Effects of Culture Mechanism of Cinnamomum kanehirae and C. camphora on the Expression of Genes Related to Terpene Biosynthesis in Antrodia cinnamomea

Summary

This research investigated how adding plant materials to the growing medium of a medicinal mushroom affects its production of beneficial compounds. The study used modern genetic techniques to understand how the mushroom’s genes respond to these additions, ultimately leading to increased production of valuable medicinal compounds. Impact on everyday life: – Could lead to more efficient production of natural medicines – May help reduce the cost of medicinal mushroom supplements – Provides new ways to enhance the therapeutic properties of medicinal mushrooms – Contributes to the preservation of endangered species by developing alternative cultivation methods

Background

Antrodia cinnamomea is a rare edible and medicinal fungus endemic to Taiwan, China, belonging to the Polyporaceae family. It grows on the inner wall of decaying heartwood of Cinnamomum kanehirae. The fungus contains over 70 compounds including sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes and sterols in its fruiting body and mycelia. Triterpenoids are the main active components, with ergostane triterpenoids being unique to A. cinnamomea and showing prominent biological activities.

Objective

To explore the effects of different culture conditions using homogenates of C. kanehirae and C. camphora shoots as additives on the terpenoid metabolism of A. cinnamomea through transcriptome analysis using Illumina HiSeq 2000 high-throughput sequencing.

Results

The transcriptome sequencing yielded 66,589 unigenes with an N50 of 4413 bp. 23 transcriptional sequences related to the mevalonate pathway for terpenoid synthesis were identified. Key genes including ACS2, ACS4, HMGR, FTase, and SQS were upregulated in media containing C. kanehirae (NZJ) and C. camphora (XZJ) homogenates. The expression patterns were confirmed through RT-qPCR validation.

Conclusion

The addition of C. kanehirae and C. camphora homogenates stimulated triterpene production in A. cinnamomea by regulating key genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis, particularly HMGR and SQS. This study provides new insights into the regulation of triterpene biosynthesis in A. cinnamomea and establishes a foundation for future research on metabolic networks of triterpene biosynthesis.
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