Enhancement of Perylenequinonoid Compounds Production from Strain of Pseudoshiraia conidialis by UV-Induced Mutagenesis

Summary

Researchers used UV light to mutate fungal strains that naturally produce powerful medicinal compounds called perylenequinones. These compounds show promise for treating cancer and viral infections through photodynamic therapy. Through careful mutagenesis and screening, they developed a superior fungal strain that produces over 2100 mg/L of these valuable compounds, far exceeding previous methods. The breakthrough highlights that focusing on multiple beneficial compounds rather than just one can lead to better commercial applications.

Background

Perylenequinonoid compounds, including hypocrellins and elsinochromes, are photosensitive therapeutic agents with extensive biomedical, agricultural, and food industrial applications. However, their restricted biosynthesis remains a critical bottleneck for commercial exploitation. Recent taxonomic studies have classified hypocrellin-yielding strains as Shiraia-like fungi (Pseudoshiraia conidialis), with two major industrial groups showing diverged regulatory mechanisms.

Objective

This study aimed to enhance perylenequinone production in fungal strains of Pseudoshiraia conidialis using UV mutagenesis, particularly focusing on the zzz816 group which has received little attention despite greater potential for industrial applications. The research sought to establish precise quantification of multiple perylenequinonoid derivatives through optimized HPLC analysis.

Results

Mutant strain Z2-1 demonstrated remarkable biosynthetic capacity with total perylenequinonoid yields reaching 2101.6 mg/L (705.70% enhancement over parental strain). Hypocrellin A production reached 1100.7 mg/L (1208.02% increase), while elsinochrome A-overproducing strain Z3-1 achieved 312.68 mg/L (429.25% increase). Genetic stability testing confirmed sustained production through five generations, with different mutant strains exhibiting distinct production profiles for specific compounds.

Conclusion

UV mutagenesis successfully enhanced perylenequinone production in zzz816-group strains more efficiently than previous multi-factor approaches. The study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive metabolite profiling for all perylenequinonoid derivatives rather than focusing solely on hypocrellin A. These findings demonstrate that zzz816 strains possess greater potential for genetic breeding and industrial applications.
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