Comparative Genomics of Early-Diverging Mushroom-Forming Fungi Provides Insights into the Origins of Lignocellulose Decay Capabilities.

Evolution of lignocellulose decomposition was one of the most ecologically important innovations in fungi. White-rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes (mushrooms and relatives) are the most effective microorganisms in degrading both cellulose and lignin components of woody plant cell walls (PCW). However, the precise evolutionary origins of lignocellulose decomposition are poorly understood, largely because certain early-diverging clades of Agaricomycetes and its sister group, the Dacrymycetes, have yet to be sampled, or have been undersampled, in comparative genomic studies. Here, we present new genome sequences of ten saprotrophic fungi, including members of the Dacrymycetes and early-diverging clades of Agaricomycetes (Cantharellales, Sebacinales, Auriculariales, and Trechisporales), which we use to refine the origins and evolutionary history of the enzymatic toolkit of lignocellulose decomposition. We reconstructed the origin of ligninolytic enzymes, focusing on class II peroxidases (AA2), as well as enzymes that attack crystalline cellulose. Despite previous reports of white rot appearing as early as the Dacrymycetes, our results suggest that white-rot fungi evolved later in the Agaricomycetes, with the first class II peroxidases reconstructed in the ancestor of the Auriculariales and residual Agaricomycetes. The exemplars of the most ancient clades of Agaricomycetes that we sampled all lack class II peroxidases, and are thus concluded to use a combination of plesiomorphic and derived PCW degrading enzymes that predate the evolution of white rot.

Comparative genomics of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Phanerochaete chrysosporium provide insight into selective ligninolysis.

Efficient lignin depolymerization is unique to the wood decay basidiomycetes, collectively referred to as white rot fungi. Phanerochaete chrysosporium simultaneously degrades lignin and cellulose, whereas the closely related species, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, also depolymerizes lignin but may do so with relatively little cellulose degradation. To investigate the basis for selective ligninolysis, we conducted comparative genome analysis of C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium. Genes encoding manganese peroxidase numbered 13 and five in C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium, respectively. In addition, the C. subvermispora genome contains at least seven genes predicted to encode laccases, whereas the P. chrysosporium genome contains none. We also observed expansion of the number of C. subvermispora desaturase-encoding genes putatively involved in lipid metabolism. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis showed substantial up-regulation of several desaturase and MnP genes in wood-containing medium. MS identified MnP proteins in C. subvermispora culture filtrates, but none in P. chrysosporium cultures. These results support the importance of MnP and a lignin degradation mechanism whereby cleavage of the dominant nonphenolic structures is mediated by lipid peroxidation products. Two C. subvermispora genes were predicted to encode peroxidases structurally similar to P. chrysosporium lignin peroxidase and, following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the enzymes were shown to oxidize high redox potential substrates, but not Mn(2+). Apart from oxidative lignin degradation, we also examined cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic systems in both fungi. In summary, the C. subvermispora genetic inventory and expression patterns exhibit increased oxidoreductase potential and diminished cellulolytic capability relative to P. chrysosporium.

P450 redox enzymes in the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium: gene transcription, heterologous expression, and activity analysis on the purified proteins.

With an aim to understand the cytochrome P450 enzyme system in the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, here we report molecular characterization of its P450 redox proteins including the primary P450 oxidoreductase (POR) and two alternate P450 redox proteins cytochrome b5 (cyt b5) and cytochrome b5 reductase (cyt b5r) in terms of transcriptional regulation and heterologous expression. The transcript abundance followed the order POR > cyt b5r > cyt b5. Interestingly, the three genes showed an overall higher expression in the defined carbon-limited cultures with low nitrogen (LN) or high nitrogen (HN) versus the carbon-rich malt extract (ME) cultures. cDNA cloning and analysis revealed the following deduced protein characteristics: cyt b5 (238 amino acids, 25.38 kDa) and cyt b5r (321 amino acids, 35.52 kDa). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the cloned cyt b5 belongs to a novel class of fungal cyt b5-like proteins. The two proteins cyt b5 and cyt b5r were heterologously expressed in E. coli and purified using affinity-based purification in an active form. The POR was heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and was also purified in active form as evidenced by its cytochrome c reduction activity. This is the first report on cloning, heterologous expression, and purification of the alternate redox proteins cyt b5 and cyt b5r in E. coli and on yeast expression of POR from this model white rot fungus.

Modulation of in vitro phagocytic uptake and immunogenicity potential of modified Herceptin®-conjugated PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for drug delivery.

There is an increasing interest in engineered nanoparticle (NP) conjugates for targeted and controlled drug delivery. However, the practical applications of these NP delivery vehicles remain constrained because of their reactivity with the body's immune system defenses resulting in undesirable off-target effects. In this study, poly(D,L lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-b-polyethylene glycol (PEG) NPs conjugated to different quantities of the commercial antibody Herceptin® meant to target HER2-positive breast cancer cells were studied for their immune cell uptake and immunogenic properties (using murine macrophages and human dendritic cells). We further modified the Herceptin®-NP conjugates with short PEG linkers with an aim to increase their biocompatibility. The 50% Herceptin®-NP conjugate group with short PEG modification to Herceptin® showed the best reduction in immune cell uptake by 82% along with the reduction by >50% for proinflammatory cytokine response (TNF-α and IL-6). In conclusion, optimum Herceptin® coverage with improved hydrophilic profile results in reduced phagocytic uptake and immunogenicity of engineered NP-antibody conjugates, potentially minimizing their undesirable off-target effects as a drug delivery vehicle.

The Paleozoic origin of enzymatic lignin decomposition reconstructed from 31 fungal genomes.

Wood is a major pool of organic carbon that is highly resistant to decay, owing largely to the presence of lignin. The only organisms capable of substantial lignin decay are white rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes, which also contains non-lignin-degrading brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species. Comparative analyses of 31 fungal genomes (12 generated for this study) suggest that lignin-degrading peroxidases expanded in the lineage leading to the ancestor of the Agaricomycetes, which is reconstructed as a white rot species, and then contracted in parallel lineages leading to brown rot and mycorrhizal species. Molecular clock analyses suggest that the origin of lignin degradation might have coincided with the sharp decrease in the rate of organic carbon burial around the end of the Carboniferous period.

Physiological regulation, xenobiotic induction, and heterologous expression of P450 monooxygenase gene pc-3 (CYP63A3), a new member of the CYP63 gene cluster in the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

In order to characterize the functional diversity in CYP63 cluster of tandemly linked P450 genes (pc-1, pc-2, and pc-3) in Phanerochaete chrysosporium, here we report the functional characterization of pc-3 (CYP63A3), a newly cloned member of this group. pc-3 expression was favored in nutrient-limited versus nutrient-rich media in 3-6-day-old cultures and was upregulated by starch as a carbon source or by oxygenation of cultures. pc-3 was induced by various xenobiotics in defined nutrient-limited (3-9-fold) and nutrient-rich (2-5-fold) cultures. Particularly, a range of unsubstituted and substituted aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes and fatty acids) induced the expression under the two nutrient conditions albeit in a differential manner. Interestingly, pc-3 was also inducible by certain oxygenated mono aromatics (nitrophenol, benzoate, and resorcinol), lower molecular weight (2 to 4 ring size) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkali-treated lignin derivatives in nutrient-rich malt extract cultures. The study further establishes that the three CYP63 genes (CYP63A1, A2, and A3) are independently regulated despite being members of the tandem gene cluster with high gene structural similarity (13-14 introns) and protein sequence homology (59-85%). The pc-3 cDNA (1,812 bp) was expressed in E. coli as a His-tagged protein (approximately 74 kDa). This constitutes the first report on heterologous expression of a P450 monooxygenase enzyme from this model white-rot fungus.