Melanin Biosynthetic Variation as a Signature of UV Adaptation in Lichens

Lichens frequently inhabit environments exposed to strong ultraviolet radiation, making them useful systems for investigating fungal chemical adaptation to UV stress. In this study, we examined biosynthetic genes in lichen-forming fungi with a particular focus on pathways potentially related to UV protection. Overall biosynthetic repertoires were broadly conserved, but melanin-associated pathways showed notable variation among lineages. These patterns suggest that UV adaptation in lichens may depend less on expansion of total biosynthetic capacity and more on diversification of specific secondary metabolic pathways. Our results highlight lichen-forming fungi as informative models for understanding the evolution of stress-related metabolism.

[This work was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2021-NR061439), Korea Basic Science Institute (National research Facilities and Equipment Center) (2023R1A6C101B022), Global-Learning & Academic research institution for Master’s·PhD students, and Postdocs (LAMP) Program of the NRF grant (No. RS-2024-00444460), and conducted as part of the Glocal University Project supported by the RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) Program funded by the Ministry of Education.]