Project description:The draft genome of the ascomycete fungus Xylaria flabelliformis (previously known as Xylaria cubensis) was sequenced using Illumina paired-end technology. The assembled genome is 41.2 Mb long and contains 11,404 genes. This genome will contribute to our understanding of X. flabelliformis secondary metabolism and the organism's ability to live as a decomposer as well as an endosymbiont.
Project description:Wheldone (1) was isolated and elucidated from a coculture of Aspergillus fischeri (NRRL 181) and Xylaria flabelliformis (G536), where secondary metabolite biosynthesis was stimulated by antagonism between these fungi. First observed via in situ analysis between these competing fungal cultures, the conditions were scaled to reproducibly generate 1, whose novel structure was elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectrometry. Compound 1 displayed cytotoxic activity against breast, ovarian, and melanoma cancer cell lines.
