Phylogenetic, genomic organization and expression analysis of hydrophobin genes in the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor

Hydrophobins are morphogenetic, small secreted hydrophobic fungal proteins produced in response to changing development and environmental conditions. These proteins are important in the interaction between certain fungi and their hosts. In mutualistic ectomycorrhizal fungi several hydrophobins form a subclass of mycorrhizal-induced small secreted proteins that are likely to be critical in the formation of the symbiotic interface with host root cells. In this study, two genomes of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor strains S238N-H82 (from North America) and 81306 (from Europe) were surveyed to construct a comprehensive genome-wide inventory of hydrophobins and to explore their characteristics and roles during host colonization. The S238N-H82 L. bicolor hydrophobin gene family is composed of 12 genes while the 81306 strain encodes nine hydrophobins, all corresponding to class I hydrophobins. The three extra hydrophobin genes encoded by the S238N-H82 genome likely arose via gene duplication and are bordered by transposon rich regions. Expression profiles of the hydrophobin genes of L. bicolor varied greatly depending on life stage (e.g. free living mycelium vs. root colonization) and on the host root environment. We conclude from this study that the complex diversity and range of expression profiles of the Laccaria hydrophobin multi-gene family have likely been a selective advantage for this mutualist in colonizing a wide range of host plants.

Phylogenetic analysis, genomic organization, and expression analysis of multi-copper oxidases in the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor

In forest soils, ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic Agaricales differ in their strategies for carbon acquisition, but share common gene families encoding multi-copper oxidases (MCOs). These enzymes are involved in the oxidation of a variety of soil organic compounds. The MCO gene family of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor is composed of 11 genes divided into two distinct subfamilies corresponding to laccases (lcc) sensu stricto (lcc1 to lcc9), sharing a high sequence homology with the coprophilic Coprinopsis cinerea laccase genes, and to ferroxidases (lcc10 and lcc11) that are not present in C. cinerea. The fet3-like ferroxidase genes lcc10 and lcc11 in L. bicolor are each arranged in a mirrored tandem orientation with an ftr gene coding for an iron permease. Unlike C. cinerea, L. bicolor has no sid1/sidA gene for siderophore biosynthesis. Transcript profiling using whole-genome expression arrays and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) revealed that some transcripts were very abundant in ectomycorrhizas (lcc3 and lcc8), in fruiting bodies (lcc7) or in the free-living mycelium grown on agar medium (lcc9 and lcc10), suggesting a specific function of these MCOs. The amino acid composition of the MCO substrate binding sites suggests that L. bicolor MCOs interact with substrates different from those of saprotrophic fungi.

Phylogenetic comparison and classification of laccase and related multicopper oxidase protein sequences

A phylogenetic analysis of more than 350 multicopper oxidases (MCOs) from fungi, insects, plants, and bacteria provided the basis for a refined classification of this enzyme family into laccases sensu stricto (basidiomycetous and ascomycetous), insect laccases, fungal pigment MCOs, fungal ferroxidases, ascorbate oxidases, plant laccase-like MCOs, and bilirubin oxidases. Within the largest group of enzymes, formed by the 125 basidiomycetous laccases, the gene phylogeny does not strictly follow the species phylogeny. The enzymes seem to group at least partially according to the lifestyle of the corresponding species. Analyses of the completely sequenced fungal genomes showed that the composition of MCOs in the different species can be very variable. Some species seem to encode only ferroxidases, whereas others have proteins which are distributed over up to four different functional clusters in the phylogenetic tree.

The laccase multi-gene family in Coprinopsis cinerea has seventeen different members that divide into two distinct subfamilies

Seventeen non-allelic laccase genes and one gene footprint are present in the genome of Coprinopsis cinerea. Two gene subfamilies were defined by intron positions and similarity of deduced gene products, one with 15 members (lcc1-lcc15) and one with 2 members (lcc16, lcc17). The first subfamily divides in the phylogenetic tree of deduced proteins into smaller clusters that probably reflect recent gene duplication events. Different laccase genes diverged from each other both by frequent synonymous and non-synonymous codon changes. Mainly synonymous codon changes accumulate in alleles, with up to 12% total codon differences between given pairs of alleles. Overexpression of the 17 laccase genes under the control of a constitutive promoter identified nine active enzymes from subfamily 1. All of these showed laccase activities with DMP (2,6-dimethoxy phenol) as substrate but only eight of them also with ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)]. Lcc16 and Lcc17 share certain sequence features with ferroxidases but enzyme assays failed to show such activity. Lcc15 is expected to be non-functional in laccase activity due to an internal deletion of about 150 amino acids. Transcripts were obtained from all genes but splice junctions for three genes were not congruent with translation into a functional protein.

Expression of laccase gene lcc1 in Coprinopsis cinerea under control of various basidiomycetous promoters

Coprinopsis cinerea laccase gene lcc1 was expressed in this basidiomycete under naturally non-inductive conditions using various homologous and heterologous promoters. Laccase expression was achieved in solid and liquid media with promoter sequences from the C. cinerea tub1 gene, the Agaricus bisporus gpdII gene, the Lentinus edodes priA gene and the Schizophyllum commune Sc3 gene. As measured by enzyme activity in liquid cultures, a 277-bp gpdII promoter fragment, followed by a 423-bp priA fragment, was most efficient. A shorter priA sequence of 372 bp was inactive. tub1 promoter fragments were reasonably active, whereas the S. commune Sc3 promoter sequence was less active, in comparison. Irrespective of the promoter used, addition of copper to the medium increased enzymatic activities for highly active transformants by 10- to 50-fold and for less active transformants for 2- to 7-fold. The highest enzymatic activities (3 U/ml) were reached with the gpdII promoter in the presence of 0.1 mM CuSO(4).

Sequence variation and evolution of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) in Europe

Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) acts as a naturally occurring biological control agent for chestnut blight, a destructive fungal disease of chestnut trees, which has been introduced into Europe in the 1930s. We have determined partial nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the ORF A of 47 CHV-1 isolates collected in Europe over a period of 28 years. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of four groups or single viruses, which showed sequence divergences ranging from 11 to 19%. These results confirm the previous subtype classification based on RFLP markers, with the exception of the two CHV-1 subtypes E and D, which appear to be related closer than anticipated previously. Dates of divergences between CHV-1 subtypes, calculated from nucleotide substitution rates, indicate that the CHV-1 subtypes diverged several hundreds years ago. Our results suggest that the genetic variation among CHV-1 subtypes did not evolve in Europe and support the hypothesis of multiple introductions of CHV-1 into Europe.

The laccase gene family in Coprinopsis cinerea (Coprinus cinereus)

In this study, we isolated and sequenced eight non-allelic laccase genes from Coprinopsis cinerea ( Coprinus cinereus) homokaryon AmutBmut. These eight genes represent the largest laccase gene family identified so far in a single haploid fungal genome. We analyzed the phylogenetic relationships between these genes by intron positions, amino acid sequence conservation and similarities in promoter sequences. All deduced protein products have the laccase signature sequences L1-L4, the typical conserved cysteine and the ten histidine residues which are ligands in the two laccase copper-binding centers, T1 and T2/T3. Proteins Lcc2 and Lcc3 of Coprinopsis cinerea are most similar to the acidic, membrane-associated laccase CLAC2 from Coprinellus congregatus implicated in neutralization of acidic medium. All other laccases from the saprophyte Coprinopsis cinerea, including the well described enzyme Lcc1, form a cluster separate from these three enzymes and from various laccases of wood-rotting and plant-pathogenic basidiomycetes.

Differential transfer and dissemination of hypovirus and nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of a hypovirus-infected Cryphonectria parasitica strain after introduction into a natural population

Biological control of plant diseases generally requires release of living organisms into the environment. Cryphonectria hypoviruses function as biological control agents for the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, and hypovirus-infected C. parasitica strains can be used to treat infected trees. We used naturally occurring molecular marker polymorphisms to examine the persistence and dissemination of the three genomes of a hypovirus-infected C. parasitica strain, namely, the double-stranded RNA genome of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) and the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of its fungal host. The hypovirus-infected strain was experimentally introduced into a blight-infested chestnut coppice forest by treating 73 of 246 chestnut blight cankers. Two years after introduction, the hypovirus had disseminated to 36% of the untreated cankers and to 35% of the newly established cankers. Spread of the hypovirus was more frequent within treated sprout clusters than between sprout clusters. Mitochondrial DNA of the introduced fungus also was transferred into the resident C. parasitica population. Concomitant transfer of both the introduced hypovirus and mitochondrial DNA was detected in almost one-half of the treated cankers analyzed. The introduced mitochondrial DNA haplotype also was found in three resident isolates from newly established cankers. The nuclear genome of the introduced strain persisted in the treated cankers but did not spread beyond them.

Cryphonectria radicalis: rediscovery of a lost fungus

In an attempt to isolate the ascomycete Cryphonectria parasitica (Diaporthales, Valsaceae) from dead chestnut stems, we obtained three C. radicalis strains. All three strains were isolated in areas of Switzerland with high chestnut blight incidence. To confirm our species designation, we compared the three C. radicalis strains to hypovirus (hv)-free and hv-infected C. parasitica strains. The comparison revealed several distinctive characteristics. On potato dextrose agar in the dark, the C. radicalis strains produced a fluffy mycelium and small droplets of a purple exudate giving the mycelium a light pinkish appearance. On corn meal medium in the dark, the C. radicalis strains caused a color change of the medium to purple, whereas the C. parasitica strains did not cause any color change. Ascospores from C. radicalis were significantly smaller than C. parasitica ascospores and their dimensions fit within other published size ranges. Southern hybridization analysis of the two species using nuclear and mitochondrial probes support their taxonomic separation. This separation is further supported by the lack of successful interspecific crosses. In virulence tests on chestnut trees, the C. radicalis strains exhibited very low virulence, comparable to highly hypovirulent hv-infected C. parasitica strains. Our results suggest that C. radicalis still coexists with C. parasitica although at a low frequency.