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Stage-Specific Lipidomes of Gastrodia elata Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Fungal Symbiosis

Summary

Researchers studied how a special orchid called Gastrodia elata communicates with its fungal partner Armillaria. They found that tiny fat-like packages called extracellular vesicles carry specific molecules that help the orchid and fungus work together. These special molecules, including compounds like 7,8-dehydroastaxanthin, are most abundant when the orchid is actively absorbing nutrients from the fungus.

Background

Gastrodia elata is a mycoheterotrophic orchid that relies entirely on symbiosis with Armillaria fungus for nutrient acquisition. While phytohormone-mediated signaling has been documented in this interaction, the role of plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) in G. elata-Armillaria communication remains unexplored.

Objective

To conduct a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of G. elata-derived extracellular vesicles (GDEVs) across three tuber developmental stages (juvenile, immature, and mature) to identify stage-specific lipid markers associated with fungal symbiosis and inter-kingdom communication.

Results

Analysis identified 996 lipid species spanning eight major classes with distinct lipidomic remodeling throughout tuber maturation. Forty-three core lipid markers were specifically enriched in immature tubers (peak symbiosis stage), notably including Glc-sitosterols and 7,8-dehydroastaxanthin, which showed strong upregulation and potential roles in mediating plant-fungal interaction.

Conclusion

Developmentally regulated lipid transport via extracellular vesicles plays a critical role in mediating G. elata-Armillaria interaction. The identified lipid markers, particularly Glc-sitosterols and polyketides, represent potential key signaling molecules in mycoheterotrophic symbiosis and provide a foundation for investigating EV-mediated signaling in non-model plant-microbe systems.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/ijms26178611, PMID: 40943531
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