGT-mediated acquisition of novel metabolism is an ongoing and successful ecological strategy for many fungal species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN, USA
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Kim W, Park CM, Park JJ, Akamatsu HO, Peever TL, Xian M, Gang DR, Vandemark G, Chen W. Functional Analyses of the Diels-Alderase Gene sol5 of Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani Indicate that the Solanapyrone Phytotoxins Are Not Required for Pathogenicity. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2015; 2015:1-15. [PMID: 27839072 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-08-14-0234-r.testissue] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani, the causal agents of Ascochyta blight of chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and early blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum), respectively, produce a set of phytotoxic compounds including solanapyrones A, B, and C. Although both the phytotoxicity of solanapyrones and their universal production among field isolates have been documented, the role of solanapyrones in pathogenicity is not well understood. Here, we report the functional characterization of the sol5 gene, which encodes a Diels-Alderase that catalyzes the final step of solanapyrone biosynthesis. Deletion of sol5 in both Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani completely prevented production of solanapyrones and led to accumulation of the immediate precursor compound, prosolanapyrone II-diol, which is not toxic to plants. Deletion of sol5 did not negatively affect growth rate or spore production in vitro, and led to overexpression of the other solanapyrone biosynthesis genes, suggesting a possible feedback regulation mechanism. Phytotoxicity tests showed that solanapyrone A is highly toxic to several legume species and Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite the apparent phytotoxicity of solanapyrone A, pathogenicity tests showed that solanapyrone-minus mutants of Ascochyta rabiei and Alternaria solani were equally virulent as their corresponding wild-type progenitors, suggesting that solanapyrones are not required for pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeong-Jin Park
- 3 Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, U.S.A.; and
| | | | | | | | - David R Gang
- 3 Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, U.S.A.; and
| | - George Vandemark
- 1 Department of Plant Pathology
- 4 United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman
| | - Weidong Chen
- 1 Department of Plant Pathology
- 4 United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman
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Wisecaver JH, Slot JC, Rokas A. The evolution of fungal metabolic pathways. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004816. [PMID: 25474404 PMCID: PMC4256263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi contain a remarkable range of metabolic pathways, sometimes encoded by gene clusters, enabling them to digest most organic matter and synthesize an array of potent small molecules. Although metabolism is fundamental to the fungal lifestyle, we still know little about how major evolutionary processes, such as gene duplication (GD) and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), have interacted with clustered and non-clustered fungal metabolic pathways to give rise to this metabolic versatility. We examined the synteny and evolutionary history of 247,202 fungal genes encoding enzymes that catalyze 875 distinct metabolic reactions from 130 pathways in 208 diverse genomes. We found that gene clustering varied greatly with respect to metabolic category and lineage; for example, clustered genes in Saccharomycotina yeasts were overrepresented in nucleotide metabolism, whereas clustered genes in Pezizomycotina were more common in lipid and amino acid metabolism. The effects of both GD and HGT were more pronounced in clustered genes than in their non-clustered counterparts and were differentially distributed across fungal lineages; specifically, GD, which was an order of magnitude more abundant than HGT, was most frequently observed in Agaricomycetes, whereas HGT was much more prevalent in Pezizomycotina. The effect of HGT in some Pezizomycotina was particularly strong; for example, we identified 111 HGT events associated with the 15 Aspergillus genomes, which sharply contrasts with the 60 HGT events detected for the 48 genomes from the entire Saccharomycotina subphylum. Finally, the impact of GD within a metabolic category was typically consistent across all fungal lineages, whereas the impact of HGT was variable. These results indicate that GD is the dominant process underlying fungal metabolic diversity, whereas HGT is episodic and acts in a category- or lineage-specific manner. Both processes have a greater impact on clustered genes, suggesting that metabolic gene clusters represent hotspots for the generation of fungal metabolic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H. Wisecaver
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Slot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JCS); (AR)
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JCS); (AR)
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41
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The Fusarium graminearum genome reveals more secondary metabolite gene clusters and hints of horizontal gene transfer. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110311. [PMID: 25333987 PMCID: PMC4198257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes are of major interest due to the pharmacological properties of their products (like mycotoxins and antibiotics). The genome of the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum codes for a large number of candidate enzymes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis. However, the chemical nature of most enzymatic products of proteins encoded by putative secondary metabolism biosynthetic genes is largely unknown. Based on our analysis we present 67 gene clusters with significant enrichment of predicted secondary metabolism related enzymatic functions. 20 gene clusters with unknown metabolites exhibit strong gene expression correlation in planta and presumably play a role in virulence. Furthermore, the identification of conserved and over-represented putative transcription factor binding sites serves as additional evidence for cluster co-regulation. Orthologous cluster search provided insight into the evolution of secondary metabolism clusters. Some clusters are characteristic for the Fusarium phylum while others show evidence of horizontal gene transfer as orthologs can be found in representatives of the Botrytis or Cochliobolus lineage. The presented candidate clusters provide valuable targets for experimental examination.
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42
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Scazzocchio C. Fungal biology in the post-genomic era. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2014; 1:7. [PMID: 28955449 PMCID: PMC5611559 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-014-0007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review I give a personal perspective of how fungal biology has changed since I started my Ph. D. in 1963. At that time we were working in the shadow of the birth of molecular biology as an autonomous and reductionistic discipline, embodied in Crick’s central dogma. This first period was methodologically characterised by the fact that we knew what genes were, but we could not access them directly. This radically changed in the 70s-80s when gene cloning, reverse genetics and DNA sequencing become possible. The “next generation” sequencing techniques have produced a further qualitative revolutionary change. The ready access to genomes and transcriptomes of any microbial organism allows old questions to be asked in a radically different way and new questions to be approached. I provide examples chosen somewhat arbitrarily to illustrate some of these changes, from applied aspects to fundamental problems such as the origin of fungal specific genes, the evolutionary history of genes clusters and the realisation of the pervasiveness of horizontal transmission. Finally, I address how the ready availability of genomes and transcriptomes could change the status of model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Scazzocchio
- Department of Microbiology, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ UK.,Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, CNRS UMR 8621, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France
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Ma LJ, Geiser DM, Proctor RH, Rooney AP, O'Donnell K, Trail F, Gardiner DM, Manners JM, Kazan K. Fusarium pathogenomics. Annu Rev Microbiol 2014; 67:399-416. [PMID: 24024636 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 323] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium is a genus of filamentous fungi that contains many agronomically important plant pathogens, mycotoxin producers, and opportunistic human pathogens. Comparative analyses have revealed that the Fusarium genome is compartmentalized into regions responsible for primary metabolism and reproduction (core genome), and pathogen virulence, host specialization, and possibly other functions (adaptive genome). Genes involved in virulence and host specialization are located on pathogenicity chromosomes within strains pathogenic to tomato (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) and pea (Fusarium 'solani' f. sp. pisi). The experimental transfer of pathogenicity chromosomes from F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici into a nonpathogen transformed the latter into a tomato pathogen. Thus, horizontal transfer may explain the polyphyletic origins of host specificity within the genus. Additional genome-scale comparative and functional studies are needed to elucidate the evolution and diversity of pathogenicity mechanisms, which may help inform novel disease management strategies against fusarial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jun Ma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003;
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44
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Ridenour JB, Smith JE, Hirsch RL, Horevaj P, Kim H, Sharma S, Bluhm BH. UBL1 of Fusarium verticillioides links the N-end rule pathway to extracellular sensing and plant pathogenesis. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:2004-22. [PMID: 24237664 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides produces fumonisin mycotoxins during colonization of maize. Currently, molecular mechanisms underlying responsiveness of F.verticillioides to extracellular cues during pathogenesis are poorly understood. In this study, insertional mutants were created and screened to identify genes involved in responses to extracellular starch. In one mutant, the restriction enzyme-mediated integration cassette disrupted a gene (UBL1) encoding a UBR-Box/RING domain E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in the N-end rule pathway. Disruption of UBL1 in F.verticillioides (Δubl1) influenced conidiation, hyphal morphology, pigmentation and amylolysis. Disruption of UBL1 also impaired kernel colonization, but the ratio of fumonisin B1 per unit growth was not significantly reduced. The inability of a Δubl1 mutant to recognize an N-end rule degron confirmed involvement of UBL1 in the N-end rule pathway. Additionally, Ubl1 physically interacted with two G protein α subunits of F.verticillioides, thus implicating UBL1 in G protein-mediated sensing of the external environment. Furthermore, deletion of the UBL1 orthologue in F.graminearum reduced virulence on wheat and maize, thus indicating that UBL1 has a broader role in virulence among Fusarium species. This study provides the first linkage between the N-end rule pathway and fungal pathogenesis, and illustrates a new mechanism through which fungi respond to the external environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Ridenour
- Department of Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
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45
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Holton TA, Vijayakumar V, Khaldi N. Bioinformatics: Current perspectives and future directions for food and nutritional research facilitated by a Food-Wiki database. Trends Food Sci Technol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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46
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Proctor RH, Van Hove F, Susca A, Stea G, Busman M, van der Lee T, Waalwijk C, Moretti A, Ward TJ. Birth, death and horizontal transfer of the fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster during the evolutionary diversification of Fusarium. Mol Microbiol 2013; 90:290-306. [PMID: 23937442 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Fumonisins are a family of carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by members of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) and rare strains of Fusarium oxysporum. In Fusarium, fumonisin biosynthetic genes (FUM) are clustered, and the cluster is uniform in gene organization. Here, sequence analyses indicated that the cluster exists in five different genomic contexts, defining five cluster types. In FUM gene genealogies, evolutionary relationships between fusaria with different cluster types were largely incongruent with species relationships inferred from primary-metabolism (PM) gene genealogies, and FUM cluster types are not trans-specific. In addition, synonymous site divergence analyses indicated that three FUM cluster types predate diversification of FFSC. The data are not consistent with balancing selection or interspecific hybridization, but they are consistent with two competing hypotheses: (i) multiple horizontal transfers of the cluster from unknown donors to FFSC recipients and (ii) cluster duplication and loss (birth and death). Furthermore, low levels of FUM gene divergence in F. bulbicola, an FFSC species, and F. oxysporum provide evidence for horizontal transfer of the cluster from the former, or a closely related species, to the latter. Thus, uniform gene organization within the FUM cluster belies a complex evolutionary history that has not always paralleled the evolution of Fusarium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Proctor
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, USA
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47
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Watanabe M, Yonezawa T, Sugita-Konishi Y, Kamata Y. Utility of the phylotoxigenic relationships among trichothecene-producingFusariumspecies for predicting their mycotoxin-producing potential. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2013; 30:1370-81. [DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2013.794305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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48
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Wight WD, Labuda R, Walton JD. Conservation of the genes for HC-toxin biosynthesis in Alternaria jesenskae. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:165. [PMID: 23865912 PMCID: PMC3729494 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background HC-toxin, a cyclic tetrapeptide, is a virulence determinant for the plant pathogenic fungus Cochliobolus carbonum. It was recently discovered that another fungus, Alternaria jesenskae, also produces HC-toxin. Results The major genes (collectively known as AjTOX2) involved in the biosynthesis of HC-toxin were identified from A. jesenskae by genomic sequencing. The encoded orthologous proteins share 75-85% amino acid identity, and the genes for HC-toxin biosynthesis are duplicated in both fungi. The genomic organization of the genes in the two fungi show a similar but not identical partial clustering arrangement. A set of representative housekeeping proteins show a similar high level of amino acid identity between C. carbonum and A. jesenskae, which is consistent with the close relatedness of these two genera within the family Pleosporaceae (Dothideomycetes). Conclusions This is the first report that the plant virulence factor HC-toxin is made by an organism other than C. carbonum. The genes may have moved by horizontal transfer between the two species, but it cannot be excluded that they were present in a common ancestor and lost from other species of Alternaria and Cochliobolus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanessa D Wight
- Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, Room 210, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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49
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Wiemann P, Sieber CMK, von Bargen KW, Studt L, Niehaus EM, Espino JJ, Huß K, Michielse CB, Albermann S, Wagner D, Bergner SV, Connolly LR, Fischer A, Reuter G, Kleigrewe K, Bald T, Wingfield BD, Ophir R, Freeman S, Hippler M, Smith KM, Brown DW, Proctor RH, Münsterkötter M, Freitag M, Humpf HU, Güldener U, Tudzynski B. Deciphering the cryptic genome: genome-wide analyses of the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi reveal complex regulation of secondary metabolism and novel metabolites. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003475. [PMID: 23825955 PMCID: PMC3694855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Fusarium fujikuroi causes "bakanae" disease of rice due to its ability to produce gibberellins (GAs), but it is also known for producing harmful mycotoxins. However, the genetic capacity for the whole arsenal of natural compounds and their role in the fungus' interaction with rice remained unknown. Here, we present a high-quality genome sequence of F. fujikuroi that was assembled into 12 scaffolds corresponding to the 12 chromosomes described for the fungus. We used the genome sequence along with ChIP-seq, transcriptome, proteome, and HPLC-FTMS-based metabolome analyses to identify the potential secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and to examine their regulation in response to nitrogen availability and plant signals. The results indicate that expression of most but not all gene clusters correlate with proteome and ChIP-seq data. Comparison of the F. fujikuroi genome to those of six other fusaria revealed that only a small number of gene clusters are conserved among these species, thus providing new insights into the divergence of secondary metabolism in the genus Fusarium. Noteworthy, GA biosynthetic genes are present in some related species, but GA biosynthesis is limited to F. fujikuroi, suggesting that this provides a selective advantage during infection of the preferred host plant rice. Among the genome sequences analyzed, one cluster that includes a polyketide synthase gene (PKS19) and another that includes a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene (NRPS31) are unique to F. fujikuroi. The metabolites derived from these clusters were identified by HPLC-FTMS-based analyses of engineered F. fujikuroi strains overexpressing cluster genes. In planta expression studies suggest a specific role for the PKS19-derived product during rice infection. Thus, our results indicate that combined comparative genomics and genome-wide experimental analyses identified novel genes and secondary metabolites that contribute to the evolutionary success of F. fujikuroi as a rice pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Wiemann
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian M. K. Sieber
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Katharina W. von Bargen
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Lena Studt
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Niehaus
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jose J. Espino
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kathleen Huß
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Caroline B. Michielse
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sabine Albermann
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dominik Wagner
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sonja V. Bergner
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lanelle R. Connolly
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andreas Fischer
- Institut of Genetics/Developmental Genetics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Gunter Reuter
- Institut of Genetics/Developmental Genetics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Karin Kleigrewe
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Till Bald
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Brenda D. Wingfield
- Department of Genetics, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ron Ophir
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Genomics, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Stanley Freeman
- Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
| | - Michael Hippler
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kristina M. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Daren W. Brown
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robert H. Proctor
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Martin Münsterkötter
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Freitag
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Hans-Ulrich Humpf
- Institute for Food Chemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 45, Münster, Germany
| | - Ulrich Güldener
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bettina Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Fungi, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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50
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Coelho MA, Gonçalves C, Sampaio JP, Gonçalves P. Extensive intra-kingdom horizontal gene transfer converging on a fungal fructose transporter gene. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003587. [PMID: 23818872 PMCID: PMC3688497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomics revealed in the last decade a scenario of rampant horizontal gene transfer (HGT) among prokaryotes, but for fungi a clearly dominant pattern of vertical inheritance still stands, punctuated however by an increasing number of exceptions. In the present work, we studied the phylogenetic distribution and pattern of inheritance of a fungal gene encoding a fructose transporter (FSY1) with unique substrate selectivity. 109 FSY1 homologues were identified in two sub-phyla of the Ascomycota, in a survey that included 241 available fungal genomes. At least 10 independent inter-species instances of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) involving FSY1 were identified, supported by strong phylogenetic evidence and synteny analyses. The acquisition of FSY1 through HGT was sometimes suggestive of xenolog gene displacement, but several cases of pseudoparalogy were also uncovered. Moreover, evidence was found for successive HGT events, possibly including those responsible for transmission of the gene among yeast lineages. These occurrences do not seem to be driven by functional diversification of the Fsy1 proteins because Fsy1 homologues from widely distant lineages, including at least one acquired by HGT, appear to have similar biochemical properties. In summary, retracing the evolutionary path of the FSY1 gene brought to light an unparalleled number of independent HGT events involving a single fungal gene. We propose that the turbulent evolutionary history of the gene may be linked to the unique biochemical properties of the encoded transporter, whose predictable effect on fitness may be highly variable. In general, our results support the most recent views suggesting that inter-species HGT may have contributed much more substantially to shape fungal genomes than heretofore assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Coelho
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Carla Gonçalves
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - José Paulo Sampaio
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Paula Gonçalves
- Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
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