Complete genome sequencing and analysis of Aureobasidium pullulans strain PA-2

Abstract:

[Background] Aureobasidium pullulans PA-2 is a fungal strain isolated from the infected poplar leaves in Ping'an district, Haidong city of Qinghai province, China. Previous studies demonstrated that this strain showed herbicidal and antimicrobial activities, suggesting that it may have potential in biological pesticide. [Objective] To understand the information of genome sequence of A. pullulans strain PA-2 and mine gene clusters related to its biocontrol function. These results provide genetic basic information in the future to analyze its biocontrol mechanism and functional modification. [Methods] Based on Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing platform, A. pullulans strain PA-2 was sequenced. Bioinformatics methods were used to genome assembly, gene prediction, functional annotation, prediction of carbohydrate active enzymes and secondary metabolite synthetic gene clusters. Hydrolase activity was measured by Congo red staining and other methods. [Results] The size of the genome is 28 932 793 bp with an average of GC content at 50%, which might code the potential 10 839 genes. At the same time, 4 known secondary metabolite synthetic gene clusters were also predicted, which might code the melanin, burnettramic acid A, ACR-toxin I and abscisic acid. The strain can hydrolyze cellulose and pectin. [Conclusion] This study provides useful information to analyze the internal causes of the biocontrol mechanism of strain PA-2 at the genomic level, and offers reference for further understanding of secondary metabolite synthetic pathways of A. pullulans. It is of great significance for further studies involved in strain PA-2.