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The First Whole Genome Sequence and Methylation Profile of Gerronema lapidescens QL01

Summary

Scientists have sequenced the complete genetic code of Lei Wan (Gerronema lapidescens), a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating parasitic infections and digestive problems. The research revealed how this mushroom produces beneficial compounds and how its genes are regulated through a process called methylation. This information could help develop better ways to cultivate this increasingly rare mushroom sustainably rather than harvesting it from the wild, making it available for future medical research and treatment.

Background

Gerronema lapidescens (Lei Wan) is a valued medicinal basidiomycete traditionally used in Chinese traditional medicine for antiparasitic and digestive ailments. The species faces severe conservation threats due to unsustainable wild harvesting and lack of reliable cultivation protocols. No comprehensive genomic resources previously existed for this genus.

Objective

To generate the first chromosome-scale genome assembly and comprehensive methylome profile for G. lapidescens QL01 strain from the Qinling Mountains. The study aimed to elucidate genetic architecture, metabolic networks, biosynthetic pathways, and epigenetic regulation mechanisms to support future research on medicinal compound biosynthesis and sustainable cultivation.

Results

A high-quality 82.23 Mb genome assembly was anchored to 11 chromosomes with 98.4% BUSCO completeness and 46.03% GC content. Annotation predicted 15,847 protein-coding genes with 81.12% functionally assigned. Analysis identified 8.46 million SNPs and 3.25 million methylation events. The genome contains 521 CAZymes, 67 biosynthetic gene clusters with diverse secondary metabolites, and 3,279 SSRs as molecular markers.

Conclusion

This foundational genomic resource elucidates G. lapidescens’s genetic architecture, epigenetic regulation, evolutionary history, and enzymatic toolkit. The data provide essential information for understanding medicinal compound biosynthesis, environmental adaptation mechanisms, and will support future research in germplasm conservation and sustainable cultivation protocols.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Genomic Analysis,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof11090647, PMID: 41003193
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