Robert A Blanchette

Publications (3)72.08 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Francis Michel Martin

  Article: The Paleozoic origin of enzymatic lignin decomposition reconstructed from 31 fungal genomes.

  Dimitrios Floudas, Manfred Binder, Robert Riley, Kerrie Barry, Robert A Blanchette, Bernard Henrissat, Angel T Martínez, Robert Otillar, Joseph W Spatafora, Jagjit S Yadav, [......], Khajamohiddin Syed, Adrian Tsang, Ad Wiebenga, Darcy Young, Antonio Pisabarro, Daniel C Eastwood, Francis Martin, Dan Cullen, Igor V Grigoriev, David S Hibbett
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  ABSTRACT: Wood is a major pool of organic carbon that is highly resistant to decay, owing largely to the presence of lignin. The only organisms capable of substantial lignin decay are white rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes, which also contains non-lignin-degrading brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species. Comparative analyses of 31 fungal genomes (12 generated for this study) suggest that lignin-degrading peroxidases expanded in the lineage leading to the ancestor of the Agaricomycetes, which is reconstructed as a white rot species, and then contracted in parallel lineages leading to brown rot and mycorrhizal species. Molecular clock analyses suggest that the origin of lignin degradation might have coincided with the sharp decrease in the rate of organic carbon burial around the end of the Carboniferous period.
  Science 06/2012; 336(6089):1715-9. · 31.20 Impact Factor
• Article: The Paleozoic Origin of Enzymatic Lignin Decomposition Reconstructed from 31 Fungal Genomes

  Dimitrios Floudas, Manfred Binder, Robert Riley, Kerrie Barry, Robert A. Blanchette, Bernard Henrissat, Angel T. Martínez, Robert Otillar, Joseph W. Spatafora, Jagjit S. Yadav, [......], Khajamohiddin Syed, Adrian Tsang, Ad Wiebenga, Darcy Young, Antonio Pisabarro, Daniel C. Eastwood, Francis Martin, Dan Cullen, Igor V. Grigoriev, David S. Hibbett
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Wood is a major pool of organic carbon that is highly resistant to decay, owing largely to the presence of lignin. The only organisms capable of substantial lignin decay are white rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes, which also contains non–lignin-degrading brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species. Comparative analyses of 31 fungal genomes (12 generated for this study) suggest that lignin-degrading peroxidases expanded in the lineage leading to the ancestor of the Agaricomycetes, which is reconstructed as a white rot species, and then contracted in parallel lineages leading to brown rot and mycorrhizal species. Molecular clock analyses suggest that the origin of lignin degradation might have coincided with the sharp decrease in the rate of organic carbon burial around the end of the Carboniferous period.
  Science 06/2012; 336(10.1126/science.1221748):1715-1719. · 31.20 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Pedro M Coutinho

  Article: Comparative genomics of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Phanerochaete chrysosporium provide insight into selective ligninolysis

  Elena Fernandez-Fueyo, Francisco J. Ruiz-Dueñas, Patricia Ferreira, Dimitrios Floudas, David S. Hibbett, Paulo Canessa, Luis F. Larrondo, Tim Y. James, Daniela Seelenfreund, Sergio Lobos, [......], Ad Wiebenga, Jan Stenlid, Daniel Eastwood, Igor V. Grigoriev, Randy M. Berka, Robert A. Blanchette, Phil Kersten, Angel T. Martinez, Rafael Vicuna, Dan Cullen
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  ABSTRACT: Efficient lignin depolymerization is unique to the wood decay basidiomycetes, collectively referred to as white rot fungi. Phanerochaete chrysosporium simultaneously degrades lignin and cellulose, whereas the closely related species, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, also depolymerizes lignin but may do so with relatively little cellulose degradation. To investigate the basis for selective ligninolysis, we conducted comparative genome analysis of C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium. Genes encoding manganese peroxidase numbered 13 and five in C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium, respectively. In addition, the C. subvermispora genome contains at least seven genes predicted to encode laccases, whereas the P. chrysosporium genome contains none. We also observed expansion of the number of C. subvermispora desaturase-encoding genes putatively involved in lipid metabolism. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis showed substantial up-regulation of several desaturase and MnP genes in wood-containing medium. MS identified MnP proteins in C. subvermispora culture filtrates, but none in P. chrysosporium cultures. These results support the importance of MnP and a lignin degradation mechanism whereby cleavage of the dominant nonphenolic structures is mediated by lipid peroxidation products. Two C. subvermispora genes were predicted to encode peroxidases structurally similar to P. chrysosporium lignin peroxidase and, following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the enzymes were shown to oxidize high redox potential substrates, but not Mn2+. Apart from oxidative lignin degradation, we also examined cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic systems in both fungi. In summary, the C. subvermispora genetic inventory and expression patterns exhibit increased oxidoreductase potential and diminished cellulolytic capability relative to P. chrysosporium.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 04/2012; 109(14):5458-5463. · 9.68 Impact Factor