Proteomic characterization of Pseudogymnoascus spp. isolates from polar and temperate regions

ABSTRACT

Proteomics has been used extensively in the field of mycology, mainly in trying to understand the complex network of protein-protein interactions that has been implicated in the molecular functions of fungi. It is also a useful tool to compare metabolic differences within a genus. Species of Pseudogymnoascus, a genus under the phyla Ascomycota, have been shown to play an important role in the soil environment. They have been found in both polar and temperate regions and are a known producer of many extracellular hydrolases that contribute to soil decomposition. Despite the apparent importance of Pseudogymnoascus spp. in the soil ecosystem, investigations into their molecular functions are still very limited. In the present study, proteomic characterization of six Pseudogymnoascus spp. isolated from three biogeographic regions (the Arctic, Antarctic, and temperate regions) was carried out using tandem mass spectrometry. Prior to proteomic analysis, the optimization for protein extraction was carried out. Trichloroacetic acid‑acetone‑phenol was found to be the best extraction method to be used for proteomic profiling of Pseudogymnoascus spp. The proteomic analysis identified 2003 proteins that were successfully mapped to the UniProtKB database. The identified proteins were clustered according to their biological processes and molecular functions. The shared proteins found in all Pseudogymnoascus spp. (1201 proteins) showed a significantly close relationship in their basic cellular functions, despite differences in morphological structures. Analysis of Pseudogymnoascus spp. proteome also identified proteins that were unique to each region. However, a high number of these proteins belonged to protein families of similar molecular functions, namely, transferases and hydrolases. Our proteomic data can be used as a reference for Pseudogymnoascus spp. across different global regions and a foundation for future soil ecosystem function research.

KEYWORDS:

• Biogeographic regions
• fungal proteomics
• soil microfungi
• tandem mass spectrometry

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Governor of Svalbard for granting them permission to carry out field survey and sampling under the project Research In Svalbard (RIS) (ID: 2612).

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00275514.2024.2313429

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) through their funding program Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HiCoE) [grant numbers IOES-2014G and IOES-2023E], the Universiti Malaya Research Programme (UMRP) [grant number RP026A-18SUS], and postgraduate sponsorship from the Majlis Amanah Rakyat Malaysia (MARA Scholarship Programme).