Comparative genomics reveals a core gene toolbox for lifestyle transitions in Hypocreales fungi.

ABSTRACT: Fungi have evolved diverse lifestyles and adopted pivotal new roles in both natural ecosystems and human environments. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their adaptation to new lifestyles are obscure. Here, we hypothesize that genes shared across all species with the same lifestyle, but absent in genera with alternative lifestyles, are crucial to that lifestyle. By analysing dozens of species within four genera in a fungal order, with each genus following a different lifestyle, we find that genus-specific genes are typically few in number. Notably, not all genus-specific genes appear to derive from de novo birth, with most instead reflecting recurrent loss across the fungi. Importantly, however, a subset of these genus-specific genes are shared by fungi with the same lifestyle i

SUBMITTER: Wu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8360070 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature