Universität zu Köln

Sato, Yukiyo ORCID: 0000-0003-4514-8482, Bex, Roos, van den Berg, Grardy C. M., Santhanam, Parthasarathy, Höfte, Monica, Seidl, Michael F. and Thomma, Bart P.H.J. ORCID: 0000-0003-4125-4181 (2025). Starship giant transposons dominate plastic genomic regions in a fungal plant pathogen and drive virulence evolution. Nature Communications, 16. pp. 1-17. Springer Nature. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr.: :6806] Starships form a recently discovered superfamily of giant transposons in Pezizomycotina fungi, implicated in mediating horizontal transfer of diverse cargo genes between fungal genomes. Their elusive nature has long obscured their significance, and their impact on genome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal a surprising abundance and diversity of Starships in the phytopathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Remarkably, Starships dominate the plastic genomic compartments involved in host colonization, carry multiple virulence-associated genes, and exhibit genetic and epigenetic characteristics associated with adaptive genome evolution. Phylogenetic analyses suggest extensive horizontal transfer of Starships between Verti- cillium species and, strikingly, from distantly related Fusarium fungi. Finally, homology searches and phylogenetic analyses suggest that a Starship con- tributed to de novo virulence gene formation. Our findings illuminate the profound influence of Starship dynamics on fungal genome evolution and the development of virulence.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Sato, Yukiyo UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4514-8482 UNSPECIFIED Bex, Roos UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED van den Berg, Grardy C. M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Santhanam, Parthasarathy UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Höfte, Monica UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Seidl, Michael F. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Thomma, Bart P.H.J. UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4125-4181 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-806381
Identification Number:	10.1038/s41467-025-61986-6
Journal or Publication Title:	Nature Communications
Volume:	16
Page Range:	pp. 1-17
Number of Pages:	17
Date:	2025
Publisher:	Springer Nature
ISSN:	2041-1723
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Biology > Botanical Institute
Subjects:	Life sciences
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80638