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Ana Plemenitaš - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Insight into the Recent Genome Duplication of the Halophilic Yeast Hortaea werneckii: Combining an Improved Genome with Gene Expression and Chromatin Structure.
G3 (Bethesda Md.), 2017Co-Authors: Sunita Sinha, Ana Plemenitaš, Metka Lenassi, Cene Gostinčar, Nina Gunde Cimerman, Stephane Flibotte, Mauricio Neira, Sean Formby, Jason E. Stajich, Corey NislowAbstract:Extremophilic organisms demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of basic biological processes by highlighting how cell physiology adapts to environmental extremes. Few eukaryotic extremophiles have been well studied and only a small number are amenable to laboratory cultivation and manipulation. A detailed characterization of the genome architecture of such organisms is important to illuminate how they adapt to environmental stresses. One excellent example of a fungal extremophile is the halophile Hortaea werneckii (Pezizomycotina, Dothideomycetes, Capnodiales), a yeast-like fungus able to thrive at near-saturating concentrations of sodium chloride and which is also tolerant to both UV irradiation and desiccation. Given its unique lifestyle and its remarkably recent whole genome duplication, H. werneckii provides opportunities for testing the role of genome duplications and adaptability to extreme environments. We previously assembled the genome of H. werneckii using short-read sequencing technology and found a remarkable degree of gene duplication. Technology limitations, however, precluded high-confidence annotation of the entire genome. We therefore revisited the H. wernickii genome using long-read, single-molecule sequencing and provide an improved genome assembly which, combined with transcriptome and nucleosome analysis, provides a useful resource for fungal halophile genomics. Remarkably, the ∼50 Mb H. wernickii genome contains 15,974 genes of which 95% (7608) are duplicates formed by a recent whole genome duplication (WGD), with an average of 5% protein sequence divergence between them. We found that the WGD is extraordinarily recent, and compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the majority of the genome's ohnologs have not diverged at the level of gene expression of chromatin structure.
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Plemenitas A: The HOG pathway in the halophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii: isolation of the HOG1 homolog gene and activation of HwHog1p
2016Co-Authors: Martina Turk, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Hog1p plays an essential role in the yeast hyperosmotic response. A homolog of the HOG1 gene was isolated from the halophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii encoding a putative 359 amino acid protein, HwHog1p, with high homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hog1p and to other eukaryotic Hog1p homologs. HwHog1p contains a TGY motif within a protein kinase catalytic domain and a C-terminal common docking (CD) motif. Its activation by increased salinity is regulated at the posttranscriptional level. HwHog1p is located on the plasma membrane under nonstress conditions. Upon increased external salinity it is translocated from the membrane, presumably to the nucleus
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The unique characteristics of HOG pathway MAPKs in the extremely halotolerant Hortaea werneckii.
FEMS microbiology letters, 2015Co-Authors: Anja Kejžar, Ana Plemenitaš, Morten Grøtli, Matej Cibic, Metka LenassiAbstract:HwHog1A/B, Hortaea werneckii homologues of the MAP kinase Hog1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae , are vital for the extreme halotolerance of H. werneckii . In mesophilic S. cerevisiae , Hog1 is phosphorylated already at low osmolyte concentrations, and regulates expression of a similar set of genes independent of osmolyte type. To understand how HwHog1 kinases activity is regulated in H. werneckii , we studied HwHog1A/B activation in vivo , by following phosphorylation of HwHog1A/B in H. werneckii exposed to various osmolytes, and in vitro , by measuring kinase activities of recombinant HwHog1A, HwHog1B and Hog1ΔC. To this end, highly pure and soluble recombinant Hog1 homologues were isolated from insect cells. Our results demonstrate that HwHog1A/B are, in general, transiently phosphorylated in cells shocked with ≥3 M osmolyte, yet constitutive phosphorylation is observed at extreme NaCl and KCl concentrations. Importantly, phosphorylation profiles differ depending on the osmolyte type. Additionally, phosphorylated recombinant HwHog1A/B show lower specific kinase activities compared to Hog1ΔC. In summary, HOG pathway MAPKs in the extremely halotolerant H. werneckii show unique characteristics compared to S. cerevisiae homologues. The reported findings contribute to defining the key determinants of H. werneckii osmotolerance, which is important for its potential transfer to economically relevant microorganisms and crops.
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HwHog1 kinase activity is crucial for survival of Hortaea werneckii in extremely hyperosmolar environments
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B, 2014Co-Authors: Anja Kejžar, Ana Plemenitaš, Morten Grøtli, Markus J. Tamás, Metka LenassiAbstract:Although suggested, the involvement of the HOG pathway in adaptation processes in extremely halotolerant fungus Hortaea werneckii has never been specifically demonstrated. Here, we show that the H. werneckii HOG pathway is very robust, and that it includes two functionally redundant MAPK homologues, HwHog1A and HwHog1B, that show osmolyte-type-dependent phosphorylation. Inhibition of HwHog1 kinase activity with the ATP analogue BPTIP restricts H. werneckii colony growth at 3.0 M NaCl, KCl and sorbitol, most likely due to restricted cell division. On the other hand, HwHog1-regulated transcription of a selected group of genes (HwSTL1, HwGUT2, HwOPI3, HwGDH1, HwUGP1, HwGPD1) is an osmolyte-specific process that is important for induction of gene transcription with high NaCl, for regulation of specific genes with high sorbitol, and has no role in KCl stressed cells. Survival of H. werneckii at moderate NaCl and KCl concentrations is not dependent on HwHog1 activity or the calcineurin pathway, and thus alternative mechanisms must exist. The HOG pathway described here is vital for the extreme osmotolerance of H. werneckii, and its regulation shows important differences from the homologue pathways characterised in other mesophilic and halotolerant fungi.
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Whole genome duplication and enrichment of metal cation transporters revealed by de novo genome sequencing of extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii.
PloS one, 2013Co-Authors: Metka Lenassi, Cene Gostinčar, Martina Turk, Ivan Sadowski, Corey Nislow, Inanc Birol, Nina Gunde Cimerman, Shaun D. Jackman, Steven J.m. Jones, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:Hortaea werneckii, ascomycetous yeast from the order Capnodiales, shows an exceptional adaptability to osmotically stressful conditions. To investigate this unusual phenotype we obtained a draft genomic sequence of a H. werneckii strain isolated from hypersaline water of solar saltern. Two of its most striking characteristics that may be associated with a halotolerant lifestyle are the large genetic redundancy and the expansion of genes encoding metal cation transporters. Although no sexual state of H. werneckii has yet been described, a mating locus with characteristics of heterothallic fungi was found. The total assembly size of the genome is 51.6 Mb, larger than most phylogenetically related fungi, coding for almost twice the usual number of predicted genes (23333). The genome appears to have experienced a relatively recent whole genome duplication, and contains two highly identical gene copies of almost every protein. This is consistent with some previous studies that reported increases in genomic DNA content triggered by exposure to salt stress. In hypersaline conditions transmembrane ion transport is of utmost importance. The analysis of predicted metal cation transporters showed that most types of transporters experienced several gene duplications at various points during their evolution. Consequently they are present in much higher numbers than expected. The resulting diversity of transporters presents interesting biotechnological opportunities for improvement of halotolerance of salt-sensitive species. The involvement of plasma P-type H+ ATPases in adaptation to different concentrations of salt was indicated by their salt dependent transcription. This was not the case with vacuolar H+ ATPases, which were transcribed constitutively. The availability of this genomic sequence is expected to promote the research of H. werneckii. Studying its extreme halotolerance will not only contribute to our understanding of life in hypersaline environments, but should also identify targets for improving the salt- and osmotolerance of economically important plants and microorganisms.
Nina Gunde-cimerman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The beauty and the yeast: can the microalgae Dunaliella form a borderline lichen with Hortaea werneckii?
Symbiosis, 2020Co-Authors: Lucia Muggia, Polona Zalar, Armando Azua-bustos, Carlos González-silva, Martin Grube, Nina Gunde-cimermanAbstract:Lichenized fungi usually develop complex, stratified morphologies through an intricately balanced living together with their algal partners, but several species are known to form only more or less loose associations with algae. These borderline lichens are still little explored although they could inform us about early stages of lichen evolution. We studied the association of the extremely halotolerant fungus Hortaea werneckii with the alga Dunaliella atacamensis , discovered in a cave in the Atacama Desert (Chile), and with D. salina , common inhabitant of saltern brines. D. atacamensis forms small colonies, in which cells of H. werneckii can be frequently observed, while such interaction has not been observed with D. salina . As symbiotic interactions between Dunaliella and Hortaea have not been reported, we performed a series of co-cultivation experiments to inspect whether these species could interact and develop more distinct lichen-like symbiotic structures. We set up co-cultures between axenic strains of Hortaea werneckii (isolated both from Mediterranean salterns and from the Atacama cave) and isolates of D. atacamensis (from the Atacama cave) and D. salina (isolated from Mediterranean salterns). Although we used different growth media and cultivation approaches, bright field and SEM microscopy analyses did not indicate any mutual effects in these experiments. We discuss the implications for fungal algal interactions along the transition from algal exploiters to lichen symbioses.
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Fungal and bacterial diversity of Svalbard subglacial ice
Scientific reports, 2019Co-Authors: Laura Perini, Cene Gostinčar, Nina Gunde-cimermanAbstract:The composition of fungal and bacterial communities in three polythermal glaciers and associated aquatic environments in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard was analysed using a combination of cultivation and amplicon sequencing. 109 fungal strains belonging to 30 mostly basidiomycetous species were isolated from glacial samples with counts up to 103 CFU/100 ml. Glaciozyma-related taxon and Phenoliferia psychrophenolica were the dominant species. Unexpectedly, amplicon sequencing uncovered sequences of Chytridiomycota in all samples and Rozellomycota in sea water, lake water, and tap water. Sequences of Malassezia restricta and of the extremely halotolerant Hortaea werneckii were also found in subglacial habitats for the first time. Overall, the fungal communities within a glacier and among glaciers were diverse and spatially heterogenous. Contrary to this, there was a large overlap between the bacterial communities of different glaciers, with Flavobacterium sp. being the most frequently isolated. In amplicon sequencing Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria sequences were the most abundant.
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The extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii - a model for intraspecific hybridization in clonal fungi.
IMA fungus, 2019Co-Authors: Polona Zalar, G. Sybren De Hoog, Cene Gostinčar, Filomena De Leo, Armando Azua-bustos, Janja Zajc, Jerneja Zupančič, Nina Gunde-cimermanAbstract:The polymorphic black yeast Hortaea werneckii (Capnodiales, Ascomycota) is extremely halotolerant (growth from 0 to 30% [w/v] NaCl) and has been extensively studied as a model for halotolerance in Eukaryotes for over two decades. Its most frequent sources are hypersaline environments and adjacent sea-water habitats in temperate, subtropical and tropical climates. Although typically saprobic, H. werneckii can also act as a commensal coloniser on human skin, causing tinea nigra on hands and soles. Here, we report that addition of NaCl to culture media expands the growth range of H. werneckii to 37 °C, which explains its colonisation of human skin, with its increased salinity. The morphological and physiological plasticity/ versatility of H. werneckii indicate that a species complex might be involved. This was investigated in this polyphasic taxonomic analysis based on the global diversity of H. werneckii strains collected from hypersaline environments, and from humans and animals. Analysis of D1/D2domains of 28S and internal transcribed spacer rDNA revealed 10 and 17 genotypes, respectively, that were not always compliant. The genotypes have global distributions. Human and environmental strains with the same genotypes are intermingled. Due to the limited number of phylogenetically informative characters in the ribosomal DNA dataset, the partial genes encoding for β-tubulin (BTB) and mini-chromosome maintenance protein (MCM7) were also sequenced. The use of these genes was hampered by ambiguous sequences obtained by Sanger sequencing, as a consequence of the diploid and highly heterozygous genome of many H. werneckii strains. Analysis of the BTB and MCM7 genes showed that in some cases two copies of the gene from the same genome are positioned in distant phylogenetic clusters of the intraspecific gene tree. Analysis of whole-genome sequences of selected H. werneckii strains generally confirmed the phylogenetic distances estimated on the basis of ribosomal genes, but also showed substantial reticulation within the phylogenetic history of the strains. This is in line with the hypothesis that the diploid genomes of H. werneckii were formed by hybridizations, which have sometimes occurred between relatively divergent strains.
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Global Molecular Diversity of the Halotolerant Fungus Hortaea werneckii
Life (Basel Switzerland), 2018Co-Authors: Alessia Marchetta, Nina Gunde-cimerman, Bert Gerrits Van Den Ende, Abdullah M. S. Al-hatmi, Ferry Hagen, Polona Zalar, M. Sudhadham, Clara Urzì, Sybren De Hoog, Filomena De LeoAbstract:A global set of clinical and environmental strains of the halotolerant black yeast-like fungus Hortaea werneckii are analyzed by multilocus sequencing and AFLP, and physiological parameters are determined. Partial translation elongation factor 1-α proves to be suitable for typing because of the presence/absence of introns and also the presence of several SNPs. Local clonal expansion could be established by a combination of molecular methods, while the population from the Mediterranean Sea water also responds differently to combined temperature and salt stress. The species comprises molecular populations, which in part also differ physiologically allowing further diversification, but clinical strains did not deviate significantly from their environmental counterparts.
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The mycobiota of the salterns.
Progress in molecular and subcellular biology, 2011Co-Authors: Janja Zajc, Ana Plemenitaš, Polona Zalar, Nina Gunde-cimermanAbstract:Solar salterns are constructed as shallow multi-pond systems for the production of halite through evaporation of seawater. The main feature of salterns is the discontinuous salinity gradient that provides a range of well-defined habitats with increasing salinities, from moderate to hypersaline. These present one of the most extreme environments, because of the low levels of biologically available water and the toxic concentrations of ions. Up to the year 2000, hypersaline environments were considered to be populated almost exclusively by prokaryotic microorganisms till fungi were reported to be active inhabitants of solar salterns. Since then, numerous fungal species have been described in hypersaline waters around the world. The mycobiota of salterns is represented by different species of the genus Cladosporium and the related meristematic melanized black yeasts, of non-melanized yeasts, of the filamentous genera Penicillium and Aspergillus and their teleomorphic forms (Eurotium and Emericella), and of the basidiomycetous genus Wallemia. Among these, two species became new model organisms for studying the mechanisms of extreme salt tolerance: the extremely halotolerant ascomycetous black yeast Hortaea werneckii and the obligate halophilic basidiomycete Wallemia ichthyophaga.
Uroš Petrovič - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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role of oxidative stress in the extremely salt tolerant yeast Hortaea werneckii
Fems Yeast Research, 2006Co-Authors: Uroš PetrovičAbstract:Eukaryotic halotolerant microorganisms are important as model organisms to understand the general mechanisms of resistance to environmental salinity. The ability of the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii to combat oxidative stress was addressed, using hydrogen peroxide to generate the reactive oxygen species. Increasing environmental salinity was found to have no effect on its high ability to degrade hydrogen peroxide but resulted in a decrease in viability in response to externally added hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that the latter property determines the upper limit of the salt tolerance of H. werneckii. A refinement of the model of adaptation of H. werneckii to high-salinity environments is proposed.
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Role of oxidative stress in the extremely salt‐tolerant yeast Hortaea werneckii
FEMS yeast research, 2006Co-Authors: Uroš PetrovičAbstract:Eukaryotic halotolerant microorganisms are important as model organisms to understand the general mechanisms of resistance to environmental salinity. The ability of the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii to combat oxidative stress was addressed, using hydrogen peroxide to generate the reactive oxygen species. Increasing environmental salinity was found to have no effect on its high ability to degrade hydrogen peroxide but resulted in a decrease in viability in response to externally added hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that the latter property determines the upper limit of the salt tolerance of H. werneckii. A refinement of the model of adaptation of H. werneckii to high-salinity environments is proposed.
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Regulation of HMGCoA Reducíase Activity by Salt Stress in Hortaea werneckii
Non-Conventional Yeasts in Genetics Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2003Co-Authors: Uroš Petrovič, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:To study the effect of salt stress on sterol biosynthesis through the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG R) in halophilic Hortaea werneckii.
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Salt stress affects sterol biosynthesis in the halophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii
FEMS microbiology letters, 1999Co-Authors: Nina Gunde-cimerman, Ana Plemenitaš, Uroš PetrovičAbstract:Hortaea werneckii is a black yeast recently isolated from salterns in Slovenia. Some of the adaptations of halophilic microorganisms to increased salinity and osmolarity of the environment are alterations in membrane properties. By modulating the fluidity, sterols play an important role as a component of eukaryotic biological membranes. We studied the regulation of sterol biosynthesis in H. werneckii through the activity and amount of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG R), a key regulatory enzyme in the biosynthesis of sterols. We found some differences in the characteristics of HMG R and in its regulation by different environmental salinities in H. werneckii when compared to the mesophilic baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our results suggest that halophilic black yeast regulates sterol biosynthesis through HMG R in a different way than mesophiles, which might be a consequence of the different ecophysiology of halophilic black yeasts. From this perspective, H. werneckii is an interestingnovel model organism for studies on salt stress-responsive proteinsas well as on sterol biosynthesis in eukaryotes.
Metka Lenassi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Insight into the Recent Genome Duplication of the Halophilic Yeast Hortaea werneckii: Combining an Improved Genome with Gene Expression and Chromatin Structure.
G3 (Bethesda Md.), 2017Co-Authors: Sunita Sinha, Ana Plemenitaš, Metka Lenassi, Cene Gostinčar, Nina Gunde Cimerman, Stephane Flibotte, Mauricio Neira, Sean Formby, Jason E. Stajich, Corey NislowAbstract:Extremophilic organisms demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of basic biological processes by highlighting how cell physiology adapts to environmental extremes. Few eukaryotic extremophiles have been well studied and only a small number are amenable to laboratory cultivation and manipulation. A detailed characterization of the genome architecture of such organisms is important to illuminate how they adapt to environmental stresses. One excellent example of a fungal extremophile is the halophile Hortaea werneckii (Pezizomycotina, Dothideomycetes, Capnodiales), a yeast-like fungus able to thrive at near-saturating concentrations of sodium chloride and which is also tolerant to both UV irradiation and desiccation. Given its unique lifestyle and its remarkably recent whole genome duplication, H. werneckii provides opportunities for testing the role of genome duplications and adaptability to extreme environments. We previously assembled the genome of H. werneckii using short-read sequencing technology and found a remarkable degree of gene duplication. Technology limitations, however, precluded high-confidence annotation of the entire genome. We therefore revisited the H. wernickii genome using long-read, single-molecule sequencing and provide an improved genome assembly which, combined with transcriptome and nucleosome analysis, provides a useful resource for fungal halophile genomics. Remarkably, the ∼50 Mb H. wernickii genome contains 15,974 genes of which 95% (7608) are duplicates formed by a recent whole genome duplication (WGD), with an average of 5% protein sequence divergence between them. We found that the WGD is extraordinarily recent, and compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the majority of the genome's ohnologs have not diverged at the level of gene expression of chromatin structure.
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The unique characteristics of HOG pathway MAPKs in the extremely halotolerant Hortaea werneckii.
FEMS microbiology letters, 2015Co-Authors: Anja Kejžar, Ana Plemenitaš, Morten Grøtli, Matej Cibic, Metka LenassiAbstract:HwHog1A/B, Hortaea werneckii homologues of the MAP kinase Hog1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae , are vital for the extreme halotolerance of H. werneckii . In mesophilic S. cerevisiae , Hog1 is phosphorylated already at low osmolyte concentrations, and regulates expression of a similar set of genes independent of osmolyte type. To understand how HwHog1 kinases activity is regulated in H. werneckii , we studied HwHog1A/B activation in vivo , by following phosphorylation of HwHog1A/B in H. werneckii exposed to various osmolytes, and in vitro , by measuring kinase activities of recombinant HwHog1A, HwHog1B and Hog1ΔC. To this end, highly pure and soluble recombinant Hog1 homologues were isolated from insect cells. Our results demonstrate that HwHog1A/B are, in general, transiently phosphorylated in cells shocked with ≥3 M osmolyte, yet constitutive phosphorylation is observed at extreme NaCl and KCl concentrations. Importantly, phosphorylation profiles differ depending on the osmolyte type. Additionally, phosphorylated recombinant HwHog1A/B show lower specific kinase activities compared to Hog1ΔC. In summary, HOG pathway MAPKs in the extremely halotolerant H. werneckii show unique characteristics compared to S. cerevisiae homologues. The reported findings contribute to defining the key determinants of H. werneckii osmotolerance, which is important for its potential transfer to economically relevant microorganisms and crops.
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HwHog1 kinase activity is crucial for survival of Hortaea werneckii in extremely hyperosmolar environments
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B, 2014Co-Authors: Anja Kejžar, Ana Plemenitaš, Morten Grøtli, Markus J. Tamás, Metka LenassiAbstract:Although suggested, the involvement of the HOG pathway in adaptation processes in extremely halotolerant fungus Hortaea werneckii has never been specifically demonstrated. Here, we show that the H. werneckii HOG pathway is very robust, and that it includes two functionally redundant MAPK homologues, HwHog1A and HwHog1B, that show osmolyte-type-dependent phosphorylation. Inhibition of HwHog1 kinase activity with the ATP analogue BPTIP restricts H. werneckii colony growth at 3.0 M NaCl, KCl and sorbitol, most likely due to restricted cell division. On the other hand, HwHog1-regulated transcription of a selected group of genes (HwSTL1, HwGUT2, HwOPI3, HwGDH1, HwUGP1, HwGPD1) is an osmolyte-specific process that is important for induction of gene transcription with high NaCl, for regulation of specific genes with high sorbitol, and has no role in KCl stressed cells. Survival of H. werneckii at moderate NaCl and KCl concentrations is not dependent on HwHog1 activity or the calcineurin pathway, and thus alternative mechanisms must exist. The HOG pathway described here is vital for the extreme osmotolerance of H. werneckii, and its regulation shows important differences from the homologue pathways characterised in other mesophilic and halotolerant fungi.
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Whole genome duplication and enrichment of metal cation transporters revealed by de novo genome sequencing of extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii.
PloS one, 2013Co-Authors: Metka Lenassi, Cene Gostinčar, Martina Turk, Ivan Sadowski, Corey Nislow, Inanc Birol, Nina Gunde Cimerman, Shaun D. Jackman, Steven J.m. Jones, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:Hortaea werneckii, ascomycetous yeast from the order Capnodiales, shows an exceptional adaptability to osmotically stressful conditions. To investigate this unusual phenotype we obtained a draft genomic sequence of a H. werneckii strain isolated from hypersaline water of solar saltern. Two of its most striking characteristics that may be associated with a halotolerant lifestyle are the large genetic redundancy and the expansion of genes encoding metal cation transporters. Although no sexual state of H. werneckii has yet been described, a mating locus with characteristics of heterothallic fungi was found. The total assembly size of the genome is 51.6 Mb, larger than most phylogenetically related fungi, coding for almost twice the usual number of predicted genes (23333). The genome appears to have experienced a relatively recent whole genome duplication, and contains two highly identical gene copies of almost every protein. This is consistent with some previous studies that reported increases in genomic DNA content triggered by exposure to salt stress. In hypersaline conditions transmembrane ion transport is of utmost importance. The analysis of predicted metal cation transporters showed that most types of transporters experienced several gene duplications at various points during their evolution. Consequently they are present in much higher numbers than expected. The resulting diversity of transporters presents interesting biotechnological opportunities for improvement of halotolerance of salt-sensitive species. The involvement of plasma P-type H+ ATPases in adaptation to different concentrations of salt was indicated by their salt dependent transcription. This was not the case with vacuolar H+ ATPases, which were transcribed constitutively. The availability of this genomic sequence is expected to promote the research of H. werneckii. Studying its extreme halotolerance will not only contribute to our understanding of life in hypersaline environments, but should also identify targets for improving the salt- and osmotolerance of economically important plants and microorganisms.
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Melanin is crucial for growth of the black yeast Hortaea werneckii in its natural hypersaline environment
Fungal biology, 2013Co-Authors: Anja Kejžar, Ana Plemenitaš, Stanislav Gobec, Metka LenassiAbstract:Melanin has an important role in the ability of fungi to survive extreme conditions, like the high NaCl concentrations that are typical of hypersaline environments. The black fungus Hortaea werneckii that has been isolated from such environments has 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin incorporated into the cell wall, which minimises the loss of glycerol at low NaCl concentrations. To further explore the role of melanin in the extremely halotolerant character of H. werneckii, we studied the effects of several melanin biosynthesis inhibitors on its growth, pigmentation and cell morphology. The most potent inhibitors were a 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivative and tricyclazole, which restricted the growth of H. werneckii on high-salinity media, as shown by growth curves and plate-drop assays. These inhibitors promoted release of the pigments from the H. werneckii cell surface and changed the medium colour. Inhibitor-treated H. werneckii cells exposed to high salinity showed both decreased and increased cell lengths. We speculate that this absence of melanin perturbs the integrity of the cell wall in H. werneckii, which affects its cell division and exposes it to the harmful effects of high NaCl concentrations. Surprisingly, melanin had no effect on H. werneckii survival under H₂O₂ oxidative stress.
Tomaz Vaupotic - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mitochondrial mediation of environmental osmolytes discrimination during osmoadaptation in the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii
Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B, 2008Co-Authors: Tomaz Vaupotic, Peter Veranič, Paul Jenoe, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:We have investigated the mitochondrial responses to hyperosmotic environments of ionic (4.5 M NaCl) and non-ionic (3.0 M sorbitol) osmolytes in the most halo/osmo-tolerant black yeast, Hortaea werneckii. Adaptation to both types of osmolytes resulted in differential expression of mitochondria-related genes. Live-cell imaging has revealed a condensation of mitochondria in hyperosmotic media that depends on osmolyte type. In the hypersaline medium, this was accompanied by increased ATP synthesis and oxidative damage protection, whereas adaptation to the non-ionic osmolyte resulted in a decrease in ATP synthesis and lipid peroxidation level in mitochondria. A proteomic study of the mitochondria revealed preferential accumulation of energy metabolism enzymes in the hypersaline medium, and accumulation of protein chaperones in the non-ionic osmolyte. The HwBmh1/14-3-3 protein, localized to mitochondria in hypersaline conditions, and not at optimal salinity, suggesting its role in differential perception of ionic and non-ionic osmolytes in H. werneckii.
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adaptation of extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii to increased osmolarity a molecular perspective at a glance
Studies in Mycology, 2008Co-Authors: Ana Plemenitaš, Metka Lenassi, Tina Kogej, Tomaz Vaupotic, Nina GundecimermanAbstract:Halophilic adaptations have been studied almost exclusively on prokaryotic microorganisms. Discovery of the black yeast Hortaea werneckii as the dominant fungal species in hypersaline waters enabled the introduction of a new model organism to study the mechanisms of salt tolerance in eukaryotes. Its strategies of cellular osmotic adaptations on the physiological and molecular level revealed novel, intricate mechanisms to combat fluctuating salinity. H. werneckii is an extremely halotolerant eukaryotic microorganism and thus a promising source of transgenes for osmotolerance improvement of industrially important yeasts, as well as in crops.
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Differential gene expression and Hog1 interaction with osmoresponsive genes in the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii
BMC genomics, 2007Co-Authors: Tomaz Vaupotic, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:Fluctuations in external salinity force eukaryotic cells to respond by changes in the gene expression of proteins acting in protective biochemical processes, thus counteracting the changing osmotic pressure. The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) signaling pathway is essential for the efficient up-regulation of the osmoresponsive genes. In this study, the differential gene expression of the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii was explored. Furthermore, the interaction of mitogen-activated protein kinase HwHog1 and RNA polymerase II with the chromatin in cells adapted to an extremely hypersaline environment was analyzed. A cDNA subtraction library was constructed for H. werneckii, adapted to moderate salinity or an extremely hypersaline environment of 4.5 M NaCl. An uncommon osmoresponsive set of 95 differentially expressed genes was identified. The majority of these had not previously been connected with the adaptation of salt-sensitive S. cerevisiae to hypersaline conditions. The transcriptional response in hypersaline-adapted and hypersaline-stressed cells showed that only a subset of the identified genes responded to acute salt-stress, whereas all were differentially expressed in adapted cells. Interaction with HwHog1 was shown for 36 of the 95 differentially expressed genes. The majority of the identified osmoresponsive and HwHog1-dependent genes in H. werneckii have not been previously reported as Hog1-dependent genes in the salt-sensitive S. cerevisiae. The study further demonstrated the co-occupancy of HwHog1 and RNA polymerase II on the chromatin of 17 up-regulated and 2 down-regulated genes in 4.5 M NaCl-adapted H. werneckii cells. Extremely halotolerant H. werneckii represents a suitable and highly relevant organism to study cellular responses to environmental salinity. In comparison with the salt-sensitive S. cerevisiae, this yeast shows a different set of genes being expressed at high salt concentrations and interacting with HwHog1 MAP kinase, suggesting atypical processes deserving of further study.
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Osmoadaptation-dependent activity of microsomal HMG-CoA reductase in the extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii is regulated by ubiquitination.
FEBS letters, 2007Co-Authors: Tomaz Vaupotic, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:We have investigated regulation of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) in one of the most salt-tolerant fungi, Hortaea werneckii, under different salinities and at the level of protein degradation. Two different HwHMGR isoenzymes were identified, specific to mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum: HwHmg1 and HwHmg2, respectively. The activity of microsomal HwHmg2 is highest under hypo-saline and extremely hyper-saline conditions, and down-regulated under optimal growth conditions. We show that this is due to intense ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of HwHmg2. The activity of the truncated mitochondrial HwHmg1 is constant under different growth conditions, suggesting an osmoadaptation-directed fate for mevalonate utilization in H. werneckii.
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The MAP kinase HwHog1 from the halophilic black yeast Hortaea werneckii: coping with stresses in solar salterns
Saline systems, 2007Co-Authors: Metka Lenassi, Nina Gunde-cimerman, Tomaz Vaupotic, Ana PlemenitašAbstract:Background Hortaea werneckii is one of the most salt-tolerant species among microorganisms. It has been isolated from hypersaline waters of salterns as one of the predominant species of a group of halophilic and halotolerant melanized yeast-like fungi, arbitrarily named as "black yeasts". It has previously been shown that H. werneckii has distinct mechanisms of adaptation to high salinity environments that are not seen in salt-sensitive and only moderately salt-tolerant fungi. In H. werneckii, the HOG pathway is important for sensing the changes in environmental osmolarity, as demonstrated by identification of three main pathway components: the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) HwHog1, the MAPK kinase HwPbs2, and the putative histidine kinase osmosensor HwHhk7.