Leveraging single-cell genomics to expand the fungal tree of life.

ABSTRACT: Environmental DNA surveys reveal that most fungal diversity represents uncultured species. We sequenced the genomes of eight uncultured species across the fungal tree of life using a new single-cell genomics pipeline. We show that, despite a large variation in genome and gene space recovery from each single amplified genome (SAG), ≥90% can be recovered by combining multiple SAGs. SAGs provide robust placement for early-diverging lineages and infer a diploid ancestor of fungi. Early-diverging fungi share metabolic deficiencies and show unique gene expansions correlated with parasitism and unculturability. Single-cell genomics holds great promise in exploring fungal diversity, life cycles and metabolic potential.

SUBMITTER: Ahrendt SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6784888 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature