Kiel researchers reveal secrets of gene transfer in fungi!

Kiel researchers reveal secrets of gene transfer in fungi!

The European Research Council (ERC) is funding a new, groundbreaking project at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU). Dr. Michael Habig and his working group for evolutionary genetics of fungi will receive a starting grant of around 1.5 million euros for the project “MobiChrom: Mobile eukaryotic chromosomes in fungal pathogens”, which will start on January 1, 2026 and is scheduled to run for five years. The research is carried out both at the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC) and at the Center for Fundamental Research in Translational Evolutionary Biology (CeTEB). The aim of the project is to decipher how horizontal chromosome transfer works in fungi as well as its genetic basis and to investigate its significance in evolutionary biology.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) refers to the transfer of genetic information between existing organisms and not just from parents to offspring. This process is primarily observed in prokaryotes, especially bacteria, and enables rapid adaptation to environmental changes. In contrast, this mechanism has rarely been studied in fungi, although some can transfer entire chromosomes between different individuals. Loud Wikipedia HGT promotes the universality of the genetic code and enables genetic exchange in the biosphere.

Objective of the project

The “MobiChrom” project focuses on accessory chromosomes that are not essential for life and can be passed on between fungal individuals. The research team will use a model system consisting of five species of the fungal genus Metarhizium, which live in symbiosis with plant roots and attack insects. The investigation has several central objectives:

• Bestimmung der Organismen, bei denen akzessorische Chromosomen vorkommen.
• Erfassung der Häufigkeit und Übertragungsraten akzessorischer Chromosomen.
• Verständnis der Auswirkungen auf die evolutionäre Dynamik verschiedener Pilzarten.

The team will also research which genes on the mobile chromosomes influence harmfulness to host organisms and which molecular mechanisms control the transfer. Previous findings show that this transfer occurs regularly in some fungi and can provide evolutionary advantages, which is of considerable importance for the biology of pathogenic fungi.

Relevance and context

Horizontal gene transfer has become increasingly important not only in prokaryotes but also increasingly in eukaryotes. Recent studies show that even higher organisms, such as plants and animals, can be influenced by HGT from microbes. The exchange of genetic material between different species can promote evolutionary adaptation and is therefore an essential element of biological diversity. As in an analysis PMCID mentioned, HGT is a crucial mechanism underlying microbial evolution and has significant implications for the ability of organisms to adapt to their environment.

In summary, the MobiChrom project will play a significant role in understanding horizontal chromosome transfer in fungi, and its implications for the biology of pathogenic fungi will be further explored. The interdisciplinary approach, in which evolutionary genetics and molecular mechanisms are combined, could open up new perspectives on the interaction between fungi and their hosts and is therefore of high scientific relevance.