Cultivable fungi from deep-sea oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico: Genetic signatures in response to hydrocarbons. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Velez, Patricia; Gasca-Pineda, Jaime; Riquelme, Meritxell
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 153(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Bioremediation -- Comparative transcriptomics -- Hydrocarbon degradation -- Long-chain alkane -- Alkene -- Marine-derived fungi; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104816
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: The estimation of oil spill effects on marine ecosystems is limited to the extent of our knowledge on the autochthonous biota. Fungi are involved in key ecological marine processes, representing a major component of post-spill communities. However, information on their functional capacities remains lacking. Herein we analyzed cultivable fungi from sediments in two oil-drilling regions of the Gulf of Mexico for their ability to tolerate and use hexadecane and 1-hexadecene as the sole carbon sources; and to evaluate gene expression profiles of key hydrocarbonoclastic taxa during utilization of these hydrocarbons. The isolated fungi showed differential sensitivity patterns towards the tested hydrocarbons under three different concentrations. Remarkably, six OTUs ( Aureobasidium sp., Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium sp., Phialocephala sp., Cladosporium sp. 1 and 2) metabolized the tested alkane and alkene as the sole carbon sources, confirming that deep-sea fungal taxa are valuable genetic resources with potential use in bioremediation. RNA-seq results revealed distinctive gene expression profiles in the hydrocarbonoclastic fungus Penicillium sp. when using hexadecane and 1-hexadecene as the sole carbon sources, with up-regulation of genes involved in transmembrane transport, metabolism of six-carbons carbohydrates, and nitric oxide pathways. Highlights: Deep-sea fungal response to hexadecane and 1-hexadecene is presented. Isolates with the ability to use hydrocarbons as carbon source were identified. Differential transcriptomic profiles during hydrocarbons utilization are discussed. Up-regulation of transmembrane transporters suggest hydrocarbons metabolism.