Comparative genomics reveals dynamic genome evolution in host specialist ectomycorrhizal fungi.

ABSTRACT: While there has been significant progress characterizing the 'symbiotic toolkit' of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, how host specificity may be encoded into ECM fungal genomes remains poorly understood. We conducted a comparative genomic analysis of ECM fungal host specialists and generalists, focusing on the specialist genus Suillus. Global analyses of genome dynamics across 46 species were assessed, along with targeted analyses of three classes of molecules previously identified as important determinants of host specificity: small secreted proteins (SSPs), secondary metabolites (SMs) and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Relative to other ECM fungi, including other host specialists, Suillus had highly dynamic genomes including numerous rapidly evolving gene families and many domain expan

SUBMITTER: Lofgren LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7969408 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature