Mycolith (fungal phytolith) morphotypes and biosilification of proteins in wood-destroying and pileate fungi

Abstract

The process of biomineralization in fungi is discussed for the first time. The results of a comprehensive study of fungal phytoliths (mycoliths) using optical micro scopy and RAMAN spectroscopy are presented. The RAMAN spectrum con tains bands of crystalline silicon dioxide and amorphous silica. In all types of fungi and trees examined, two morphotypes of phytolite particles were identified with an aid of microsco pe, oblong and spherical. The rest of the particles were considered formless. To explain the mechanisms of biosilification, a bioinomatic analysis of biosilicon proteins homologues (silicateins, silacidins, silaffins, silicon transporters, silicase) in annotated fungal proteomes was carried out by in silico technique. The paper shows proteins of fungi, which can potentially participate in the formation of mycoliths. K e y w o r d s : fungi, mycolith, phytolith, biomineralization proteins Р Е З Ю М ЕГолохваст К.С., Середкин И.В., Булах Е.М., Чайка В.В., Захаренко А.М., Холодов А.С., Памирский И.Е., Чунг Ж. Морфотипы миколи-тов (грибных фитолитов) и биосилификация белков в грибах, раз-рушающих древесину. Впервые комплексно обсуждается процесс био минерализации у грибов. При водятся результаты комплексного изучения фитолитов грибов (мико ли тов) методами оптической микроскопии и RAMAN-спектроскопии. RAMAN-спектр содержит полосы кристалличе ского диоксида кремния и аморф ного кремнезема. Во всех видах исследо ванных грибов и деревьев мик ро скопически установлены два морфотипа частиц фитолитов: продолговатые и шарообразные. Остальные частицы были бесформенные. Для объяснения механизмов был произведен био инофрмационный анализ гомологов белков биосилификации (силикате инов, силацидинов, силаффинов, транс портеров кремния, силиказы) в ан нотированных протеомах грибов ме тодом in silico. В работе показаны белки грибов, которые могут потенциально участвовать в процессе формирова ния миколитов. Mycolith (fungal phytolith) morphotypes and biosilification of proteins in wood-destroying and pileate fungiPhytoliths are not organic fossil micrometric minerals deposited in situ, and therefore track mainly local changes in vegetation composition. Their structures are resulting from the accumulation of oxalate, carbonate, or silica in cell wall or entire cell. In recent years, phytolith analysis has became valuable tool in taxonomic, palaeoenvironmental and archa eo logical work to determine the presence of species in a sample (Piperno 2006, Katz et al. 2015, Zurro et al. 2016. Phytoliths have been found in many plant groups (Madella et al. 2005, Piperno 2006, as biogenic silica is deposited in some of tissues. The differing roles of silicon microforma tions in plants are not completely understood.The microbial metabolism of silicon has been limited, except on diatoms and plants. Wainwright et al. (1997) sug ges ted that fungi might utilize silicon compounds as an ener gy source. Kaiser & Benz (1998) reported on the bene fi cial effects of silicon on growth of some fungi such as Fusarium spp. and Verticillium spp. The...

Silicon in the Soil–Plant Continuum: Intricate Feedback Mechanisms within Ecosystems

“…The occurrence of high Si contents in a single subfamily of orchids (one of the largest plant families globally) is not unique: 29 of the 412 angiosperm families include both Si-rich and Si-poor species (7% of all angiosperm families, but 17% of families for which data exist) [ 23 ]. Finally, it should be noted that although most research revolves around seed plants, silicon and phytoliths are common and abundant in many bryophytes and pteridophytes [ 122 , 172 , 176 , 177 , 178 ] (phytolith-like “mycoliths” also occur in fungi [ 179 ]), sometimes in contents that surpass those found in Poaceae species [ 172 ].…”

Can Plants and Fungi Cure «The Wounds» Using Silicone Gel?

“…It is more aggressive for microstructures and as we believe it leads to the destruction of large formations, especially that they are very thin -hundreds of nm. It is unlikely that the formless microparticles with an infinite variant of morphotypes may have some common function in all plants from red algae and lichens to bilobed and even fungi [5]. A typical morphometric research shows the phytoliths size from 10 to 150 μm with a mode around 20-60 μm [8,4].…”

First Data on the Differences of Phytolite Composition in Different Wheat Varieties <i>Triticum</i> <i>aestivum</i> L.

“…It was previously shown that silicon formations exist in all taxa of plants, ranging from red algae and lichens, (e.g., Chondrus crispus) having proteins that are partially similar to proteins of the biosilification of sponges, diatoms and higher plants [2; 3; 4], and even in mushrooms [5]. With regard to distant taxa, the differences in the phytolite composition are quite explicable.…”