"Revolutionary Algorithm Unlocks Valuable Molecules from Fungi through Cutting-Edge Chemistry"

Scientists have developed a new algorithm to search fungal genomes for biosynthetic gene clusters that synthesize isocyanide, a type of chemistry in fungi that was previously overlooked. This discovery opens up the potential for finding valuable biological compounds with medical and chemical applications. The algorithm identified isocyanide chemistry as the fifth-largest class of natural products produced by fungi, with over 1,300 fungal species containing gene clusters related to this chemistry. Researchers believe that these gene clusters are likely producing useful compounds for the fungi, and the findings provide an atlas of these clusters for further exploration.