MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Comparative genome analysis of patulin-producing Penicillium paneum OM1 isolated from pears

Summary

Researchers sequenced the complete genome of a mold called Penicillium paneum that produces a toxic substance called patulin, which contaminates apples and pears. They found all 15 genes responsible for making patulin and discovered the mold has similar genetic patterns to other patulin-producing fungi. This information could help scientists develop better ways to prevent patulin contamination on fruit crops and improve food safety.

Background

Penicillium paneum produces patulin, a toxic secondary metabolite, on apples and pears causing blue mold rot. Little is known about the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of secondary metabolites, including patulin, in P. paneum. Understanding these genetic mechanisms is important for developing strategies to reduce patulin contamination on pome fruits.

Objective

To sequence the whole genome of P. paneum (isolate OM1), a patulin producer isolated from pears, and analyze its secondary metabolite BGCs, particularly the patulin BGC, while comparing it with other patulin-producing strains and investigating carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in plant cell wall degradation.

Results

The P. paneum OM1 genome is approximately 27.16 Mb with four chromosomes containing 10,679 protein-coding genes. A complete patulin BGC with all 15 biosynthetic genes was identified with high sequence conservation (>73% identity) compared to other patulin producers. The genome contains 33 secondary metabolite BGCs total, 370 carbohydrate-active enzymes, and phylogenetic analysis shows closest relationship to P. chrysogenum and P. digitatum.

Conclusion

This study provides comprehensive genetic information about patulin biosynthesis in P. paneum OM1, demonstrating the conservation of the patulin BGC among patulin-producing Penicillium species. These genomic insights could facilitate development of effective strategies to reduce patulin contamination on pome fruits and enhance understanding of fungal pathogenicity mechanisms.
  • Published in:PeerJ,
  • Study Type:Comparative Genomic Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 40860677, DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19848
Scroll to Top