TY - JOUR
T1 - The status and characterization of Enteroramus dimorphus
T2 - A xylose-fermenting yeast attached to the gut of beetles
AU - Suh, Sung Oui
AU - White, Merlin M.
AU - Nguyen, Nhu H.
AU - Blackwell, Meredith
PY - 2004/1/1
Y1 - 2004/1/1
N2 - Enteroramus dimorphus from the gut of the passalid beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus was described originally as a yeast-like fungus of unknown taxonomic affiliation. The fungus can be observed in situ, attached by a specialized cell to the beetle hindgut wall. In a recent study of yeast endosymbionts from a variety of beetles, we discovered that E. dimorphus is a member of the Pichia stipitis (Saccharomycetes) clade, known for xylose fermentation and assimilation. The closest relative of E. dimorphus is the PASS1 isolate, repeatedly acquired from passalid beetles in eastern North America from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. In addition to xylose fermentation and assimilation, these yeasts are characterized by the production of hat-shaped ascospores in culture, assimilation of a wide range of sugars, and synthesis of several vitamins. Enteroramus dimorphus, however, can be distinguished from close relatives by several physiological characteristics and rDNA sequences, which vary slightly from the more widespread PASS1 genotype. We present an amended description of E. dimorphus and discuss its symbiotic phase in association with O. disjunctus, including a holdfast that parallels those of unrelated symbiotic yeasts associated with nematodes.
AB - Enteroramus dimorphus from the gut of the passalid beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus was described originally as a yeast-like fungus of unknown taxonomic affiliation. The fungus can be observed in situ, attached by a specialized cell to the beetle hindgut wall. In a recent study of yeast endosymbionts from a variety of beetles, we discovered that E. dimorphus is a member of the Pichia stipitis (Saccharomycetes) clade, known for xylose fermentation and assimilation. The closest relative of E. dimorphus is the PASS1 isolate, repeatedly acquired from passalid beetles in eastern North America from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. In addition to xylose fermentation and assimilation, these yeasts are characterized by the production of hat-shaped ascospores in culture, assimilation of a wide range of sugars, and synthesis of several vitamins. Enteroramus dimorphus, however, can be distinguished from close relatives by several physiological characteristics and rDNA sequences, which vary slightly from the more widespread PASS1 genotype. We present an amended description of E. dimorphus and discuss its symbiotic phase in association with O. disjunctus, including a holdfast that parallels those of unrelated symbiotic yeasts associated with nematodes.
KW - Ascobotryozyma americana
KW - Ascobotryozyma cognata
KW - Botryozyma nematodophila
KW - Evolution
KW - ITS
KW - LSU rDNA
KW - Passalidae
KW - Symbiosis
KW - Yeast
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4444292239&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/15572536.2005.11832923
DO - 10.1080/15572536.2005.11832923
M3 - Article
C2 - 21148896
AN - SCOPUS:4444292239
SN - 0027-5514
VL - 96
SP - 756
EP - 760
JO - Mycologia
JF - Mycologia
IS - 4
ER -