title: Phylogenomic analyses reveal the diversity of laccase-coding genes in Fonsecaea genomes.
abstract: The genus Fonsecaea comprises black yeast-like fungi of clinical relevance, including etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis and cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. Presence of melanin and assimilation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons and alkylbenzenes have been proposed as virulence factors. Multicopper oxidase (MCO) is a family of enzymes including laccases, ferroxidases and ascorbate oxidases which are able to catalyze the oxidation of various aromatic organic compounds with the reduction of molecular oxygen to water. Additionally, laccases are required for the production of fungal melanins, a cell-wall black pigment recognized as a key polymer for pathogenicity and extremotolerance in black yeast-like fungi. Although the activity of laccase enzymes has previously been reported in many wood-rotting fungi, the diversity of laccase genes in Fonsecaea has not yet been assessed. In this study, we identified and characterized laccase-coding genes and determined their genomic location in five clinical and environmental Fonsecaea species. The identification of laccases sensu stricto will provide insights into carbon acquisition strategies as well as melanin production in Fonsecaea.
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.|Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.|Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná State, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Ferreira
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2529-0855
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.|Department of Dermatology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Peiying
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná State, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Almir
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná State, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vania Aparecida
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J Benjamin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stielow
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.|Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.|Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná State, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.|Department of Dermatology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sybren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Hoog
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D042845:Laccase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008543:Melanins; D042845:Laccase