Genome sequencing of the HCH-degrading Penicillium griseofulvum MUT 5854, first genetic data into mycoremediation of HCH-polluted sites

The contamination of soil by hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, which include not only gamma-HCH (lindane), but also alpha-, beta- and delta-HCH, has potentially toxic effects on humans and pose an important threat to public health. The transformation of HCH by microfungi that tolerate extreme environmental conditions experienced in the presence of recalcitrant organic pollutants may be of outstanding importance for mycoremediation of HCH-polluted sites.Penicillium griseofulvum MUT 5854 was isolated from historically polluted soil in Italy with high concentrations of isomers of HCH. Evidence on the biotransformation of HCH mixtures and the formation of dechlorinated compounds by MUT 5854 were reported (Ceci al., 2018 and reference therein). However, the full biodegradation pathway for HCH of P. griseofulvum MUT 5854 is lacking. Here, the genome of P. griseofulvum MUT 5854 (29 Mb, GC % 47.28) was sequenced, assembled and annotated. The presence of genes encoding upstream and downstream HCH- and aromatic compound transforming enzymes (see Davolos et al., 2021 and reference therein) was found in the P. griseofulvum MUT 5854 genome. Additional genes that are involved in the secondary metabolism biosynthesis were also investigated. Among the putative biosynthetic gene clusters, the prediction and annotation of the patulin, griseofulvin and cyclopiazonic acid clusters were carried out.The Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements (DIT), INAIL, Research Area, Rome, financially supported the genome sequencing of P. griseofulvum MUT 5854 as part of the NGS Project in the PAR 2019-2021.