Evolution of secondary metabolite synthesis in lichens

Lichen mycobionts recall miniature chemical laboratories producing a vast variety of more than 800 different secondary metabolites. They represent ideal model organims to investigate the evolution of secondary chemistry. One focus in this project will be the diversity and evolution of polyketide synthase genes which are involved-in major secondary metabolite pathways. By comparison with the organismal phylogenees based on ribosomal DNA sequences, we will assess the patterns of homology and paralogy of these genes. A genomic library will be used to investigated the diversity of polyketide synthase genes in a selected lichen mycobiont and to explore other genes responsible for the production of anthraquinones in this model organism. In other lichens we will elucidate the phylogeny of genes which are involved in the melanin and anthraquinone biosynthetic pathways by primer-based approaches. Co-phylogenetic studies with several genes will be used to analyse the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.

Lichen mycobionts recall miniature chemical laboratories producing a vast variety of more than 800 different secondary metabolites. They represent ideal model organims to investigate the evolution of secondary chemistry. One focus in this project will be the diversity and evolution of polyketide synthase genes which are involved-in major secondary metabolite pathways. By comparison with the organismal phylogenees based on ribosomal DNA sequences, we will assess the patterns of homology and paralogy of these genes. A genomic library will be used to investigated the diversity of polyketide synthase genes in a selected lichen mycobiont and to explore other genes responsible for the production of anthraquinones in this model organism. In other lichens we will elucidate the phylogeny of genes which are involved in the melanin and anthraquinone biosynthetic pathways by primer-based approaches. Co-phylogenetic studies with several genes will be used to analyse the evolution of biosynthetic pathways.