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Coprinopsis cinerea dioxygenase is an oxygenase forming 10(S)-hydroperoxide of linoleic acid, essential for mushroom alcohol, 1-octen-3-ol, synthesis

Summary

This research identified a key enzyme responsible for producing the characteristic mushroom smell compound (1-octen-3-ol) in fungi. This discovery helps us understand how mushrooms create their distinctive aromas and how they communicate with other organisms in their environment. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps explain why mushrooms have their characteristic smell – Provides insights into developing better mushroom flavors for food products – Advances understanding of how insects and other organisms locate mushrooms – Could lead to new ways to control mushroom pests in cultivation – May enable biotechnology applications for producing natural mushroom flavors

Background

1-Octen-3-ol is a volatile oxylipin found ubiquitously in Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The biosynthetic pathway forming 1-octen-3-ol from linoleic acid via linoleic acid 10(S)-hydroperoxide was characterized 40 years ago in mushrooms, but the enzymes involved remained unidentified. The dioxygenase 1 and 2 genes in Coprinopsis cinerea contain an N-terminal cyclooxygenase-like heme peroxidase domain and a C-terminal cytochrome P450-related domain.

Objective

To identify and characterize the enzymes responsible for 1-octen-3-ol biosynthesis in mushrooms, specifically examining the role of dioxygenase genes (Ccdox1 and Ccdox2) in Coprinopsis cinerea.

Results

Recombinant CcDOX1 was found to be responsible for dioxygenation of linoleic acid to form 10(S)-hydroperoxide, the first step in 1-octen-3-ol synthesis. Knockout of the Ccdox1 gene suppressed 1-octen-3-ol synthesis. The gene knockout strain was less attractive to fruit fly larvae, while showing minimal effects on fungus gnats and nematodes. The P450-related domain of CcDOX1 lacks the characteristic Cys heme ligand, indicating a second uncharacterized enzyme converts 10(S)-hydroperoxide to 1-octen-3-ol.

Conclusion

CcDOX1 is essential for 1-octen-3-ol formation in C. cinerea, functioning as a dioxygenase to form 10(S)-hydroperoxide from linoleic acid. The study demonstrates that 1-octen-3-ol appears to be an attractive compound involved in emitter-receiver ecological communication in mushrooms. This research provides the first identification of a key enzyme in the long-studied mushroom alcohol biosynthetic pathway.
  • Published in:The Journal of Biological Chemistry,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102507
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