Biology subjects

Bai, F.-Y.

Publications and source records attributed to Bai, F.-Y..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Schizosaccharomyces orthogroup (SOG) resource: a web platform for exploring gene conservation in fission yeasts

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a prominent model organism widely used to investigate fundamental cellular mechanisms. In addition to S. pombe, the genus Schizosaccharomyces includes six other species--S. octosporus, S. japonicus, S. cryophilus, S. osmophilus, S. lindneri, and S. versatilis. These fission yeast species share a common ancestor from which the genus diversified over more than 200 million years. This extensive evolutionary divergence provides opportunities for comparative genomics. Here, we present the Schizosaccharomyces orthogroup (SOG) resource, a web platform developed from our high-quality genome assemblies, gene annotations, and orthology assignments. Most fission yeast genes are assigned to one of over 5,000 orthogroups. The platform enables users to visualize orthogroup sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees, retrieve coding and flanking sequences, and explore the conservation of local synteny. This resource will benefit researchers focusing on individual genes as well as those investigating gene evolution at broader scales. It is freely accessible at https://www.sogweb.org. TAKE AWAYO_LIThe SOG resource covers all known species of Schizosaccharomyces. C_LIO_LIThe platform is built on high-quality genome assemblies and annotations. C_LIO_LIMost genes are assigned to one of over 5,000 orthogroups. C_LIO_LIUsers can view and explore alignments, phylogenetic trees, and local synteny. C_LIO_LIThis free resource aids functional and evolutionary research. C_LI

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Proposal of two new genera and seventy-seven new species of ascomycetous yeasts isolated from China

Ascomycetous yeasts belong to Saccharomycotina and Taphrinomycotina, with about 1,200 described species distributed worldwide. More than 300 ascomycetous yeast species have been reported from China, which indicates that China possesses a hotspot with high yeast diversity. However, our knowledge of yeast diversity and distribution remains limited, and this area needs to be explored in depth. Here we describe 77 new ascomycetous yeast species with 195 isolates obtained over the past two decades during the continuous yeast diversity surveys in China, based on the phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacer region including the 5.8S rDNA (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis was used to delimitate closely related species with low sequence heterogeneity in the ITS and D1/D2 regions. Seventy-five of these new species belong to 35 genera in the Saccharaomycotina, while the other two are distributed in Taphrina of the Taphrinomycotina. In addition, we propose two new genera, namely Gaboromyces gen. nov. and Yurkovozyma gen. nov.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Macroevolutionary diversity of traits and genomes in the model yeast genus Saccharomyces

Species is the fundamental unit to quantify biodiversity. In recent years, the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has seen an increased number of studies related to its geographical distribution, population structure, and phenotypic diversity. However, seven additional species from the same genus have been less thoroughly studied, which has limited our understanding of the macroevolutionary leading to the diversification of this genus over the last 20 million years. Here, we report the geographies, hosts, substrates, and phylogenetic relationships for approximately 1,800 Saccharomyces strains, covering the complete genus with unprecedented breadth and depth. We generated and analyzed complete genome sequences of 163 strains and phenotyped 128 phylogenetically diverse strains. This dataset provides insights about genetic and phenotypic diversity within and between species and populations, quantifies reticulation and incomplete lineage sorting, and demonstrates how gene flow and selection have affected traits, such as galactose metabolism. These findings elevate the genus Saccharomyces as a model to understand biodiversity and evolution in microbial eukaryotes.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Maltotriose consumption by hybrid Saccharomyces pastorianus is heterotic and results from regulatory cross-talk between parental sub-genomes

S. pastorianus strains are hybrids of S. cerevisiae and S. eubayanus that have been domesticated for several centuries in lager-beer brewing environments. As sequences and structures of S. pastorianus genomes are being resolved, molecular mechanisms and evolutionary origin of several industrially relevant phenotypes remain unknown. This study investigates how maltotriose metabolism, a key feature in brewing, may have arisen in early S. eubayanus x S. cerevisiae hybrids. To address this question, we generated a near-complete genome assembly of Himalayan S. eubayanus strains of the Holarctic subclade. This group of strains have been proposed to be the origin of the S. eubayanus subgenome of current S. pastorianus strains. The Himalayan S. eubayanus genomes harbored several copies of a SeAGT1 -oligoglucoside transporter gene with high sequence identity to genes encountered in S. pastorianus. Although Himalayan S. eubayanus strains are unable to grown on maltose and maltotriose, their maltose-hydrolase and SeMALT1 and SeAGT1 maltose-transporter genes complemented the corresponding null mutants of S. cerevisiae. Expression, in a Himalayan S. eubayanus strain, of a functional S. cerevisiae maltose-metabolism regulator gene (MALx3) enabled growth on oligoglucosides. The hypothesis that the maltotriose-positive phenotype in S. pastorianus is a result of heterosis was experimentally tested by constructing a S. cerevisiae x S. eubayanus laboratory hybrid with a complement of maltose-metabolism genes that resembles that of current S. pastorianus strains. The ability of this hybrid to consume maltotriose in brewers wort demonstrated regulatory cross talk between sub-genomes and thereby validated this hypothesis. These results provide experimental evidence of the evolutionary origin of an essential phenotype of lager-brewing strains and valuable knowledge for industrial exploitation of laboratory-made S. pastorianus-like hybrids.\n\nImportanceS.pastorianus, a S.cerevisiae X S.eubayanus hybrid, is used for production of lager beer, the most produced alcoholic beverage worldwide It emerged by spontaneous hybridization and have colonized early lager-brewing processes. Despite accumulation and analysis of genome sequencing data of S.pastorianus parental genomes, the genetic blueprint of industrially relevant phenotypes remains unknown. Assimilation of wort abundant sugar maltotriose has been postulated to be inherited from S.cerevisiae parent. Here, we demonstrate that although Asian S.eubayanus isolates harbor a functional maltotriose transporter SeAGT1 gene, they are unable to grow on -oligoglucosides, but expression of S. cerevisae regulator ScMAL13 was sufficient to restore growth on trisaccharides. We hypothesized that S. pastorianus maltotriose phenotype results from regulatory interaction between S.cerevisae maltose transcription activator and the promoter of SeAGT1. We experimentally confirmed the heterotic nature of the phenotype and thus this results provide experimental evidence of the evolutionary origin of an essential phenotype of lager-brewing strains.

microbiology↗