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Horizontal transfer of carbohydrate metabolism genes into ectomycorrhizal A manita
Author(s) -
Chaib De Mares Maryam,
Hess Jaqueline,
Floudas Dimitrios,
Lipzen Anna,
Choi Cindy,
Kennedy Megan,
Grigoriev Igor V.,
Pringle Anne
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13140
Subject(s) - biology , horizontal gene transfer , amanita , gene , bacteria , decomposer , symbiosis , botany , phylogenetics , agaricales , biochemistry , genetics , taxonomy (biology) , ecology , ecosystem
Summary The genus Amanita encompasses both symbiotic, ectomycorrhizal fungi and asymbiotic litter decomposers; all species are derived from asymbiotic ancestors. Symbiotic species are no longer able to degrade plant cell walls. The carbohydrate esterases family 1 ( CE 1s) is a diverse group of enzymes involved in carbon metabolism, including decomposition and carbon storage. CE 1 genes of the ectomycorrhizal A . muscaria appear diverged from all other fungal homologues, and more similar to CE 1s of bacteria, suggesting a horizontal gene transfer ( HGT ) event. In order to test whether Amanita CE 1s were acquired horizontally, we built a phylogeny of CE 1s collected from across the tree of life, and describe the evolution of CE 1 genes among Amanita and relevant lineages of bacteria. CE 1s of symbiotic Amanita were very different from CE 1s of asymbiotic Amanita , and are more similar to bacterial CE 1s. The protein structure of one CE 1 gene of A . muscaria matched a depolymerase that degrades the carbon storage molecule poly(( R )‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) ( PHB ). Asymbiotic Amanita do not carry sequence or structural homologues of these genes. The CE 1s acquired through HGT may enable novel metabolisms, or play roles in signaling or defense. This is the first evidence for the horizontal transfer of carbohydrate metabolism genes into ectomycorrhizal fungi.