Featured Publications
Light sensing by opsins and fungal ecology: NOP‐1 modulates entry into sexual reproduction in response to environmental cues
Wang Z, Wang J, Li N, Li J, Trail F, Dunlap JC, Townsend JP. Light sensing by opsins and fungal ecology: NOP‐1 modulates entry into sexual reproduction in response to environmental cues. Molecular Ecology 2017, 27: 216-232. PMID: 29134709, PMCID: PMC5797489, DOI: 10.1111/mec.14425.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceConserved SequenceEcological and Environmental PhenomenaFungal ProteinsGene Expression Regulation, FungalGene Knockout TechniquesGene Regulatory NetworksGenes, FungalLightModels, BiologicalMultienzyme ComplexesNADH, NADPH OxidoreductasesNeurospora crassaOpsinsOxidation-ReductionOxidative StressPhenotypePhylogenyProtein Structure, SecondaryReproductionUp-RegulationConceptsNOP-1Opsin-like proteinFungal ecologyPlant-associated fungiRapid environmental changeOxidative stress responseKey amino acidsFungal genomesComparative transcriptomicsSexual reproductionOrganismal functionNeurospora crassaEnvironmental cuesGenetic basisSensory rhodopsinStress responseNAD/NADPTransmembrane movementRetinal binding siteGenesAmino acidsFungiEnvironmental changesSexual developmentOpsinChapter One Maximizing Power in Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics: A Perspective Illuminated by Fungal Big Data
Dornburg A, Townsend JP, Wang Z. Chapter One Maximizing Power in Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics: A Perspective Illuminated by Fungal Big Data. Advances In Genetics 2017, 100: 1-47. PMID: 29153398, DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2017.09.007.ChaptersConceptsTree of lifeFungal evolutionary biologyGenomic-scale dataHundreds of lociGenome-scale analysisFungal phylogenomicsFungal treeSpecies delimitationPhenotypic diversificationFirst genomeEvolutionary biologyPhylogenetic treePhylogenetic inferencePhylogenetic analysisEntire genomeTree inferenceReview of considerationsEvolutionary problemsPhylogenomicsGenomeTreesLociCentral roleExperimental designBiodiversityToward a phylogenetic classification of the Leotiomycetes based on rDNA data
Wang Z, Johnston PR, Takamatsu S, Spatafora JW, Hibbett DS. Toward a phylogenetic classification of the Leotiomycetes based on rDNA data. Mycologia 2006, 98: 1065-1075. PMID: 17486981, DOI: 10.3852/mycologia.98.6.1065.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvolution of Reproductive Morphology in Leaf Endophytes
Wang Z, Johnston PR, Yang ZL, Townsend JP. Evolution of Reproductive Morphology in Leaf Endophytes. PLOS ONE 2009, 4: e4246. PMID: 19158947, PMCID: PMC2617777, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004246.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLeaf endophytesEcological roleDead host tissuesCommon developmental pathwayEndophytic lifestyleAsexual developmentSaprobic speciesReproductive structuresReproductive morphologySaprobic fungiFungal tissueFungal classificationDead woodEndophytic fungiDevelopmental pathwaysBody sizeFungal morphologySignificant divergenceLeotiomycetesFungiEndophytesHost tissuesProblematic groupRhytismatalesImportant roleEvolution of helotialean fungi (Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina): A nuclear rDNA phylogeny
Wang Z, Binder M, Schoch CL, Johnston PR, Spatafora JW, Hibbett DS. Evolution of helotialean fungi (Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina): A nuclear rDNA phylogeny. Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution 2006, 41: 295-312. PMID: 16837216, DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHelotialean fungiMolecular phylogenyBasal lineagePhylogenetic distributionRDNA phylogenyWider taxonLSU rDNARDNA regionMultiple cladesEcological factorsHelotialesLeotiomycetesPhylogenyRDNACladeProblematic groupFungiTraditional classificationBayesian analysisDivergent characterCurrent classificationMyxotrichaceaeEndophytismDeep relationshipGeoglossomycetes
2022
Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context
Dornburg A, Mallik R, Wang Z, Bernal M, Thompson B, Bruford E, Nebert D, Vasiliou V, Yohe L, Yoder J, Townsend J. Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context. Human Genomics 2022, 16: 56. PMID: 36369063, PMCID: PMC9652883, DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00429-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman gene familyGene familyHuman genomeEvolutionary contextGene family evolutionNon-model organismsFirst human genomeGenome biologyComparative genomicsFamily evolutionDistant speciesDraft sequenceGenomic studiesGene expressionGenome sequencingSequence complexityGenomeCancer biologyUnprecedented insightsNovel discoveriesCritical roleOrganismsBiologyComparative approachFamily