Evidence for putative mitochondrial long non-coding RNAs and HEG-derived transcripts in Monilinia laxa from long-read transcriptomics


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Fidanoğlu B. T., ÖZKILINÇ H.

Mycological Progress, cilt.25, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 25 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11557-026-02153-z
  • Dergi Adı: Mycological Progress
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Zoological Record, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Fungal phytopathogen, Homing endonuclease, Long non-coding RNA, Mitochondrial transcriptome, Monilinia laxa
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

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.