INVESTIGADORES
CASTRILLO Maria lorena
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
In silico prediction and characterization of secondary metabolite clusters in the biocontrol agent Escovopsis
Autor/es:
BICH, GA; CASTRILLO, ML; BARENGO, MP; KRAMER, FL; VILLALBA, LL; ZAPATA, PD
Lugar:
Modalidad virtual
Reunión:
Congreso; 2nd Women in Bioinformatics & Data Science LA Conference; 2021
Resumen:
Filamentous fungi are known for their ability to produce a vast array of distinct chemical compounds that are also known as secondary metabolites (SMs). Many species from the specialized fungal pathogen Escovopsis (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina: anamorphic Hypocreales) can threaten the mutualistic symbiosis between leaf-cutting ants and their garden fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus). The degradation of the hyphae of L. gongylophorus before direct physical interaction with the hyphae of Escovopsis may indicate that small secreted effectors are likely a critical component of the Escovopsis virulence arsenal. SMs can be crucial for virulence in biocontrol and long-term survival in competitive fungal niches. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of SMs typically are located in close proximity to each other in so-called gene clusters. SM repertoire of the biocontrol agent Escovopsis remains mostly uncharted. To unravel thepotential of Escovopsis to produce SMs, we performed in silico predictions of its SMs clusters. Two available genome data from Escovopsis weberi were retrieved from Genbank (Accession numbers LGSR01.1 and NIG01.1) and evaluated. Putative SM gene clusters were identified with antiSMASH fungal version 6. All SM gene clusters were visualized and manually curated in Geneious program. Using distinctive traits of gene clusters and the conserved signatures of core genes it was possible to identified SM gene clusters from Escovopsis LGSR1.1, but not from Escovopsis NIG01.1. From Escovopsis LGSR1.1 a total of 22 potential SM gene clusters were identified, containing a total of 219 genes within their boundaries. The putative SM Clusters were classified as three indoles, eight Type I PKSs, four NRPSs, seven terpenes, and five other types.Future experiments are needed to further detect empirically detect these SMs and their biological function(s) to Escovopsis.