Chromosomal genome sequence assembly and mating-type (MAT) locus characterization of the leprose asexual lichenized fungus Lepraria neglecta (Nyl.) Erichsen

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Complete chromosomal-level assemblies of fungal genomes are rare. The intimate ecological symbioses and complex reproduction strategies utilized by fungi make highly contiguous, gapless genome assemblies particularly difficult. Here, we use long-read sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore Technology MinION platform to sequence and assemble the genome of Lepraria neglecta (Ascomycota, Lecanorales). In addition to eight contigs ascribable to chromosomes, six of which are assembled telomere-to-telomere, we discovered the presence of a complete MAT locus with two conserved MAT1-2 genes and a putative MAT1-1 pseudogene. The full genome assembly of a widespread, common species presents an opportunity for new insights into lichen reproduction while the presence of the mating-type locus in the genome of an asexual lichen raises fundamental questions about reproductive biology in fungi generally. asexual reproduction, chromosome assembly, chromosome counts, fungal mating systems
Author:
Pfeffer B., Lymbery C., Booth B. & Allen J.
Year:
2023
Journal:
The Lichenologist
Pages:
55(1): 41-50
Pdf:
1
Id:
35232
Submitter:
jph
Post_time:
Friday, 17 March 2023 10:28