The genome sequence of the model ascomycete fungus Podospora anserina.
BACKGROUND
The dung-inhabiting ascomycete fungus Podospora anserina is a model used to study various aspects of eukaryotic and fungal biology, such as ageing, prions and sexual development.


RESULTS
We present a 10X draft sequence of P. anserina genome, linked to the sequences of a large expressed sequence tag collection. Similar to higher eukaryotes, the P. anserina transcription/splicing machinery generates numerous non-conventional transcripts. Comparison of the P. anserina genome and orthologous gene set with the one of its close relatives, Neurospora crassa, shows that synteny is poorly conserved, the main result of evolution being gene shuffling in the same chromosome. The P. anserina genome contains fewer repeated sequences and has evolved new genes by duplication since its separation from N. crassa, despite the presence of the repeat induced point mutation mechanism that mutates duplicated sequences. We also provide evidence that frequent gene loss took place in the lineages leading to P. anserina and N. crassa. P. anserina contains a large and highly specialized set of genes involved in utilization of natural carbon sources commonly found in its natural biotope. It includes genes potentially involved in lignin degradation and efficient cellulose breakdown.


CONCLUSIONS
The features of the P. anserina genome indicate a highly dynamic evolution since the divergence of P. anserina and N. crassa, leading to the ability of the former to use specific complex carbon sources that match its needs in its natural biotope.
Espagne
Eric
E
Univ Paris-Sud, Institut de Génétique et Microbiologie, UMR8621, 91405 Orsay cedex, France.
Lespinet
Olivier
O
Malagnac
Fabienne
F
Da Silva
Corinne
C
Jaillon
Olivier
O
Porcel
Betina M
BM
Couloux
Arnaud
A
Aury
Jean-Marc
JM
Ségurens
Béatrice
B
Poulain
Julie
J
Anthouard
Véronique
V
Grossetete
Sandrine
S
Khalili
Hamid
H
Coppin
Evelyne
E
Déquard-Chablat
Michelle
M
Picard
Marguerite
M
Contamine
Véronique
V
Arnaise
Sylvie
S
Bourdais
Anne
A
Berteaux-Lecellier
Véronique
V
Gautheret
Daniel
D
de Vries
Ronald P
RP
Battaglia
Evy
E
Coutinho
Pedro M
PM
Danchin
Etienne Gj
EG
Henrissat
Bernard
B
Khoury
Riyad El
RE
Sainsard-Chanet
Annie
A
Boivin
Antoine
A
Pinan-Lucarré
Bérangère
B
Sellem
Carole H
CH
Debuchy
Robert
R
Wincker
Patrick
P
Weissenbach
Jean
J
Silar
Philippe
P
D001483:Base Sequence; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D020440:Gene Duplication; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000235:genetics; D048468:Podospora / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D002244:Carbon