Plant-Symbiotic Fungi as Chemical Engineers: Multi-Genome Analysis of the Clavicipitaceae Reveals Dynamics of Alkaloid Loci

摘要: The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive bioprotective alkaloids. grass in the epichloae clade (Epichloe Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both their host interactions alkaloid profiles. Epichloae alkaloids of four distinct classes, all deter insects, some—including infamous ergot alkaloids—have potent effects on mammals. exceptional chemotypic diversity may relate to broad range interactions, whereby some pathogenic contagious, others mutualistic vertically transmitted (seed-borne), still vary or behavior. We profiled sequenced genomes 10 epichloae, three fungi (Claviceps a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), compared gene clusters for classes Results indicated strong tendency loci have conserved cores specify skeleton structures peripheral genes determine chemical variations known affect pharmacological specificities. Generally, locations cluster peripheries positioned them near transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, were probably involved losses, duplications, neofunctionalizations. had unusual riddled with large, complex, dynamic blocks. This feature was not reflective overall differences contents genomes, nor it characteristic most other specialized metabolism loci. organization dynamics abundant blocks suggested these under selection diversification. suggest such is related variable life histories protective roles as symbionts, associations highly speciose ecologically cool-season grasses.