Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>

Lichen secondary metabolites are natural products of high medicinal and industrial value, which are produced by the fungal symbiont (mycobiont) of lichens in response to environmental changes. It has been shown that the cultured mycobiont is capable of secondary metabolite production, specifically p...

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Main Authors: Natalia Sveshnikova, Michele D. Piercey-Normore
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/529
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author Natalia Sveshnikova
Michele D. Piercey-Normore
author_facet Natalia Sveshnikova
Michele D. Piercey-Normore
author_sort Natalia Sveshnikova
collection DOAJ
description Lichen secondary metabolites are natural products of high medicinal and industrial value, which are produced by the fungal symbiont (mycobiont) of lichens in response to environmental changes. It has been shown that the cultured mycobiont is capable of secondary metabolite production, specifically polyketides, and polyketide production is affected by the presence or absence of the algal or cyanobacterial symbiont (photobiont). Identification of polyketide synthases encoding genes is, in turn, key for understanding the regulation of secondary metabolite synthesis. Using a previously established method of resynthesis for <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i> as well as the sequenced and assembled genome of that species, we compared transcriptomes of <i>C. rangiferina</i> cultured alone and resynthesized with the photobiont (<i>Asterochloris glomerata</i>) to reveal transcriptionally active genes in secondary metabolic gene clusters, as well some of the neighbouring genes, induced by the presence of the photobiont and events of lichenization. The results identify potential candidates for PKS genes in <i>C. rangiferina</i>, identify potential neighbouring genes in the PKS cluster, and offer insights into further research. The study provides preliminary insights into the activity of several identified biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) as well as interactions of genes within those clusters.
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spelling doaj.art-3098b8201b974c2fa06e6d40e6e838da2023-11-22T23:03:40ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-10-01131152910.3390/d13110529Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>Natalia Sveshnikova0Michele D. Piercey-Normore1School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4, CanadaSchool of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4, CanadaLichen secondary metabolites are natural products of high medicinal and industrial value, which are produced by the fungal symbiont (mycobiont) of lichens in response to environmental changes. It has been shown that the cultured mycobiont is capable of secondary metabolite production, specifically polyketides, and polyketide production is affected by the presence or absence of the algal or cyanobacterial symbiont (photobiont). Identification of polyketide synthases encoding genes is, in turn, key for understanding the regulation of secondary metabolite synthesis. Using a previously established method of resynthesis for <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i> as well as the sequenced and assembled genome of that species, we compared transcriptomes of <i>C. rangiferina</i> cultured alone and resynthesized with the photobiont (<i>Asterochloris glomerata</i>) to reveal transcriptionally active genes in secondary metabolic gene clusters, as well some of the neighbouring genes, induced by the presence of the photobiont and events of lichenization. The results identify potential candidates for PKS genes in <i>C. rangiferina</i>, identify potential neighbouring genes in the PKS cluster, and offer insights into further research. The study provides preliminary insights into the activity of several identified biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) as well as interactions of genes within those clusters.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/529<i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>lichen-forming fungitranscriptomicslichen secondary metabolitespolyketide synthasesPKS
spellingShingle Natalia Sveshnikova
Michele D. Piercey-Normore
Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
Diversity
<i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
lichen-forming fungi
transcriptomics
lichen secondary metabolites
polyketide synthases
PKS
title Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
title_full Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
title_fullStr Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
title_short Transcriptome Comparison of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Genes Expressed in Cultured and Lichenized Conditions of <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
title_sort transcriptome comparison of secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes expressed in cultured and lichenized conditions of i cladonia rangiferina i
topic <i>Cladonia rangiferina</i>
lichen-forming fungi
transcriptomics
lichen secondary metabolites
polyketide synthases
PKS
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/529
work_keys_str_mv AT nataliasveshnikova transcriptomecomparisonofsecondarymetabolitebiosynthesisgenesexpressedinculturedandlichenizedconditionsoficladoniarangiferinai
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