A cellular and molecular atlas reveals the basis of chytrid development

Laundon, Davis, Chrismas, Nathan, Bird, Kimberley, Thomas, Seth, Mock, Thomas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9604-0362 and Cunliffe, Michael (2022) A cellular and molecular atlas reveals the basis of chytrid development. eLife, 11. ISSN 2050-084X

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Abstract

The chytrids (phylum Chytridiomycota) are a major fungal lineage of ecological and evolutionary importance. Despite their importance, many fundamental aspects of chytrid developmental and cell biology remain poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we combined quantitative volume electron microscopy and comparative transcriptome profiling to create an ‘atlas’ of the cellular and molecular basis of the chytrid life cycle, using the model chytrid Rhizoclosmatium globosum. From our developmental atlas, we describe the transition from the transcriptionally inactive free-swimming zoospore to the more biologically complex germling, and show that lipid processing is multifaceted and dynamic throughout the life cycle. We demonstrate that the chytrid apophysis is a compartmentalised site of high intracellular trafficking, linking the feeding/attaching rhizoids to the reproductive zoosporangium, and constituting division of labour in the chytrid cell plan. We provide evidence that during zoosporogenesis, zoospores display amoeboid morphologies and exhibit endocytotic cargo transport from the interstitial maternal cytoplasm. Taken together, our results reveal insights into chytrid developmental biology and provide a basis for future investigations into non-dikaryan fungal cell biology.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Environmental Biology
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 30 Mar 2022 15:30
Last Modified: 05 Aug 2023 00:49
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/84358
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.73933

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