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Transcriptional Profiling of Auricularia cornea in Selenium Accumulation

Summary

This research explored how adding selenium to mushroom growing material could create more nutritious mushrooms. Scientists found that adding the right amount of selenium to the growing substrate of Auricularia cornea (wood ear mushroom) improved its nutritional value and growth. The study revealed the biological mechanisms behind how these mushrooms absorb and process selenium, which could help develop better methods for growing nutrient-enriched mushrooms commercially. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides a way to produce more nutritious mushrooms for consumers • Helps address selenium deficiency through enriched food products • Offers insights for mushroom farmers to improve their cultivation methods • Creates potential for new health-promoting food products • Demonstrates safe methods for natural nutrient enhancement in foods

Background

Auricularia cornea is a widely cultivated edible fungus with high nutritive value due to its rich amino acids, polysaccharides, vitamins and mineral content. Selenium is an essential trace element for human health, known for its antioxidative abilities, antitumour effects, and ability to strengthen immunity. Since selenium is found in low concentrations naturally, organisms that can accumulate selenium are ideal for creating selenium-rich foods.

Objective

This study aimed to enrich selenium content in A. cornea to improve its quality and explore the mechanisms of selenium accumulation using high-throughput RNA-Seq technology. The research focused on understanding how different concentrations of selenium affect growth and nutrient content, as well as analyzing gene expression patterns during selenium accumulation at different growth stages.

Results

The treatment group with 100 μg/g selenium showed optimal performance with higher yield and rich crude polysaccharides. The budding and mature phases were identified as critical stages for selenium accumulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed 2.56 × 105 unigenes, with genes involved in metabolic processes and translation being up-regulated at the budding stage in response to selenium supplementation. More differentially expressed genes were found at the budding stage compared to the mature stage.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that selenium supplementation at 100 μg/g in the growth substrate optimally enhanced A. cornea’s quality and nutrient content. The transcriptome analysis revealed that selenium accumulation significantly affected metabolism and protein synthesis, particularly during the budding stage. This research provides valuable insights into selenium enrichment mechanisms in edible fungi and supports the commercial cultivation of selenium-enriched A. cornea.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s41598-019-42157-2
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