Secondary Metabolites of Onygenales Fungi Exemplified by Aioliomyces pyridodomos

Fungi from the order Onygenales include human pathogens. Although secondary metabolites are critical for pathogenic interactions, relatively little is known about Onygenales compounds. Here, we use chemical and genetic methods on Aioliomyces pyridodomos, the first representative of a candidate new family within Onygenales. We isolated 14 new bioactive metabolites, nine of which are first disclosed here. Thirty-two specialized metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified. BGCs were correlated to some of the new compounds by heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes. Some of the compounds were found after one year of fermentation. By comparing BGCs from A. pyridodomos with those from 68 previously sequenced Onygenales fungi, we delineate a large biosynthetic potential. Most of these biosynthetic pathways are specific to Onygenales fungi and have not been found elsewhere. Family level specificity and conservation of biosynthetic gene content are evident within Onygenales. Identification of these compounds may be important to understanding pathogenic interactions.