铜绿假单胞菌锌离子摄取系统的研究进展

锌作为一种结构、催化和信号的成分,在许多生理过程中起着关键的作用。它也是病原微生物生长所必需的,不但参与病原微生物代谢和各种毒力因子的调控,而且是病原微生物在宿主中感染和定殖所必需的。铜绿假单胞菌侵染宿主发挥毒力时,宿主会采取营养免疫的策略来限制体内环境中游离的锌离子浓度而抑制该病原菌的感染和定殖。反过来,铜绿假单胞菌则通过自身的锌离子摄取系统克服宿主的营养免疫防御。本综述重点介绍了铜绿假单胞菌中已知的3种锌离子摄取系统(ZnuABC摄取系统、HmtA摄取系统和CntRLMN摄取系统)和锌摄取调控蛋白Zur,同时分析了其他潜在的锌离子摄取途径,并进一步阐述了铜绿假单胞菌锌离子摄取系统在其侵染宿主发挥毒力时和抵御宿主营养免疫时发挥的重要作用。系统总结铜绿假单胞菌对锌离子的摄取过程,旨在为靶向锌离子摄取系统的新型抗铜绿假单胞菌药物的开发提供指导。     

rpoS基因插入突变对铜绿假单胞菌两个吩嗪合成基因簇的调控

【目的】为了研究铜绿假单胞菌rpoS基因对吩嗪(Phenazine)合成基因簇phz1和phz2的调控方式与机制。【方法】采用抗庆大霉素基因(gentamycin resistance cassette,aacC1)插入失活的策略构建了rpoS基因突变株PA-SG;同时利用lacZ的翻译融合表达载体pME6015,构建了phz1′-′lacZ和phz2′-′lacZ翻译融合表达载体pMEZ1和pMEZ2。采用电转化法分别将pMEZ1、pMEZ2和pME6015导入铜绿假单胞菌突变株PA-SG和野生株PAO1,用Miller法检测融合β-半乳糖苷酶活性。【结果】在KMB或PPM培养基中,pMEZ1在突变株PA-SG中的表达均增强,为野生株的4-5倍;而pMEZ2在突变株PA-SG中的表达均降低,野生株是突变株的2-3倍。【结论】由此推测,铜绿假单胞菌rpoS基因对两个不同吩嗪合成基因簇的调控作用具有特异性,在一定程度上,rpoS负调控phz1,正调控phz2。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌Sigma H对芽胞形成的影响

【目的】检测苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73中的转录调控因子Sigma H(σ~H)对spo0A基因转录的调控作用;异源表达纯化Sigma H蛋白,验证其对spo0A基因启动子的直接结合;检测sigH基因的缺失对苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73芽胞形成和晶体蛋白产生的影响。【方法】通过测定spo0A基因启动子指导的β-半乳糖苷酶活性评价spo0A基因在苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73野生型和sigH缺失突变体中的转录水平;通过PCR扩增苏云金芽胞杆菌HD73的sigH基因并插入到表达载体pET21b上,将质粒转入到表达菌株BL21(DE3)中,得到重组菌株BL21 (pETsigH);利用镍柱亲和纯化和阴离子交换纯化得到纯化的Sigma H蛋白;通过凝胶迁移实验(electrophoretic mobility shift assay,EMSA)验证Sigma H蛋白与spo0A基因启动子的直接结合;通过显微镜观察、活芽胞计数的方法对突变株HDΔsigH进行表型特征分析。【结果】sigH缺失后,spo0A基因转录活性降低;在大肠杆菌中正确表达并纯化出大小约为28kDa的Sigma H-His蛋白;EMSA结果表明纯化后的Sigma H-His蛋白可与spo0A基因启动子结合;镜检和活芽胞计数结果表明突变株HDΔsigH无法产生芽胞和蛋白晶体。【结论】Sigma H蛋白通过与spo0A基因启动子结合直接调控spo0A基因的表达且sigH基因的缺失阻断了苏云金芽胞杆菌中芽胞和晶体蛋白的产生。     

MvaT调控铜绿假单胞菌吩嗪的合成机制

【背景】属于H-NS家族的MvaT转录因子参与了铜绿假单胞菌的许多重要代谢过程,如吩嗪合成代谢,但其调控方式仍不十分明确。【目的】确定转录调控因子MvaT是否直接调控铜绿假单胞菌的吩嗪合成过程,即该蛋白是否可以直接结合2个吩嗪-1-羧酸合成基因簇(phzA1G1和phzA2G2)与3个分支转化基因(phzH、phzS和phzM)的上游启动子区域。【方法】以铜绿假单胞菌SJTD-1和其mvaT基因敲除突变株SJTD-1(ΔmvaT)为研究对象,检测其在不同培养基条件下吩嗪化合物的合成量差异。通过体外异源表达与亲和纯化,获得重组蛋白MvaT。利用凝胶阻滞实验,确定MvaT重组蛋白对5个吩嗪代谢基因簇/基因上游启动子的结合情况。【结果】mvaT基因敲除突变株SJTD-1(ΔmvaT)的吩嗪产量较野生型显著提升。MvaT重组蛋白被有效表达与纯化,体外凝胶阻滞实验结果显示,该重组蛋白可与phzA1G1、phzA2G2、phzM、phzS和phzH的上游启动子区域均发生特异性结合。其中,重组蛋白MvaT与phzA1G1和phzA2G2的结合区域位于其上游启动子的200 bp以内,而该蛋白与phzM、phzS和phzH的结合区域则位于其上游启动子的100 bp以内。【结论】MvaT蛋白通过直接结合吩嗪合成代谢基因的上游启动子区域来直接调控假单胞菌的吩嗪类化合物合成。     

铜绿假单胞菌M18 rsmY突变株的构建及其对PCA和Plt的区别性调控

【目的】在假单胞菌中,小RNA(sRNA)参与初级和次级代谢产物、多种毒素因子以及菌群传感系统的调控,通过在植物根际促生铜绿假单胞菌M18中研究RsmY对吩嗪-1-羧酸(PCA)和藤黄绿菌素(Plt)两种抗生素的调控作用,深入了解假单胞菌中次级代谢的途径并为构建高产抗生素工程菌株提供了一定的理论基础。【方法】运用同源重组技术,构建了铜绿假单胞菌M18株的rsmY突变菌株M18RY,通过基因过表达、lacZ报告基因融合分析实验,进一步验证了RsmY对抗生素合成基因的调控作用。【结果】比较野生型M18和突变株M18RY中PCA和Plt在同一培养条件下的生物合成量,突变菌株M18RY中PCA的产量显著增加,为野生型菌株的5倍左右,而Plt的产量降为野生型的1/8。LacZ报告基因融合分析进一步证明了RsmY对PCA的负调控作用主要是通过phz2基因簇来实现的。【结论】结果表明,rsmY基因区别性调控PCA和Plt的生物合成。     

假单胞菌株M18中pqsA突变株的构建及其对plt的调控

【目的】根际铜绿假单胞菌M18能产生藤黄绿菌素(Plt)和吩嗪-1-羧酸(PCA)两种主要的抗生素。其PqsR/PQS群体感应系统由应答调控蛋白PqsR与信号分子PQS组成。前期研究已经表明pqsR负调控Plt生物合成及基因簇表达。本论文旨在研究PQS分子对Plt合成及基因表达的调控作用。【方法】从M18基因组中扩增PQS合成基因pqsA,通过同源重组技术构建假单胞菌M18的pqsA突变菌株M18pqsA。利用lacZ报告基因分析、信号分子添加实验等,研究PQS对Plt合成及基因表达的调控作用。【结果】在KMB培养基中,分别比较野生型菌株M18和突变菌株M18pqsA的Plt产量,突变菌株的Plt产量存在较小幅度的升高,约为野生型菌株的1.53倍。添加PQS对plt表达存在一定程度但不是很显著的负调控作用。【结论】PQS分子对Plt生物合成及基因表达存在部分负调控作用。     

铜绿假单胞菌水解弹性蛋白能力相关基因的筛选与鉴定

【目的】研究铜绿假单胞菌弹性蛋白水解能力相关基因。【方法】应用人工Mu转座技术构建铜绿假单胞菌野生型菌株PA68的转座突变文库,从2000多个突变子中筛选得到4株弹性蛋白水解能力改变的突变子,并通过克隆及测序获得转座子插入位点侧翼的序列。将铜绿假单胞菌弹性蛋白酶结构基因lasB的转录启始区序列整合入载体pDN19lacΩ并将该重组质粒电转化入野生型菌株PA68及4个突变株中,对报告基因在不同菌株中的表达水平进行测定。【结果】发现4个突变株中Mu转座子分别插入lasA、galU、xcpZ和ptsP 4个基因。ptsP基因失活的突变株中,lasB基因的转录水平是野生型菌株的7%,xcpZ和lasA基因的失活使lasB基因的转录水平分别降低为野生株的54%和75%,galU基因的插入失活使lasB基因的转录上升了1倍。【结论】推测ptsP和galU基因很可能直接或间接地调控着弹性蛋白酶的生物合成。     

铜绿假单胞菌fur基因缺失突变株的构建及其表型分析

铁摄取调节蛋白(ferric uptake regulator, Fur)是控制铜绿假单胞菌铁代谢和毒力的关键调节因子。许多课题组尝试构建铜绿假单胞菌fur的缺失突变株均失败,因此铜绿假单胞菌的fur一直被认为是必需基因,这导致其生物学功能一直未得到全面的解析。【目的】构建铜绿假单胞菌fur的缺失突变株,并对该突变株的表型进行分析。【方法】以铜绿假单胞菌PAO1为亲本菌株,通过同源重组的方法构建fur缺失突变株,研究该基因对铜绿假单胞菌生长、铁载体生物合成、抗氧胁迫能力、鞭毛形成、生物被膜形成和毒力等的影响。同时,通过遗传分析对fur缺失突变株生长缺陷表型的原因进行探究。【结果】本研究成功构建了铜绿假单胞菌fur基因的缺失突变株,发现缺失突变fur极大地限制了铜绿假单胞菌的生长能力,并降低了该菌对限铁环境的生长适应性,但不影响该菌对高铁环境的生长适应性。铜绿假单胞菌Δfur的这种生长缺陷表型是细胞生长增殖变慢造成的,而不是诱导细胞死亡引起的。然而,其他异源的fur基因能完全互补Δfur的这种生长缺陷表型,暗示铜绿假单胞菌的Fur蛋白在功能上不存在独特性。尽管Fur与毒素-抗毒素系统PacTA存在功能关联性,但是铜绿假单胞菌Δfur的这种生长缺陷表型却与PacT毒素无关。除了影响铜绿假单胞菌的生长表型,缺失突变fur还使铜绿假单胞菌丧失了对铁载体生物合成的抑制作用,导致该菌对H₂O₂更敏感并丧失了鞭毛的形成能力,同时降低了该菌对大蜡螟幼虫的毒力。此外,缺失突变fur还显著提升了铜绿假单胞菌的胞内环二鸟苷酸(cyclic diguanylate, c-di-GMP)水平,从而诱导pelF和pslA基因的表达,进而促进铜绿假单胞菌生物被膜的形成。【结论】fur是可以缺失的非必需基因,在铜绿假单胞菌的正常生长、铁载体生物合成、抗氧胁迫能力、鞭毛形成、生物被膜形成和毒力等方面都发挥着十分重要的作用,这为针对铜绿假单胞菌的疫苗和抗菌药物开发奠定了基础。     

铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中c-di-GMP代谢相关基因PA2072的生物学分析

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌为革兰氏阴性杆菌,是医院感染的常见条件致病菌之一。广泛存在于细菌中的第二信使分子环鸟苷二磷酸(cyclic-di-guanosine monophosphate,c-di-GMP)对细菌生理生化功能具有重要的调节作用。铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中存在参与c-di-GMP代谢的基因PA2072。【目的】探讨铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中c-di-GMP代谢相关基因PA2072的生物学功能。【方法】运用PCR及分子克隆技术构建PA2072基因及各结构域的自杀载体,运用基因敲除方法获取PA2072基因的3个突变株;利用泳动性(swimming)、蜂群运动(swarming)、蹭行运动(twitching)和生物膜定量实验对细菌进行初步的表型分析,进一步通过刚果红染色法对菌株进行分析。【结果】成功构建PA2072基因敲除突变菌株及回补菌株;生物膜定量结果发现基因PA2072的敲除会影响细菌生物膜的形成,PA2072蛋白的不同结构域对生物膜的合成也起到了重要作用;细菌运动能力检测中发现PA2072相关基因的敲除对细菌运动能力也有一定影响。刚果红平板检测结果显示,与野生型PAO1菌株相比,P...     

铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中c-di-GMP代谢相关基因PA0575对表型的影响

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中存在与环鸟苷二磷酸(cyclic-di-guanosine monophosphate,c-di-GMP)代谢相关基因PA0575。【目的】探讨铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中环鸟苷二磷酸代谢相关基因PA0575对运动能力及生物膜的影响。【方法】通过PCR对菌株遗传背景进行确认;利用刚果红结合实验及电转PcdrA-gfp质粒间接测量胞内c-di-GMP水平;利用泳动性(swimming)、蜂群泳动(swarming)、蹭行运动(twiching)和生物膜定量实验对细菌进行表型分析,并在运动培养基中添加抗生素研究其对运动能力的影响;针对PA0575基因进行融合蛋白表达载体的构建,并对蛋白进行原核诱导表达。【结果】3株突变体菌株的转座子插入突变位点不一致,胞内c-di-GMP水平检测结果显示,PA0575-1菌株的c-di-GMP含量高于野生型PAO1菌株(P0.05),PA0575-2、PA0575-3菌株胞内c-di-GMP水平与野生型PAO1菌株无差异(P0.05)。运动能力检测实验中,与野生型PAO1菌株相比,PA0575-1菌株泳动性增强(P0.05);PA0575-2、PA0575-3菌株的泳动性、蜂群运动均增强(P0.05);该基因不同位点的突变均导致氯霉素对菌株的运动能力产生抑制作用。生物膜定量结果显示,与野生型PAO1菌株相比,细菌培养18 h后PA0575-1的生物膜含量降低(P0.05),PA0575-2、PA0575-3菌株的生物膜含量升高。最后成功构建了PA0575基因不同结构域的8个表达载体,并获得了异源表达蛋白。【结论】PA0575基因降低铜绿假单胞菌胞内c-di-GMP的水平,影响表型的同时也抑制了氯霉素抗性基因的表达。以上研究为PA0575基因对表型的影响奠定了基础。     

The phylogenetic placement of Ostropales within Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota) revisited

Results of molecular studies regarding the phylogenetic placement of the order Ostropales and related taxa within Lecanoromycetes were thus far inconclusive. Some analyses placed the order as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, while others inferred a position nested within Lecanoromycetes. We assembled a data set of 101 species including sequences from nuLSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, and the nuclear protein-coding RPB1 for each species to examine the cause of incongruencies in previously published phylogenies. MP, minimum evolution, and Bayesian analyses were performed using the combined three-region data set and the single-gene data sets. The position of Ostropales nested in Lecanoromycetes is confirmed in all single-gene and concatenated analyses, and a placement as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes is significantly rejected using two independent methods of alternative topology testing. Acarosporales and related taxa (Acarosporaceae group) are basal in Lecanoromycetes. However, if the these basal taxa are excluded from the analyses, Ostropales appear to be sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, suggesting different ingroup rooting as the cause for deviating topologies in previously published phylogenies.     

Genome Analysis inNeurospora crassa;Cloning of Four Lociarginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) and Associated Chromosome Walking

We have cloned fourNeurospora crassagenes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include thearginine-1(arg-1),methionine-6(met-6),unknown-7(un-7), andribosome production-1(rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of theNeurosporagenome is covered in these walks.     

Prosthecium species with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer

Data from microscopic morphology, single-spore cultures, and DNA analyses of teleomorphs and anamorphs support the recognition of five species of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer: P. acerinum sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. acerinum; P. acerophilum comb. nov., formerly known as Dictyoporthe acerophila; P. galeatum comb. nov., originally described as Massaria galeata; P. opalus sp. nov.; and P. pyriforme sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. pyriforme s. str. The morphology of both type specimens and freshly collected material was investigated. The teleomorphs have brown ellipsoidal ascospores with five distosepta and often a longitudinal distoseptum. The anamorphs of all species described here belong to Stegonsporium; their connection to the Prosthecium teleomorphs was demonstrated by morphology and DNA sequences of single spore cultures derived from both ascospores and conidia. The anamorphs and teleomorphs of all five Prosthecium species are described and illustrated by LM images, and a key to these species is provided. As perceived from this work, S. pyriforme is restricted to Europe and does not occur in North America, whereas S. acerinum is restricted to North America, not found in Europe. The host associations given in the literature are revised and evidence is provided that only A. opalus, A. pseudoplatanus, and A. saccharum are confirmed hosts of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of tef1, ITS rDNA, and partial nuLSU rDNA sequences confirm that the species with Stegonsporium anamorphs are closely related to P. ellipsosporum, the generic type species. Stilbospora macrosperma is confirmed as the anamorph of P. ellipsosporum by DNA data of single spore isolates obtained from both ascospores and conidia.     

Evolutionary relationships among aquatic anamorphs and teleomorphs: Lemonniera, Margaritispora, and Goniopila

The hypothesis that similar conidial morphologies in aquatic hyphomycetes are a result of convergent evolution was tested using molecular sequence data. Cladistic analyses were performed on partial sequences of 28S rDNA of seven species of Lemonniera, one species of Margaritispora and one species of Goniopila. Lemonniera has tetraradiate conidia with long arms, whereas Margaritispora and Goniopila have typically globose (isodiametric) conidia, with short conical protuberances in a stellate or quadrangular arrangement. Lemonniera and Margaritispora have phialidic conidiogenesis and both produce dark, minute sclerotia in culture whereas Goniopila has holoblastic conidiogenesis and does not produce sclerotia in culture. Goniopila produces a microconidial phialidic synanamorph in culture. All three genera have schizolytic conidial secession. Molecular analyses demonstrate that Lemonniera species are placed in two distinct clades: one within Leotiomycetes; the other within Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Margaritispora is placed with Lemonniera species within Leotiomycetes. Goniopila and Lemonniera pseudofloscula are placed within Dothideomycetes. No morphological character was entirely congruent with the molecular derived phylogeny. This suggests that for the group of species studied, conidial shape is not a reliable indicator of phylogeny but more likely the result of convergent evolution in response to the aquatic environment.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

New species of Phaeoramularia, Pseudocercospora and Stenella from Western Ghats of India

Four new species of the hyphomycete genera Phaeoramularia viz. Ph. caesalpinae, Pseudocercospora viz., Ps. tiliacearum, Stenella, viz. S. argyreiae and S. grewiae occurring on Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming (Caesalpiniaceae), Grewia sp. (Tiliaceae), Argyrea sp. Lour (Convolvulaceae) and Grewia sp. L. (Tiliaceae), respectively are described and illustrated here. All these fungi were collected from Western Ghats of India.     

甘菊ClHSP70与ClHSP90基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究以甘菊(Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium)为实验材料,通过RT-PCR方法从甘菊转录组数据中分离出热激蛋白合成相关基因,命名为ClHSP70和ClHSP90。序列分析表明,ClHSP70基因ORF全长为2 559bp,编码852个氨基酸,蛋白功能区预测表明含有典型的HSP70蛋白NBD和SBD保守结构域;ClHSP90基因ORF全长为2 094bp,编码697个氨基酸,含有HATPase结构域和HSP90保守结构域。生物信息学分析表明,甘菊ClHSP70与大豆(Glycine max)和烟草(Nicotiana tomentosiformis)HSP70蛋白有较高的一致性,ClHSP90基因编码的氨基酸序列与紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)HSP90高度相似;实时荧光定量表达分析表明,在42℃处理不同时间,甘菊叶片中ClHSP70和ClHSP90基因表达均在0.5h时显著增加,1h达到最大值,2h后缓慢下降;不同组织表达分析表明,甘菊在42℃处理1h后,ClHSP70在成熟叶中的表达量显著高于嫩叶和根等其他组织;ClHSP90在成熟茎中的表达量最高。研究说明,ClHSP70和ClHSP90基因具有热激蛋白特征,参与了甘菊热胁迫应答过程,该研究结果为以后深入研究其基因功能奠定了基础。     

Molecular and morphological characterization of Leveillula (Ascomycota: Erysiphales) on monocotyledonous plants

Leveillula on monocotyledonous plants have been recorded as L. taurica by several authors, whereas the fungus on Allium has been described as an independent species, namely L. allii, by some authors. We sequenced ca 600 bp of the rDNA ITS region for two Leveillula specimens from Allium and Polianthes (both from monocotyledons) and compared them with several already published sequences from Leveillula isolates from dicotyledons. Pair-wise percentages of sequence divergences were calculated for all Leveillula isolates. The ITS sequence of the Polianthes isolate was identical to L. taurica on Helianthus and Vicia. The sequence of the Allium isolate was 99.5 % identical to L. taurica on Euphorbia, Haplophylum, Peganum, etc. These results suggest close relationships between monocot and dicot pathogenic Leveillula species. The identity between two monocot isolates was 98.4 %. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two monocot isolates do not group into a clade together. This result suggests that Leveillula acquired parasitism to monocots at least twice independently.     

A polysaccharide from Lichina pygmaea and L. confinis supports the recognition of Lichinomycetes

The lichen-forming order Lichinales, generally characterized by prototunicate asci and the development of thalli with cyanobacteria, has recently been recognized as a separate class of ascomycetes, Lichinomycetes, as a result of molecular phylogenetic studies. As alkali and water-soluble (F1SS) polysaccharides reflect phylogeny in other ascomycetes, a polysaccharide from Lichina pygmaea and L. confinis was purified and characterized to investigate whether these F1SS compounds in the Lichinomycetes were distinctive. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and chemical analyses revealed this as a galactomannan comprising a repeating unit consisting of an α-(1→6)-mannan backbone, mainly substituted by single α-galactofuranose residues at the O-2- or the O-2,4- positions linked to a small mannan core. With the exception of the trisubstituted mannopyranose residues previously described in polysaccharides from other lichens belonging to orders now placed in Lecanoromycetes, the structure of this galactomannan most closely resembles those found in several members of the Onygenales in Eurotiomycetes. Our polysaccharide data support molecular studies showing that Lichina species are remote from Lecanoromycetes as the galactofuranose residues are in the α-configuration. That the Lichinomycetes were part of an ancestral lichenized group can not be established from the present data because the extracted polysaccharide does not have the galactofuranose residue in the β configuration; however, the data does suggest that an ancestor of the Lichinomycetes contained a mannan and was part of an early radiation in the ascomycetes.