Open AccessSchizosaccharomyces cryophilus sp. nov., a new species of fission yeast
Author(s) -
Helston Rachel M.,
Box Jessica A.,
Tang Wen,
Baumann Peter
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2010.00657.x
Subject(s) - schizosaccharomyces pombe , biology , schizosaccharomyces , phylogenetic tree , ribosomal rna , genetics , gene , internal transcribed spacer , phylogenetics , rnase p , rna , saccharomyces cerevisiae
The genus Schizosaccharomyces is presently comprised of three species, namely Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Schizosaccharomyces octosporus and Schizosaccharomyces japonicus . Here, we describe a hitherto unknown species, Schizosaccharomyces cryophilus , named for its preference for growth at lower temperatures than the other fission yeast species. Although morphologically similar to S. octosporus , analysis of several rapidly evolving sequences, including the D1/D2 divergent domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, the RNA subunit of RNAse P and the internal transcribed spacer elements, revealed significant divergence from any previously characterized Schizosaccharomyces strain. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene, S. octosporus is the closest known relative of S. cryophilus , with the sequences of the two species differing by 25 nucleotide substitutions (>4%). Sequencing of the S. cryophilus genome and phylogenetic analysis of all 1 : 1 protein orthologs confirmed this observation, and together with morphological and physiological characterization, supports the assignment of S. cryophilus as a new species within the genus Schizosaccharomyces . The type strain of the new species is NRRL Y‐48691 T (=NBRC 106824 T =CBS 11777 T ).