Aspergillus genomic diversity

Comparative genomics shows Aspergillus species share genome size but harbor large lineage-specific gene sets.

Source

Comparative genomics reveals high biological diversity and specific adaptations in the industrially and medically important fungal genus Aspergillus

de Vries RP, Riley R, Wiebenga A, et al. · Genome biology · 2017

doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1151-0 Read the full paper ↗354 citationscc by

Study at a glance

Design: Computational / modelling — Comparative genomics of Aspergillus genomes in MycoCosm
N: Multi-genome Aspergillus comparison (≈29–36 Mb; 9,113–13,553 genes) — genome count not a single primary N in stored summary
Population: Aspergillus / Aspergillaceae genomes
Outcome: Genome size, gene content, and clade-specific gene expansions

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Aspergillus genomic diversity

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Predicted genes 9113–13,553.

The number of predicted genes in the aspergilli is in the range of 9113–13,553, which is generally higher than that observed for the Onygenales (<10,000; Additional file B).

About 20% genes specific to Aspergillaceae.

A substantial proportion (80% on average) of the identified genes in Aspergillaceae genomes have homologs in other lineages of fungi, indicating that around 20% are specific to Aspergillaceae.

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What they did

Compared Aspergillus genomes in MycoCosm for size, GC, gene content, repeats, and clade-specific genes.

What they found

Genomes ~29–36 Mb with 9,113–13,553 genes; ~20% Aspergillaceae-specific; section Nigri averages ~1,800 unique genes.

The limits

What it doesn't show

Does not experimentally validate every lineage-specific gene’s phenotype.

Key terms

Aspergillus: Diverse filamentous fungal genus.
Comparative genomics: Cross-species genome comparison.
Lineage-specific genes: Genes restricted to a clade.
GC content: Fraction of G+C bases in DNA.
Secondary metabolism: Specialized metabolite pathways often expanded in fungi.
MycoCosm: JGI fungal genome portal used for comparison.

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Genome size:

Common questions

Genome size?

29–36 Mb.

Gene counts?

9,113–13,553.

Aspergillaceae-specific?

~20%.

Nigri-specific average?

~1,800 genes.