| Content Provider |
World Health Organization (WHO)-Global Index Medicus |
| Author |
Suen, Garret Barribeau, Seth M. Druzhinina, Irina S. De Man, Tom J. B. Stajich, Jason E. Gerardo, Nicole M. Birnbaum, Stephanie S. L. Chenthamara, Komal Kubicek, Christian P. Atanasova, Lea Currie, Cameron R. Levenkova, Natasha Teiling, Clotilde Bozick, Brooke A. |
| Description |
Author Affiliation: de Man TJ ( Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322); Stajich JE ( Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521); Kubicek CP ( Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria); Teiling C ( 454 Life Sciences, Roche Company, Branford, CT 06405); Chenthamara K ( Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria); Atanasova L ( Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria); Druzhinina IS ( Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria); Levenkova N ( 454 Life Sciences, Roche Company, Branford, CT 06405); Birnbaum SS ( Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322); Barribeau SM ( Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322); Bozick BA ( Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322); Suen G ( Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706.); Currie CR ( Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706.); Gerardo NM ( Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322); |
| Abstract |
Many microorganisms with specialized lifestyles have reduced genomes. This is best understood in beneficial bacterial symbioses, where partner fidelity facilitates loss of genes necessary for living independently. Specialized microbial pathogens may also exhibit gene loss relative to generalists. Here, we demonstrate that Escovopsis weberi, a fungal parasite of the crops of fungus-growing ants, has a reduced genome in terms of both size and gene content relative to closely related but less specialized fungi. Although primary metabolism genes have been retained, the E. weberi genome is depleted in carbohydrate active enzymes, which is consistent with reliance on a host with these functions. E. weberi has also lost genes considered necessary for sexual reproduction. Contrasting these losses, the genome encodes unique secondary metabolite biosynthesis clusters, some of which include genes that exhibit up-regulated expression during host attack. Thus, the specialized nature of the interaction between Escovopsis and ant agriculture is reflected in the parasite's genome. |
| ISSN |
00278424 |
| e-ISSN |
10916490 |
| Journal |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
| Issue Number |
13 |
| Volume Number |
113 |
| Language |
English |
| Publisher |
National Academy of Sciences |
| Publisher Date |
2016-04-01 |
| Publisher Place |
United States |
| Access Restriction |
Open |
| Subject Keyword |
Microbiology Genome, Fungal Hypocreales Genetics Pathogenicity Animals Genes, Mating Type, Fungal Host-Parasite Interactions Physiology Metabolism Phylogeny Symbiosis Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Multidisciplinary |
| Content Type |
Text |
| Resource Type |
Article |
| Subject |
Multidisciplinary |
