0000000000336208
AUTHOR
Alicia Del Hoyo
The genetic structure of the cosmopolitan three-partner lichenRamalina farinaceaevidences the concerted diversification of symbionts
The epiphytic lichen Ramalina farinacea is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere in which the same two algal Trebouxia species (provisionally named TR1 and TR9) coexist in every thallus. Ramalina farinacea symbionts were characterized based on the two fungal nuclear loci (nrITS and rpb2 ) along with the primary and secondary structures of nrITS from each Trebouxia species in the Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands. The results indicated a noticeable genetic differentiation between mycobionts from these two geographic areas and also suggested concerted changes in the three partners of a lichen symbiosis toward two clearly distinguishable ‘holobiont’ lineages. Modeling of ITS2 RNA s…
A rapid and cost-efficient DMSO-based method for isolating DNA from cultured lichen photobionts
We have developed a simple and fast procedure for the purification of PCR-quality DNA from cultured lichen photobionts. This new one-step method uses the solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) combined with heat treatment to chemically breakdown algal and plant tissues. The DMSO-DNA extracts may be directly precipitated and purified by standard techniques in a total time of approximately 30 min. Compared to other DNA extraction protocols, the DMSO-based method suppresses the need for liquid nitrogen, any extraction buffer, grinding, phenol, and long incubation or centrifugation steps, thereby considerably reducing the possibility of contamination. In addition, minimal amounts of starting materia…
Oxidative stress induces distinct physiological responses in the two Trebouxia phycobionts of the lichen Ramalina farinacea
† Background and Aims Most lichens form associations with Trebouxia phycobionts and some of them simultaneously include genetically different algal lineages. In other symbiotic systems involving algae (e.g. reef corals), the relative abundances of different endosymbiotic algal clades may change over time. This process seems to provide a mechanism allowing the organism to respond to environmental stress. A similar mechanism may operate in lichens with more than one algal lineage, likewise protecting them against environmental stresses. Here, the physiological responses to oxidative stress of two distinct Trebouxia phycobionts (provisionally named TR1 and TR9) that coexist within the lichen R…
Two Trebouxia algae with different physiological performances are ever-present in lichen thalli of Ramalina farinacea. Coexistence versus Competition?
This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CGL2006-12917-C02-01/02), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2009-13429-C02-01/02), the AECID (PCI_A/024755/09) and the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO 174/2008 GVA). We are grateful to Dr J. Gimeno-Romeu (University of California, Davis, USA) and to Dr P. J. G. de Nova (IREC, Ciudad Real, Spain), who were the first to isolate DNA from Ramalina farinacea thalli in our group. Wendy Ran revised the manuscript in English.
Different strategies to achieve Pb-tolerance by the two Trebouxia algae coexisting in the lichen Ramalina farinacea.
Lichen thalli are permeable to airborne substances, including heavy metals, which are harmful to cell metabolism. Ramalina farinacea shows a moderate tolerance to Pb. This lichen comprises two Trebouxia phycobionts, provisionally referred to as TR1 and TR9, with distinct physiological responses to acute oxidative stress. Thus, there is a more severe decay in photosynthesis and photosynthetic pigments in TR1 than in TR9. Similarly, under oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and HSP70 protein decrease in TR1 but increase in TR9. Since Pb toxicity is associated with increased ROS formation, we hypothesized greater Pb tolerance in this phycobiont. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was …