Differential Gene Expression Network in Terpenoid Synthesis of Antrodia cinnamomea in Mycelia and Fruiting Bodies

Antodia cinnamomea, a precious brown-rot fungus endemic to Taiwan, has pharmaceutical applications due to its diverse array of metabolites. The terpenoids found in A. cinnamomea contribute to its most important bioactivities. We identified several terpenoid compounds in A. cinnamomea and revealed that their content in mycelium and fruiting body were significantly different. Using next-generation sequencing and an in-house transcriptome database, we identified several terpene synthase (TPS) candidates. After sequence analysis and functional characterization, 10 out of 12 candidates were found to have single or multiple terpene synthesis functions. Most of the terpenoid compounds were found to confer important bioactivities. RT-PCR results showed a positive correlation between terpene synthase expression pattern and terpenoid content. In addition, we identified several modification enzyme candidates that may be involved in the postmodification of terpenoid compounds with a genomic DNA scaffold, and a putative genetic network.

肉桂色安东孔菌（Antodia cinnamomea）是一种台湾特有的珍贵褐腐真菌，因其丰富多样的代谢产物而具备药用价值。该真菌所含的萜类化合物（terpenoids）是其核心生物活性的主要来源。我们从肉桂色安东孔菌中鉴定出多种萜类化合物，并发现其在菌丝体与子实体中的含量存在显著差异。借助下一代测序技术与自主构建的转录组数据库，我们筛选得到多个萜合酶（terpene synthase, TPS）候选基因。经序列分析与功能表征后，12个候选基因中有10个被证实具备单一或多重萜类合成功能。多数萜类化合物被证实具有重要的生物活性。逆转录聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）结果显示，萜合酶的表达模式与萜类化合物含量呈显著正相关。此外，我们基于基因组DNA支架，鉴定出多个可能参与萜类化合物后修饰的修饰酶候选基因，并构建了一条推定的遗传网络。