Identification of a biosynthetic gene cluster for a red pigment cristazarin produced by a lichen-forming fungus Cladonia metacorallifera.

ABSTRACT: Lichens are known to produce many novel bioactive metabolites. To date, approximately 1,000 secondary metabolites have been discovered, which are predominantly produced by the lichen mycobionts. However, despite the extensive studies on production of lichen secondary metabolites, little is known about the responsible biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, we identified a putative BGC that is implicated in production of a red pigment, cristazarin (a naphthazarin derivative), in Cladonia metacorallifera. Previously, cristazarin was shown to be specifically induced in growth media containing fructose as a sole carbon source. Thus, we performed transcriptome analysis of C. metacorallifera growing on different carbon sources including fructose to identify the BGC for cristazarin. Among 39 pol

SUBMITTER: Paguirigan JAG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10289310 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature