From:Â Treseder KK, Lennon JT. 2015. Fungal traits that drive ecosystem dynamics on land. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews 79:243-262.
Trehalose is a compatible solute that improves stress tolerance in fungi via several potential mechanisms (Estruch 2000, Francois and Parrou 2001). First, it is thought to substitute for water molecules in cell membranes, protecting them from desiccation and freezing damage (Crowe et al. 1992, Diniz-Mendes et al. 1999, Tibbett et al. 2002, Kandror et al. 2004, Yancey 2005). Second, trehalose may confer thermotolerance (Devirgilio et al. 1994, Deegenaars and Watson 1998, Singer and Lindquist 1998b) by stabilizing proteins during heat shock (Singer and Lindquist 1998a). Third, it may act as a compatible osmolyte (Hare et al. 1998). Accordingly, a number of studies have documented increases in trehalose concentrations in fungi in response to environmental stress (Deegenaars and Watson 1998, Estruch 2000, Francois and Parrou 2001, Tibbett et al. 2002). Trehalose concentrations can vary among fungi (Tibbett et al. 2002), and have been primarily studied in yeast (e.g., Singer and Lindquist 1998b, Francois and Parrou 2001).
Trehalose can represent a significant trade-off for fungi, because it requires C that could otherwise be allocated to growth or metabolism (Schimel et al. 2007). It is a high-energy compound (Estruch 2000, Francois and Parrou 2001). Moreover, it can represent as much as 20% of fungal biomass (Singer and Lindquist 1998b). Indeed, Schimel et al. (2007) estimated that the C cost of producing stress-resistance compounds such as trehalose during a single drought event can reach as much as 6% of an ecosystem’s annual net primary productivity.
Functional genes related to trehalose production in fungi
In a high-latitude boreal forest, Allison et al. (2010) used greenhouses to simultaneously increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture, and then assessed changes in fungal community composition. In this ecosystem, ambient soil conditions are quite cold and dry, so the manipulations exacerbated drought while ameliorating temperature extremes (Allison et al. 2010). For the current study, we re-analyzed their community data and found that phyla/subphyla that responded most positively to warming and drying were those that carried higher frequencies of trehalase genes. This response is consistent with our understanding of the role of trehalose in resistance to desiccation in fungi (Schimel et al. 2007).
http://mmbr.asm.org/content/79/2/243/F8.expansion.html
The genetic capacity for trehalose production varies most at the phylum level:
http://mmbr.asm.org/content/79/2/243/F3.expansion.html
Phylogenetic distribution of trehalose genes:
http://mmbr.asm.org/content/79/2/243/F4.expansion.html
Trehalose genes are most common in yeast:
http://mmbr.asm.org/content/79/2/243/F5.expansion.html
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