Genome sequencing of four Aureobasidium pullulans varieties: biotechnological potential, stress tolerance, and description of new species
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Department of Biology; National Inst. of Biology, Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA (United States)
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
- Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Graz (Austria). Institute of Plant Sciences
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia); Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins (CIPKeBiP), Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Aureobasidium pullulans is a black-yeast-like fungus used for production of the polysaccharide pullulan and the antimycotic aureobasidin A, and as a biocontrol agent in agriculture. It can cause opportunistic human infections, and it inhabits various extreme environments. To promote the understanding of these traits, we performed de-novo genome sequencing of the four varieties of A. pullulans. The 25.43-29.62 Mb genomes of these four varieties of A. pullulans encode between 10266 and 11866 predicted proteins. Their genomes encode most of the enzyme families involved in degradation of plant material and many sugar transporters, and they have genes possibly associated with degradation of plastic and aromatic compounds. Proteins believed to be involved in the synthesis of pullulan and siderophores, but not of aureobasidin A, are predicted. Putative stress-tolerance genes include several aquaporins and aquaglyceroporins, large numbers of alkali-metal cation transporters, genes for the synthesis of compatible solutes and melanin, all of the components of the high-osmolarity glycerol pathway, and bacteriorhodopsin-like proteins. All of these genomes contain a homothallic mating-type locus. The differences between these four varieties of A. pullulans are large enough to justify their redefinition as separate species: A. pullulans, A. melanogenum, A. subglaciale and A. namibiae. We observed redundancy in several gene families that can be linked to the nutritional versatility of these species and their particular stress tolerance. In conclusions, the availability of the genome sequences of the four Aureobasidium species should improve their biotechnological exploitation and promote our understanding of their stress-tolerance mechanisms, diverse lifestyles, and pathogenic potential.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231; Z4-5531; OP13.1.1.2.02.0005
- OSTI ID:
- 1247472
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-178057; ir:178057
- Journal Information:
- BMC Genomics, Vol. 15, Issue 1; ISSN 1471-2164
- Publisher:
- SpringerCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Multilocus phylogenetic analyses, pullulan production and xylanase activity of tropical isolates of Aureobasidium pullulans
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journal | October 2009 |
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