Abstract Detail

Genetics/Molecular Biology

Gazis, Romina [1], Kuo, Alan [2], Floudas, Dimitrios [1], Grigoriev, Igor [2], Spatafora, Joey [3], Hibbett, David [1].

Xylona heveae (Xylonomycetes) genome: a window to fungal endophytism.

Even though surveys of horizontally transmitted fungal endophytes have exponentially risen in the last decade, it is only until recently that genomic data has become available for this ecologically diverse group. The genome of Xylona heveae has recently been sequenced as part of the 1,000 Fungal Genomes project in collaboration with the Joint Genome Institute. X. heveae has only been found as an endophyte and remains the only representative of the Xylonomycetes as no close relatives have been described to date. In this project we had two main objectives: (1) to elucidate the phylogenetic position of the Xylonomycetes within the Ascomycota and (2) to explore the genome content of X. heveae for genes related to carbohydrate degradation (including plant cell wall-degrading enzymes), secondary metabolite production, proteins involve in the production of sexual forms, and genes involved in pathogenicity and host-pathogen interaction. We conducted a comparative analysis that included X. heveae and 36 other Ascomycota genomes, representing diverse life-styles (animal and plant pathogens, mutualists, and saprotrophs). In this analysis we also included strains that were isolated as endophytes and are now part of the endophytic fungi EcoGroup Portal in MycoCosm (jgi.doe.gov/fungi). The objective of the comparative analysis was to detect genes that are unique to endophytic lineages and to determine if the genetic background of endophytic strains that are able to switch from an endophytic life-style to a pathogenic or saprotrophic lifestyle is different from that contained in strains that are only known to be endophytes. Data from this study has allowed us to resolve the phylogenetic position of the Xylonomycetes and start understanding the different types of fungal endophytism and the genomic background of the endophytic continuum.

Related Links:
Project website
MycoCosm

1 - Clark University, Biology Department, 950 Main street, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
2 - Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute
3 - Oregon State University, Dept. Botany and Plant Pathology

Keywords:
comparative genomics
endophytes
CAZYs
Xylonomycetes.

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Paper
Session: 3
Location: Room 104 AB/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 9:15 AM
Number: 3004
Abstract ID:155
Candidate for Awards:None