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Transcriptome and Metabolome Integration Reveals the Impact of Fungal Elicitors on Triterpene Accumulation in Sanghuangporus sanghuang

Summary

Scientists studied how a special fungal treatment can boost the production of beneficial compounds in sanghuang mushrooms. Using advanced molecular analysis techniques, they found that the fungal elicitor significantly increased levels of healing compounds called triterpenes. The treated mushrooms produced 114 times more of one specific compound compared to untreated mushrooms. This research shows how we can grow medicinal mushrooms with higher levels of beneficial substances, which could help develop better treatments for various diseases.

Background

Sanghuangporus sanghuang is a medicinal mushroom valued in traditional Chinese medicine for its hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial properties. Triterpenoids are the key bioactive compounds, but natural yields are low and diverse. Fungal elicitors have been shown to induce rapid and massive synthesis of target secondary metabolites in fungal cultures.

Objective

This study investigates the effect of fungal polysaccharides derived from Perenniporia tenuis mycelia on the metabolites and transcripts of S. sanghuang using integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis with and without elicitor treatment.

Results

A total of 128 metabolites were detected with 48 identified as significantly differential metabolites. Betulinic acid increased 2.62-fold and 2-hydroxyoleanolic acid increased 114.67-fold in ET compared to WET. Transcriptome analysis identified 97 differentially expressed transcripts, with genes related to secondary metabolism, defense mechanisms, and signal transduction showing significant upregulation in response to elicitor treatment.

Conclusion

Fungal elicitors successfully promoted the accumulation of pentacyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites in S. sanghuang, particularly through activation of mevalonate pathway enzymes and nitric oxide signaling. This multi-omics approach demonstrates the potential of fungal elicitors for enhancing triterpene production in medicinal mushroom fermentation.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 37367540, DOI: 10.3390/jof9060604
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