Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses
Abstract Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microbe, usually a green alga. In addition to their main photosynthetic partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these algae and t...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48637-w |
| _version_ | 1797415213487620096 |
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| author | Gulnara Tagirdzhanova Klara Scharnagl Xia Yan Nicholas J. Talbot |
| author_facet | Gulnara Tagirdzhanova Klara Scharnagl Xia Yan Nicholas J. Talbot |
| author_sort | Gulnara Tagirdzhanova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microbe, usually a green alga. In addition to their main photosynthetic partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these algae and the way they interact with the rest of lichen symbionts remains largely unknown. Here we present the first genome sequence of a non-photobiont lichen-associated alga. Coccomyxa viridis was unexpectedly found in 12% of publicly available lichen metagenomes. With few exceptions, members of the Coccomyxa viridis clade occur in lichens as non-photobionts, potentially growing in thalli endophytically. The 45.7 Mbp genome of C. viridis was assembled into 18 near chromosome-level contigs, making it one of the most contiguous genomic assemblies for any lichen-associated algae. Comparing the C. viridis genome to its close relatives revealed the presence of traits associated with the lichen lifestyle. The genome of C. viridis provides a new resource for exploring the evolution of the lichen symbiosis, and how symbiotic lifestyles shaped evolution in green algae. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:44:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8ad108450c849efbe513046bc9c2b01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:44:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8ad108450c849efbe513046bc9c2b012023-12-03T12:22:34ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-12-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-48637-wGenomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbiosesGulnara Tagirdzhanova0Klara Scharnagl1Xia Yan2Nicholas J. Talbot3The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East AngliaThe Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East AngliaThe Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East AngliaThe Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East AngliaAbstract Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microbe, usually a green alga. In addition to their main photosynthetic partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these algae and the way they interact with the rest of lichen symbionts remains largely unknown. Here we present the first genome sequence of a non-photobiont lichen-associated alga. Coccomyxa viridis was unexpectedly found in 12% of publicly available lichen metagenomes. With few exceptions, members of the Coccomyxa viridis clade occur in lichens as non-photobionts, potentially growing in thalli endophytically. The 45.7 Mbp genome of C. viridis was assembled into 18 near chromosome-level contigs, making it one of the most contiguous genomic assemblies for any lichen-associated algae. Comparing the C. viridis genome to its close relatives revealed the presence of traits associated with the lichen lifestyle. The genome of C. viridis provides a new resource for exploring the evolution of the lichen symbiosis, and how symbiotic lifestyles shaped evolution in green algae.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48637-w |
| spellingShingle | Gulnara Tagirdzhanova Klara Scharnagl Xia Yan Nicholas J. Talbot Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses Scientific Reports |
| title | Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| title_full | Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| title_fullStr | Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| title_short | Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| title_sort | genomic analysis of coccomyxa viridis a common low abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48637-w |
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