Abstract Detail

Bryology and Lichenology

Piecz, Margaret [1], McDonald, Tami [2].

Using bioinformatics and biochemistry to characterize fungal sugar transporters from lichenizing fungi.

The exchange of nutrients between partners is central to the lichen symbiosis. At the molecular level, this exchange is accomplished via transporter proteins. In addition to moving nutrients between lichen symbionts, transporter proteins facilitate nutrient exchange throughout the body of the symbiont and in and out of organelles in symbiont cells. To identify transport proteins important for the exchange of carbon between the symbionts or within each lichen symbiont, transcriptomes from Peltigera britannica and Peltigera aphthosa were mined. Sugar transporter genes were identified bioinformatically. Ten fungal sugar transporter genes were chosen for further analysis. The full-length coding region of each of these genes was defined via homology with sugar transporter genes from other lichenizing fungi. To investigate the expression of these genes, RNA was extracted from rehydrated Peltigera britannica thalli, and cDNA was synthesized. The cDNA was amplified via PCR. In addition, RNA-seq data from Peltigera aphthosa was screened to determine relative expression of the ten transporters. Full-length fungal symbiont sugar transporter sequences will be cloned and expressed in a mutant strain of yeast to determine function.

1 - St. Catherine University, Chemistry and Biochemistry, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55105, USA
2 - St. Catherine University, Biology, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55105, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Poster
Number: PBL008
Abstract ID:929
Candidate for Awards:None