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Arsenic Stress Resistance in the Endophytic Fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides: Physiological and Transcriptomic Insights into Heavy Metal Detoxification

Summary

A special fungus called Cladosporium cladosporioides, found living inside the roots of Gentiana yunnanensis (a traditional Chinese medicine herb), can tolerate extremely high levels of arsenic. Researchers discovered that this fungus protects itself from arsenic poisoning by storing arsenic mostly in its cell walls, converting toxic arsenic into less harmful forms, and activating its antioxidant defense systems. This discovery could help reduce arsenic contamination in medicinal herbs and lead to new methods for cleaning arsenic-polluted soil.

Background

Gentiana yunnanensis, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, often accumulates excessive arsenic from contaminated soils in Yunnan Province. Endophytic fungi play significant roles in heavy metal uptake and accumulation in plants. This study investigates an arsenic-tolerant endophytic fungus isolated from G. yunnanensis roots to understand heavy metal detoxification mechanisms.

Objective

To identify and characterize an arsenic-tolerant endophytic fungus isolated from G. yunnanensis, determine its taxonomic classification, and elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying its arsenic resistance and detoxification.

Results

The strain was identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides with an EC50 value of 2051.94 mg/L for arsenic tolerance. The fungus accumulated high arsenic concentrations (1112.64 μg/g), predominantly as organic arsenic (76.64%). Arsenic was mainly sequestered in cell walls. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4771 differentially expressed genes involved in arsenic transport, chelation, and reduction pathways.

Conclusion

C. cladosporioides employs a multi-faceted arsenic detoxification strategy involving subcellular sequestration, reductive transformation of arsenic, antioxidant system enhancement, and transcriptomic adaptation. These findings demonstrate the potential of C. cladosporioides for arsenic bioremediation and provide insights into arsenic accumulation mechanisms in G. yunnanensis.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40422708
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