ena-STUDY-UPPSALA UNIVERSITET-22-04-2014-11:38:50:384-17
Genome and physiology of the ascomycete filamentous fungus Xeromyces bisporus, the most xerophilic organism isolated to date
The fungus Xeromyces bisporus is the most xerophilic organism known to exist. It can grow at water activities as low as 0.61. To understand how X. bisporus is adapted to these conditions, the genome was sequenced and RNA-seq data was generated at low and optimal water activities to see what genes were differentially expressed in these conditions. The presence of secondary metabolites in culture was also investigated and correlated with the presence of secondary metabolite clusters in the genome. In addition, the fatty acid composition of the cellular membranes was investigated at different water activities, as well as the glycerol production.
The fungus Xeromyces bisporus is the most xerophilic organism known to exist. It can grow at water activities as low as 0.61. To understand how X. bisporus is adapted to these conditions, the genome was sequenced and RNA-seq data was generated at low and optimal water activities to see what genes were differentially expressed in these conditions. The presence of secondary metabolites in culture was also investigated and correlated with the presence of secondary metabolite clusters in the genome. In addition, the fatty acid composition of the cellular membranes was investigated at different water activities, as well as the glycerol production.