Song, Hyeunjeong Kim, Ki-Tae Park, Sook-Young Lee, Gir-Won Choi, Jaeyoung Jeon, Jongbum Cheong, Kyeongchae Choi, Gobong Hur, Jae-Seoun Lee, Yong-Hwan 2024-01-19T12:00:45Z 2024-01-19T12:00:45Z 2022-07-08 2022-06 2045-2322 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/115123 Lichen-forming fungi are mutualistic symbionts of green algae or cyanobacteria. We report the comparative analysis of six genomes of lichen-forming fungi in classes Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes to identify genomic information related to their symbiotic lifestyle. The lichen-forming fungi exhibited genome reduction via the loss of dispensable genes encoding plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes, sugar transporters, and transcription factors. The loss of these genes reflects the symbiotic biology of lichens, such as the absence of pectin in the algal cell wall and obtaining specific sugars from photosynthetic partners. The lichens also gained many lineage- and species-specific genes, including those encoding small secreted proteins. These genes are primarily induced during the early stage of lichen symbiosis, indicating their significant roles in the establishment of lichen symbiosis.Our findings provide comprehensive genomic information for six lichen-forming fungi and novel insights into lichen biology and the evolution of symbiosis. English Nature Publishing Group A comparative genomic analysis of lichen-forming fungi reveals new insights into fungal lifestyles Article 10.1038/s41598-022-14340-5 1 Scientific Reports, v.12, no.1 Scientific Reports 12 1 Y scie scopus 000815538100052 Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics Article CARBOHYDRATE MOVEMENT PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS SYMBIOSIS ALIGNMENT RESYNTHESIS ANNOTATION MYCOBIONT EVOLUTION CLADONIA EFFECTOR