Isolation, Characterization and Functional Analysis of Novel Biomolecules from the Mutualistic Food Fungus and Associated Microbes of Fungus-Growing Termites (A06)

• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Biochemistry ; Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry ; Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239748522

This project analyses the biochemical and natural product repertoire of Termitomyces the fungal cultivar of the farming termite Macrotermes natalensis to elucidate (a) which terpenoids might serve as cross-kingdom communication signals within the complex multipartite symbiosis, and (b) which oxidative degradation mechanisms are employed by Termitomyces to fend of predators or parasites and detoxify plant metabolites. This CRC project will unravel the general mechanisms that allowed the termite-fungus symbiosis to remain stable over millions of years and by this will provide unique insights into sustainability of monocultures.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1127: Chemical Mediators in Complex Biosystems (ChemBioSys)
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Christine Beemelmanns