#	Pagina
attuale pagina	/open-h2020/projects/212310/results.html

Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Multicellularity (The genetic basis of the convergent evolution of fungal multicellularity)

Teaser

Summary

We examine one of the big questions in biology, the genetic bases of major evolutionary transitions. One such transition is the evolution of multicellularity, which enabled the emergence of more complex organisms from unicellular ones, including animals, plants as well as fungi. In fungi, multicellular growth is an economically important trait for two reasons. First, hyphal growth is a main pathogenicity factor of plant and animal pathogens, so understanding the evolutionary origins and genetic bases of hyphal growth will have potential implications in the fight against fungal infections. Second, complex multicellular fruiting bodies of fungi, known as mushrooms, represent an important and sustainable food source, which offers potential practical applications of the results generated during this project. The overall aims of the project are understanding the evolutionary / genetic origins of fungal multicellularity and placing fungi on the map of major evolutionary transitions.

Work performed

We have reconstructed the evolution of fungal multicellularity and inferred gene families that underpin it using whole genome datasets for 72 and 202 species. In the other pillar of the project, we obtained RNA-Seq data for multiple complex multicellular species (similar data for further species are now being generated), which will, in the second period enable us to identify shared, evolutionarily conserved genetic elements behind complex multicellularity.

Final results

We have made progress in uncovering the genetic bases of fungal multicellularity. Multicellular growth in fungi has immense implications in pathogenic behaviour. Because of this, beyond the direct implications of our work in understanding major evolutionary transitions, the advances made during the project might have implications in understanding pathogenicity of fungi and eventually lead to better strategies for fighting fungal infections.