The conservation of polyol transporter proteins and their involvement in lichenized Ascomycota. Issue 4 (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoshino, Kanami; Yamamoto, Kohei; Hara, Kojiro; Sonoda, Masatoshi; Yamamoto, Yoshikazu; Sakamoto, Kazunori
• Is Part Of: Fungal biology. Volume 123:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 318
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Gene duplication -- Genome -- Lecanoromycetes -- Lichen-forming fungi -- Phylogenetic analysis -- Ramalina conduplicans; Mycology -- Periodicals; Fungi -- Periodicals; 579.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2019.01.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1878-6146

Abstract

Abstract: In lichen symbiosis, polyol transfer from green algae is important for acquiring the fungal carbon source. However, the existence of polyol transporter genes and their correlation with lichenization remain unclear. Here, we report candidate polyol transporter genes selected from the genome of the lichen-forming fungus (LFF) Ramalina conduplicans . A phylogenetic analysis using characterized polyol and monosaccharide transporter proteins and hypothetical polyol transporter proteins of R. conduplicans and various ascomycetous fungi suggested that the characterized yeast' polyol transporters form multiple clades with the polyol transporter-like proteins selected from the diverse ascomycetous taxa. Thus, polyol transporter genes are widely conserved among Ascomycota, regardless of lichen-forming status. In addition, the phylogenetic clusters suggested that LFFs belonging to Lecanoromycetes have duplicated proteins in each cluster. Consequently, the number of sequences similar to characterized yeast' polyol transporters were evaluated using the genomes of 472 species or strains of Ascomycota. Among these, LFFs belonging to Lecanoromycetes had greater numbers of deduced polyol transporter proteins. Thus, various polyol transporters are conserved in Ascomycota and polyol transporter genes appear to have expanded during the evolution of Lecanoromycetes. Highlights: First isolation of candidate polyol transporter genes from lichen-forming fungi. Polyol transporter-like proteins are widely conserved in classes of Pezizomycotina. Polyol transporter protein duplications likely occurred in Lecanoromycetes.