Rapid and Accurate Screening of Lysine-Producing Edible Mushrooms via the Homocitrate Synthase Gene as a Universal Molecular Marker
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2021-10-08
- View Source
Summary
This research developed a faster and more efficient way to identify mushroom strains that can produce high amounts of lysine, an essential amino acid important for human health. Instead of using traditional chemical analysis methods that are time-consuming and complex, the researchers created a DNA-based screening technique that can quickly identify mushrooms likely to be good lysine producers.
Impacts on everyday life:
– Makes it easier to identify nutritious mushroom varieties for food production
– Could lead to better selection of mushrooms for dietary supplements
– Helps develop more efficient ways to produce lysine-enriched foods
– Could reduce costs of mushroom-based nutritional products
– Supports development of more nutritious mushroom varieties for consumers
Background
Edible mushrooms are important nutraceutical sources of foods and drugs that can produce various nutritional ingredients including essential amino acids. Lysine is a key essential amino acid involved in protein assembly and other cellular functions. Current methods for detecting amino acids in mushrooms rely on photometric, fluorimetric or HPLC analysis which have limitations. A rapid molecular screening method is needed to identify lysine-producing mushroom strains.
Objective
To develop and validate a PCR-based molecular screening method using the homocitrate synthase (HCS) gene as a marker to rapidly identify edible mushroom strains with high lysine production capability.
Results
The PCR screening method showed 82% consistency with HPLC-verified lysine production in strains of Agaricales and 75% consistency in strains of Polyporales. The specific PCR amplicons were achieved in 59 strains (90.8%) using a combination of two primer pairs. Significant differences in lysine yields were detected between strains and growth media conditions.
Conclusion
The PCR-based molecular screening approach using the HCS gene as a marker provides a rapid and accurate method for identifying lysine-producing edible mushroom strains, particularly in the order Agaricales. This technique shows excellent potential for evaluating and discriminating edible wild-grown mushrooms with high lysine content.
- Published in:ACS Omega,
- Study Type:Laboratory Research,
- Source: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03175