Gonçalves, CarlaWisecaver, Jennifer H.Kominek, JacekOom, Madalena SalemaLeandro, Maria JoséShen, Xing-XingOpulente, Dana A.Zhou, XiaofanPeris, DavidKurtzman, Cletus P.Hittinger, Chris ToddRokas, AntonisGonçalves, Paula2019-12-162019-12-162018-04Gonçalves et al. eLife 2018;7:e33034. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.330342050-084Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/30510Fructophily is a rare trait that consists of the preference for fructose over other carbon sources. Here, we show that in a yeast lineage (the Wickerhamiella/Starmerella, W/S clade) comprised of fructophilic species thriving in the high-sugar floral niche, the acquisition of fructophily is concurrent with a wider remodeling of central carbon metabolism. Coupling comparative genomics with biochemical and genetic approaches, we gathered ample evidence for the loss of alcoholic fermentation in an ancestor of the W/S clade and subsequent reinstatement through either horizontal acquisition of homologous bacterial genes or modification of a pre-existing yeast gene. An enzyme required for sucrose assimilation was also acquired from bacteria, suggesting that the genetic novelties identified in the W/S clade may be related to adaptation to the high-sugar environment. This work shows how even central carbon metabolism can be remodeled by a surge of HGT events.engTarmerellaAlcoholic fermentationEvolutionary biologyFloral nicheFructophilic yeastsGenomicsHorizontal gene transferSugar metabolismjournal article10.7554/eLife.33034