Establishment of a genetic transformation system for cordycipitoid fungus Cordyceps chanhua
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 6/27/2024
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Summary
Scientists have successfully developed a method to genetically modify Cordyceps chanhua, an important medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1,600 years. By optimizing how they prepare fungal cells and introduce foreign genes, they created a reliable genetic transformation system that can be used to study which genes produce beneficial compounds in this mushroom. This breakthrough will help researchers understand and potentially enhance the medicinal properties of C. chanhua.
Background
Cordyceps chanhua is an important edible and medicinal fungus with a long history of use in China containing various bioactive secondary metabolites. However, the lack of an efficient genetic transformation system has limited research on the relationship between secondary metabolites and biosynthetic gene clusters. This study aimed to establish a genetic transformation platform for C. chanhua.
Objective
To optimize protoplast preparation and establish a PEG-mediated genetic transformation system for Cordyceps chanhua strain 022017-3. The system would enable functional studies of genes related to secondary metabolite synthesis.
Results
Optimal protoplast yield of 5.53 × 10⁸ protoplasts/mL was achieved with 0.7 M mannitol, 6 mg/mL snailase, and 4 hours digestion time. Protoplast regeneration rate reached approximately 30% with 0.7 M mannitol. Three verified transformants were successfully obtained from eleven antibiotic-resistant colonies.
Conclusion
A simple, efficient, and stable PEG-mediated protoplast transformation system was successfully established for C. chanhua for the first time. This genetic transformation platform provides a foundation for investigating functional genes and secondary metabolite synthesis mechanisms in this medicinal fungus.
- Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
- Study Type:Experimental Study,
- Source: PMID: 38993492