Abstract Detail

Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Slot, Jason [1], Greene, George [2], Rokas, Antonis [3], Vijayakumar, Vinod [1], Gluck-Thaler, Emile [1].

Investigating adaptation to plant phenolic compounds through fungal evolutionary genomics.

Plant phenolic compounds are a highly diverse and essential class of specialized metabolites that mediate interactions with micro and macro organisms. Fungi from plant-associated biotopes (plant pathogens, wood-decay fungi) benefit from the metabolic capacity to use plant defense compounds as a carbon source. For example, nutritional exploitation of plant defenses by fungi has been associated with increased virulence of fungal pathogens. Recently, we have identified multiple gene clusters in Pezizomycotina, which appear to be involved in the degradation of the biphenolics known as stilbenes. One group of these gene clusters encode enzymes associated with phenolic ring cleavage in tyrosine catabolism, while others include enzymes that suggest alternative phenolic ring cleavage mechanisms. These gene clusters are supported by an ecological signature to their spotty distributions among fungi, which has been strongly influenced by horizontal gene transfer. Our phylogenomic analyses of the origins and remodeling of stilbene degradation clusters suggest that convergent metabolic rewiring has occurred as an evolutionary response to diversification of stilbene substrates.

1 - The Ohio State University, Plant Pathology, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
2 - Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
3 - Vanderbilt University, Biological Sciences, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA

Keywords:
co-evolution
horizontal gene transfer
gene cluster.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 61
Location: Salon 15/16/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Wednesday, July 29th, 2015
Time: 8:45 AM
Number: 61004
Abstract ID:502
Candidate for Awards:None