Biology subjects

Colpaert, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Colpaert, J..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Comparative transcriptomics provides insight into molecular mechanisms of zinc tolerance in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus

Zinc is a major soil contaminant and high zinc levels can disrupt growth, survival, and reproduction of fungi. Some fungal species have evolved zinc tolerance through cell processes mitigating zinc toxicity, though the genes and detailed mechanisms underlying fungal zinc tolerance remain unexplored. To fill this gap in knowledge, we investigated the gene expression of zinc tolerance in the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus. We found that zinc tolerance in this species is both a constitutive and environmentally dependent trait. Highly differentially expressed genes were predicted to be involved in transmembrane transport, metal chelation, oxidoreductase activity, and signal transduction. Some of these genes were previously reported as candidates for S. luteus zinc tolerance, while others are reported here for the first time. Overall, we found S. luteus zinc tolerance is associated with differences in expression of genes involved in metal exclusion and immobilization, as well as recognition and mitigation of metal-induced oxidative stress. Our results contribute to understanding the mechanisms of fungal metal tolerance and pave the way for further research on the role of metal tolerance in mycorrhizal associations.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Incipient local adaptation in a fungus: evolution of heavy metal tolerance through allelic and copy-number variation

Human-altered environments can shape the evolution of organisms. Fungi are no exception, though little is known about how they withstand anthropogenic pollution. Here, we document incipient polygenic local adaptation in the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus driven by recent soil heavy metal contamination. Genome scans across individuals from recently polluted and nearby unpolluted soils in Belgium revealed no evidence of population structure but detected allelic divergence and gene copy number variation in genes involved in metal exclusion, storage, immobilization, and reactive oxygen species detoxification. Standing genetic variation included multiple alleles of small effects contributing to heavy metal tolerance, suggesting the existence of different strategies to withstand contamination. These variants were shared across the whole population but under selection in isolates exposed to pollution. Together, our results point to S. luteus undergoing the initial steps of adaptive divergence and contribute to understanding the processes underlying local adaptation under strong environmental selection.

evolutionary biology↗