The mycobiont of lichens usually determines the morphology of the symbiotic organism and is also dominates in terms of biomass. However, its role for sensitivity or tolerance of lichens to heavy metals is almost unknown. In the present study, the influence of copper (Cu) on the aposymbiotically-grown mycobiont of Cladonia cristatella was assessed. Intracellular Cu uptake was correlated with increasing Cu concentrations over a 24-h exposure time. Viability, measured as the degree of reduction of triphenyltetrazolium chloride to triphenyl formazan, as well as to ergosterol levels, decreased with growing Cu concentrations tested. Reduced glutathione (GSH) was found to be the most abundant low-molecular-weight thiol in the hyphae of C. cristatella and its intracellular content increased at concentrations of 10mum Cu. Higher Cu concentrations caused a significant decrease in GSH, possibly due to heavy metal-induced oxidation of GSH to glutathione disulphide (GSSG). Free cysteine levels were relatively constant. As expected, we did not observe the production of phytochelatins in the mycobiont, contrary to what is found in intact lichens and axenic cultures of their photobionts.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mycres.2006.05.007 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Non-photochemical quenching may contribute to the dominance of the pale mat-forming lichen Cladonia stellaris over the sympatric melanic Cetraria islandica.
Oecologia
January 2024
Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway.
The mat-forming fruticose lichens Cladonia stellaris and Cetraria islandica frequently co-occur on soils in sun-exposed boreal, subarctic, and alpine ecosystems. While the dominant reindeer lichen Cladonia lacks a cortex but produces the light-reflecting pale pigment usnic acid on its surface, the common but patchier Cetraria has a firm cortex sealed by the light-absorbing pigment melanin. By measuring reflectance spectra, high-light tolerance, photosynthetic responses, and chlorophyll fluorescence in sympatric populations of these lichens differing in fungal pigments, we aimed to study how they cope with high light while hydrated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenomic Resources for the First Federally Endangered Lichen: The Florida Perforate Cladonia ().
J Fungi (Basel)
June 2023
Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA.
Thirty years after its designation as a federally endangered species, the Florida Perforate Cladonia (FPC) remains imperiled in isolated populations in the Florida scrub in the southeastern USA. For threatened and endangered species, such as FPC, reference genomes provide critical insight into genomic diversity, local adaptations, landscape-level genetics, and phylogenomics. Using high-throughput sequencing, we assemble the first draft nuclear and mitochondrial genomes for the FPC mycobiont-.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of a biosynthetic gene cluster for a red pigment cristazarin produced by a lichen-forming fungus Cladonia metacorallifera.
PLoS One
June 2023
Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Korea.
Lichens are known to produce many novel bioactive metabolites. To date, approximately 1,000 secondary metabolites have been discovered, which are predominantly produced by the lichen mycobionts. However, despite the extensive studies on production of lichen secondary metabolites, little is known about the responsible biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCombined effect of acute salt and nitrogen stress on the physiology of lichen symbiotic partners.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
February 2023
Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
Nitrogen pollution and excessive salinity are commonly regarded as one of the major environmental concerns in recent decades in many urban environments. Although in urban areas lichens are exposed to both salt and nitrogen stress, no studies have been conducted to date on the simultaneous impact and interaction of these factors on lichen physiology. The aim was to determine the effect of various combinations of NaCl and NHNO doses on the physiology of epigeic lichen Cladonia rei.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTowards understanding the effect of heavy metals on mycobiont physiological condition in a widespread metal-tolerant lichen Cladonia rei.
Chemosphere
December 2022
Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
Heavy metals present in the environment can cause a variety of injury symptoms in various organisms including lichens. Most studies examined metal-induced stress under controlled laboratory conditions, and little is known about actual response of lichens in their natural habitat. This study aims to recognize the effect of heavy metal accumulation (total and intracellular) on lichen physiological and biochemical parameters specifically related to the functioning of fungal component.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!