AUTHOR=Luo Qin , Li Na , Xu Jun-Wei 

TITLE=A methyltransferase LaeA regulates ganoderic acid biosynthesis in Ganoderma lingzhi

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1025983

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1025983

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The methyltransferase LaeA is a global regulator involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by ascomycete fungi. However, little is known of its regulatory role in basidiomycete fungi. In this study, the <italic>laeA</italic> gene was identified in the basidiomycete <italic>Ganoderma lingzhi</italic> and its function in regulating the biosynthesis of anti-tumor ganoderic acids was evaluated. A <italic>laeA</italic> deletion (ΔlaeA) <italic>Ganoderma</italic> strain exhibited significantly reduced concentration of ganoderic acids. qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that the transcription levels of genes involved in the biosynthesis of ganoderic acids were drastically lower in the ΔlaeA strain. Moreover, deletion of <italic>laeA</italic> resulted in decreased accumulation of intermediates and abundances of asexual spores in liquid static culture of <italic>G. lingzhi</italic>. In contrast, constitutive overexpression of <italic>laeA</italic> resulted in increased concentration of ganoderic acids. These results demonstrate an essential role of LaeA in the regulation of ganoderic acid biosynthesis in <italic>Ganoderma</italic>.</p>