Evidence for putative mitochondrial long non-coding RNAs and HEG-derived transcripts in Monilinia laxa from long-read transcriptomics
Mycological Progress, vol.25, no.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 25 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1007/s11557-026-02153-z
- Journal Name: Mycological Progress
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Zoological Record, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest)
- Keywords: Fungal phytopathogen, Homing endonuclease, Long non-coding RNA, Mitochondrial transcriptome, Monilinia laxa
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The mitochondrial transcriptome of fungi remains poorly characterized beyond protein-coding genes. Using long-read PacBio RNA sequencing, we report the first evidence for putative mitochondria-encoded long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in a fungal organism, discovered in two isolates of the phytopathogenic ascomycete Monilinia laxa. A total of 15 and 12 putative lncRNAs were identified in isolates Ni-B3-A2 and MM-B4-A4, respectively, including sense-strand transcripts and natural antisense transcripts (NATs) positioned upstream of or overlapping core mitochondrial genes. Additionally, putative free-standing transcripts from intergenic homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) are reported for the first time in a fungal species. These findings provide evidence for previously undescribed transcriptional diversity in fungal mitochondria, establishing a framework for future functional investigation of mitochondrial non-coding transcriptomes across the fungal kingdom.