Format: ORAL

David Pizarro 1, Pradeep K. Divakar 1, Thorsten H. Lumbsch 2

1 Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain 2 Collections, Conservation, and Research Division, Field Museum of Chicago, Illinois, USA

Lichens, symbiotic organisms comprising fungi and photosynthetic partners, are known for their diverse array of secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical, ecological, and adaptive significance. The biosynthetic pathways responsible for these compounds are encoded within biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). In this study, we investigate the evolutionary processes shaping BGCs in lichens, focusing on the genetic mechanisms driving secondary metabolite diversification, particularly in cortical secondary metabolites such as usnic acid and atranorin, and a medullary substance as fumarprotocetraric acid. Advances in genomics and bioinformatics have provided a deeper understanding of the diversity and organization of BGCs across lichen-forming fungi. Comparative analyses reveal that BGCs have undergone dynamic evolutionary processes, including gene gain, loss and rearrangements. Furthermore, environmental and ecological pressures may have influenced the evolution of BGCs, shaping the secondary metabolite profiles, including those in the cortex of lichens. Insights into BGC evolution enhance our knowledge of lichen secondary metabolism and its adaptation to various habitats, paving the way for potential applications in biotechnology and environmental sciences.