Sequencing, assembly, and genomic annotation of <i>Leucoagaricus gongylophorus</i> LEU18496, a dikarya mutualistic species

The basidiomycete fungus <i>Leucoagaricus gongylophorus</i> is able to grow in the fungus garden of leaf-cutter ants. This mutualistic interaction has driven the evolutionary adaptation of <i>L. gongylophorus</i>, shaping its metabolism to produce enzymes adept at lignocellulosic biomass degradation. In this study, we undertook the comprehensive sequencing, assembly, and functional annotation of the genome of <i>L. gongylophorus</i> strain LEU18496, mutualistic fungus of the <i>Atta mexicana</i>. Our genomic analyses revealed a distinctive bimodal nature to the genome: a predominant region characterized by AT enrichment and low genetic density, alongside a smaller region exhibiting higher GC content and higher genetic density. The presence of transposable elements (TEs) within the AT-enriched region suggests genomic compartmentalization, facilitating differential evolutionary rates. With a gene count of 6748, the assembled genome of <i>L. gongylophorus</i> LEU18496 surpasses previous reports for this fungal species. Inspection of genes associated with central metabolism unveiled a remarkable abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and fungal oxidative lignin enzymes (FOLymes), underscoring their pivotal roles in the life cycle of this fungus.