A transcribed polyketide synthase gene from Xanthoria elegans.

We characterize the transcript of a polyketide synthase gene (PKS) from the cultured mycobiont of Xanthoria elegans (XePKS1) using SMART-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) cDNA synthesis. Sequence analysis of the cloned cDNA reveals an open reading frame of 2144 amino acid residues. It contains features of a non-reducing fungal type I PKS with an N-terminal starter unit: acyl carrier protein (ACP) transacetylase domain, ketosynthase, acyltransferase, two acyl carrier protein domains, and a thioesterase domain. XePKS1 was the only paralogue detected in the cDNA and the genomic DNA of the cultured X. elegans mycobiont by using a degenerate PCR approach targeted at the conserved regions of non-reducing type I PKS genes. The hypothetical protein is phylogenetically related to genes that are basal to a clade of dihydroxynaphthalene synthases (non-reducing clade II) and anthraquinone type synthases of non-lichenized fungi (non-reducing clade I). According to hplc and tlc analyses, the cultured mycobiont exclusively produced anthraquinones and its precursors. Therefore, we discuss whether the characterized paralogue is involved in anthraquinone production, which raises the possibility of a paraphyletic origin of lichen anthraquinone biosynthesis. The cDNA of XePKS1 was the first full-length coding sequence of a lichen PKS to be published. This proves SMART RACE to be a suitable tool for obtaining full-length coding sequences of genes from environmental samples and organisms, which are hardly amenable to standard molecular approaches or genomic sequencing.

Brunauer G ，Muggia L ，Stocker-Wörgötter E ，Grube M ... -  《mycological research》

Cloning and sequence characterization of a non-reducing polyketide synthase gene from the lichen Xanthoparmelia semiviridis.

Lichens produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites that have shown various biological activities. Of particular interest are the coupled phenolics that originate from polyketide pathways, such as depsides, depsidones and usnic acids, which are produced almost solely by lichens. Based on the presumed catalytic domains required for the synthesis of the key intermediates beta-orsellinic acid and methylphloroacetophenone, two pairs of degenerate primers were designed to target specifically the beta-ketoacylsynthase (KS) and C-methyltransferase (CMeT) domains of fungal non-reducing polyketide synthase (NR-PKS) genes with CMeT domains. These primers were used to explore the genome of the lichen Xanthoparmelia semiviridis, which produces beta-orcinol depsidones and usnic acid. One of the two KS domains amplified from genomic DNA of field-collected X. semiviridis was used as a probe to recover the candidate PKS gene. A 13 kb fragment containing an intact putative PKS gene (xsepks1) of 6555 bp was recovered from a partial genomic library. The inferred amino acid sequence indicated that xsepks1 encodes a protein of 2164 amino acids and contains KS, acyltransferase (AT), acyl carrier protein (ACP) and CMeT domains as expected. This demonstrated a successful strategy for targeting non-reducing PKS genes with CMeT domains. Integration of the 5' fragment of xsepks1, including the native promoter, into Aspergillus nidulans by cotransformation resulted in the transcription of the 5'xsepks1 and the splicing of a 63 bp intron, suggesting that A. nidulans could be a suitable heterologous host for xsepks1 expression.

Chooi YH ，Stalker DM ，Davis MA ，Fujii I ，Elix JA ，Louwhoff SH ，Lawrie AC ... -  《mycological research》

6-MSAS-like polyketide synthase genes occur in lichenized ascomycetes.

Lichenized and non-lichenized filamentous ascomycetes produce a great variety of polyketide secondary metabolites. Some polyketide synthase (PKS) genes from non-lichenized fungi have been characterized, but the function of PKS genes from lichenized species remains unknown. Phylogenetic analysis of keto synthase (KS) domains allows prediction of the presence or absence of particular domains in the PKS gene. In the current study we screened genomic DNA from lichenized fungi for the presence of non-reducing and 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase (6-MSAS)-type PKS genes. We developed new degenerate primers in the acyl transferase (AT) region to amplify a PKS fragment spanning most of the KS region, the entire linker between KS and AT, and half of the AT region. Phylogenetic analysis shows that lichenized taxa possess PKS genes of the 6-MSAS-type. The extended alignment confirms overall phylogenetic relationships between fungal non-reducing, 6-MSAS-type and bacterial type I PKS genes.

Schmitt I ，Kautz S ，Lumbsch HT 《mycological research》

Purifying selection is a prevailing motif in the evolution of ketoacyl synthase domains of polyketide synthases from lichenized fungi.

We analysed ketoacyl synthase domains of type I polyketide synthase (PKS) gene fragments of 163 lichenized and 51 non-lichenized fungi in a Bayesian phylogenetic framework. Lichenized taxa from several unrelated taxonomic groups, some of which produce identical secondary metabolites, were included. We found 12 clades of non-reducing PKS genes, which represent monophyletic PKS paralogues. PAML and SELECTON analyses indicated that purifying selection is the prevailing selective force in the evolution of the keto synthase domain of these paralogues. We detected no unambiguous correlation between PKS clades and the distribution of lichen substances. Together with the strong evidence for purifying selection, the wide distribution of certain paralogues in ascomycetes suggested early gene duplication events in the evolutionary history of this gene family in the Ascomycota.

Muggia L ，Schmitt I ，Grube M 《mycological research》

Diversity of type I polyketide synthase genes in the wood-decay fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 1067.

Fungal type I polyketide (PK) compounds are highly valuable for medical treatment and extremely diverse in structure, partly because of the enzymatic activities of reducing domains in polyketide synthases (PKSs). We have cloned several PKS genes from the fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 1067, which produces two polyketides: depudecin (reduced PK) and 19,20-epoxycytochalasin Q (PK-nonribosomal peptide (NRP) hybrid). Two new degenerate primer sets, KA-series and XKS, were designed to amplify reducing PKS and PKS-NRP synthetase hybrid genes, respectively. Five putative PKS genes were amplified in Xylaria using KA-series primers and two more with the XKS primers. All seven are predicted to encode proteins homologous to highly reduced (HR)-type PKSs. Previously designed primers in LC-, KS-, and MT-series identified four additional PKS gene fragments. Selected PKS fragments were used as probes to identify PKS genes from the genomic library of this fungus. Full-length sequences for five PKS genes were obtained: pks12, pks3, pksKA1, pksMT, and pksX1. They are structurally diverse with 1-9 putative introns and products ranging from 2162 to 3654 amino acids in length. The finding of 11 distinct PKS genes solely by means of PCR cloning supports that PKS genes are highly diverse in fungi. It also indicates that our KA-series primers can serve as powerful tools to reveal the genetic potential of fungi in production of multiple types of HR PKs, which the conventional compound screening could underestimate.

Amnuaykanjanasin A ，Punya J ，Paungmoung P ，Rungrod A ，Tachaleat A ，Pongpattanakitshote S ，Cheevadhanarak S ，Tanticharoen M ... -  《FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS》