Repository of University of Nova Gorica

Show document
A+ | A- | Help | SLO | ENG

Title:Unravelling the molecular basis of hydroxyapatite weathering driven by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus
Authors:ID Paparokidou, Christina (Author)
Files: This document has no files that are freely available to the public. This document may have a physical copy in the library of the organization, check the status via COBISS. Link is opened in a new window
Language:English
Work type:Doctoral dissertation
Typology:2.08 - Doctoral Dissertation
Organization:UNG - University of Nova Gorica
Abstract:Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) form symbiotic partnerships with tree roots and are able to chemically weather inorganic phosphorus (Pi)-rich minerals, supplying Pi to their host in return for photosynthates. The fungal-driven nutrient cycling from mineral weathering plays a pivotal role in ecosystems and crops productivity, as well as geochemical cycles. The aim of the study presented in this thesis is to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which the EM fungus Paxillus involutus weathers the Pi-rich mineral hydroxyapatite (HAP), either non-symbiotically or in symbiosis with its host tree Pinus sylvestris. Development of an artificial system to study P. involutus responses to varying concentration of Pi led to the identification of five high-affinity Pi transporter genes, of which the expression varies in an inversely proportional manner to Pi availability. Using the same system, whole-transcriptomic data from fungal hyphae unravelled the molecular basis of the EMF ability in Pi uptake at the global gene scale, revealing that EM symbiosis can directly affect Pi-responsive fungal genes such as the Pi transporter PiPT4. A second artificial system was used to study HAP solubilisation driven by P. involutus, which was confirmed by EDX spectroscopy data showing depletion of Pi from the HAP crystals, along with secondary minerals formation. Whole-transcriptomic analysis revealed that EM symbiosis induces a different set of HAP weathering genes in P. involutus hyphae, compared to the fungus growing non-symbiotically, including the specific expression of organic acid metabolic genes, which resulted in enhanced HAP solubilisation. Metabolomic analysis led to the identification of multiple secreted metabolites enriched in the presence of HAP in P. involutus systems grown non-symbiotically or in symbiosis with P. sylvestris seedlings. The analysis also led to the identification of putative novel fungal weathering agents. Results from transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were ultimately combined in a model of HAP weathering by P. involutus.
Keywords:Paxillus involutus, Pinus sylvestris, ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, hydroxyapatite, SEM-EDX, fungal mineral weathering, fungal weathering metabolites, RNA-seq, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS
Place of publishing:Sheffield
Place of performance:Sheffield
Publisher:C. Paparokidou
Year of publishing:2018
Year of performance:2018
Number of pages:VII, 253 str.
PID:20.500.12556/RUNG-7316 New window
COBISS.SI-ID:106351875 New window
UDC:57
NUK URN:URN:SI:UNG:REP:LSRM4C0W
Publication date in RUNG:03.05.2022
Views:1383
Downloads:0
Metadata:XML RDF-CHPDL DC-XML DC-RDF
:
Copy citation
  
Average score:(0 votes)
Your score:Voting is allowed only for logged in users.
Share:Bookmark and Share


Hover the mouse pointer over a document title to show the abstract or click on the title to get all document metadata.

Back