Chromosomal genome sequence assembly and mating-type (MAT) locus characterization of the leprose asexual lichenized fungus Lepraria neglecta (Nyl.) Erichsen. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pfeffer, Bubba; Lymbery, Chandler; Booth, Brendan; Allen, Jessica L.
• Is Part Of: Lichenologist. Volume 55:Part 1(2023)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: asexual reproduction -- chromosome assembly -- chromosome counts -- fungal mating systems; Lichens -- Periodicals; 579.7
• DOI: 10.1017/S002428292200041X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-2829

Abstract

Abstract: Complete chromosomal-level assemblies of fungal genomes are rare. The intimate ecological symbioses and complex reproduction strategies utilized by fungi make highly contiguous, gapless genome assemblies particularly difficult. Here, we use long-read sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore Technology MinION platform to sequence and assemble the genome of Lepraria neglecta ( Ascomycota, Lecanorales ). In addition to eight contigs ascribable to chromosomes, six of which are assembled telomere-to-telomere, we discovered the presence of a complete MAT locus with two conserved MAT1-2 genes and a putative MAT1-1 pseudogene. The full genome assembly of a widespread, common species presents an opportunity for new insights into lichen reproduction while the presence of the mating-type locus in the genome of an asexual lichen raises fundamental questions about reproductive biology in fungi generally.