Phylogenomic analyses reveal the diversity of laccase-coding genes in Fonsecaea genomes.

Leandro Ferreira Moreno,Leandro Ferreira Moreno,Leandro Ferreira Moreno,Sybren De Hoog,Sybren De Hoog,Sybren De Hoog,Sybren De Hoog,Sybren De Hoog,Vania Aparecida Vicente,J Benjamin Stielow,Peiying Feng,Vinicius Almir Weiss,Kirsten Nielsen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171291

Abstract

The genus Fonsecaea comprises black yeast-like fungi of clinical relevance, including etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis and cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Presence of melanin and assimilation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons and alkylbenzenes have been proposed as virulence factors. Multicopper oxidase (MCO) is a family of enzymes including laccases, ferroxidases and ascorbate oxidases which are able to catalyze the oxidation of various aromatic organic compounds with the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Additionally, laccases are required for the production of fungal melanins, a cell-wall black pigment recognized as a key polymer for pathogenicity and extremotolerance in black yeast-like fungi. Although the activity of laccase enzymes has previously been reported in many wood-rotting fungi, the diversity of laccase genes in Fonsecaea has not yet been assessed. In this study, we identified and characterized laccase-coding genes and determined their genomic location in five clinical and environmental Fonsecaea species. The identification of laccases sensu stricto will provide insights into carbon acquisition strategies as well as melanin production in Fonsecaea.

Highlights

Fonsecaea is a melanized fungal genus defined by sympodial conidiogenesis with conidia arranged in short chains, and in absence of budding cells
In order to determine the number of laccase genes in the five Fonsecaea species, we conducted a phylogenomic study using the protein set of 26 black yeasts-like fungi (Table 1)
The A. niger ATCC 1015 Multicopper oxidase (MCO) McoD, McoF, McoG, McoI, McoJ and McoM, together with the A. niger Center for Biological Sequence Analysis (CBS) 513.88 McoN (58% identical to McoI), were in the cluster that affiliates to the ascomycetes laccases

Summary

Introduction

Fonsecaea is a melanized fungal genus defined by sympodial conidiogenesis with conidia arranged in short chains, and in absence of budding cells. The genus affiliates to the ascomycetes order Chaetothyriales, comprising proven causative agents of human chromoblastomycosis and cerebral phaeohyphomycosis [1]. Among the Fonsecaea species, F. pedrosoi [1], F. monophora [1, 2], and F. nubica [3, 4] are the prevalent etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis. Cerebral infection has been associated with the species F. monophora [2, 5, 6], F. multimorphosa, and F. pugnacius [7]. In addition to clinically highly significant species, Fonsecaea harbors a number of environmental sibling taxa [8]. Fonsecaea erecta and F. minima are commonly found in plant debris, while F. brasiliensis is involved in infection of cold-blooded animals [9].

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Results

Conclusion