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Hu Y, Wu Y, Song J, Ma M, Xiao Y, Zeng B. Advancing Cordyceps militaris Industry: Gene Manipulation and Sustainable Biotechnological Strategies. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:783. [PMID: 39199741 PMCID: PMC11351413 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11080783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris is considered to be of great medicinal potential due to its remarkable pharmacological effects, safety, and edible characteristics. With the completion of the genome sequence and the advancement of efficient gene-editing technologies, coupled with the identification of gene functions in Cordyceps militaris, this fungus is poised to emerge as an outstanding strain for medicinal engineering applications. This review focuses on the development and application of genomic editing techniques, including Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT), PEG-mediated protoplast transformation (PMT), and CRISPR/Cas9. Through the application of these techniques, researchers can engineer the biosynthetic pathways of valuable secondary metabolites to boost yields; such metabolites include cordycepin, polysaccharides, and ergothioneine. Furthermore, by identifying and modifying genes that influence the growth, disease resistance, and tolerance to environmental stress in Cordyceps militaris, it is possible to stimulate growth, enhance desirable traits, and increase resilience to unfavorable conditions. Finally, the green sustainable industrial development of C. militaris using agricultural waste to produce high-value-added products and the future research directions of C. militaris were discussed. This review will provide future directions for the large-scale production of bioactive ingredients, molecular breeding, and sustainable development of C. militaris.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Bin Zeng
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China; (Y.H.); (Y.W.); (J.S.); (M.M.); (Y.X.)
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Qiao H, Chen J, Yang S. Enhanced polysaccharide production through quorum sensing system in Cordyceps militaris. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2400103. [PMID: 38771080 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202400103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to enhance extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production in Cordyceps militaris by constructing a quorum sensing (QS) system to regulate the expression of biosynthetic enzyme genes, including phosphoglucomutase, hexokinase, phosphomannomutase, polysaccharide synthase, and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase genes. The study found higher EPS concentrations in seven recombinant strains compared to the wild-type C. militaris, indicating that the overexpression of key enzyme genes increased EPS production. Among them, the CM-pgm-2 strain exhibited the highest EPS production, reaching a concentration of 3.82 ± 0.26 g/L, which was 1.52 times higher than the amount produced by the wild C. militaris strain. Additionally, the regulatory effects of aromatic amino acids on the QS system of the CM-pgm-2 strain were investigated. Under the influence of 45 mg/L tryptophan, the EPS production in CM-pgm-2 reached 4.75 ± 0.20 g/L, representing a 1.90-fold increase compared to wild C. militaris strains. This study provided an effective method for the large-scale production of EPSs in C. militaris, and opened up new avenues for research into fungal QS mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Qiao
- The College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianshu Chen
- The College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shengli Yang
- The College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
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Chai L, Li J, Guo L, Zhang S, Chen F, Zhu W, Li Y. Genomic and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Biosynthesis Network of Cordycepin in Cordyceps militaris. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:626. [PMID: 38790255 PMCID: PMC11120935 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cordycepin is the primary active compound of Cordyceps militaris. However, the definitive genetic mechanism governing cordycepin synthesis in fruiting body growth and development remains elusive, necessitating further investigation. This study consists of 64 C. militaris strains collected from northeast China. The high-yielding cordycepin strain CMS19 was selected for the analysis of cordycepin production and the genetic basis of cordycepin anabolism. First, the whole-genome sequencing of CMS19 yielded a final size of 30.96 Mb with 8 contigs and 9781 protein-coding genes. The genome component revealed the presence of four additional secondary metabolite gene clusters compared with other published genomes, suggesting the potential for the production of new natural products. The analyses of evolutionary and genetic differentiation revealed a close relationship between C. militaris and Beauveria bassiana. The population of strains distributed in northeast China exhibited the significant genetic variation. Finally, functional genes associated with cordycepin synthesis were identified using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic analyses. A large number of functional genes associated with energy and purine metabolism were significantly enriched, facilitating the reconstruction of a hypothetical cordycepin metabolic pathway. Therefore, our speculation of the cordycepin metabolism pathway involved 24 genes initiating from the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, progressing through purine metabolism, and culminating in the core region of cordycepin synthesis. These findings could offer fundamental support for scientific utilizations of C. militaris germplasm resources and standardized cultivation for cordycepin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linshan Chai
- Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Jianmei Li
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Lingling Guo
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Shuyu Zhang
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Fei Chen
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Wanqin Zhu
- Liaoning Academy of Microbial Sciences, Chaoyang 122000, China; (J.L.); (L.G.); (S.Z.); (F.C.); (W.Z.)
| | - Yu Li
- Engineering Research Center of Chinese Ministry of Education for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
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Jeennor S, Anantayanon J, Panchanawaporn S, Chutrakul C, Vongsangnak W, Laoteng K. Efficient de novo production of bioactive cordycepin by Aspergillus oryzae using a food-grade expression platform. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:253. [PMID: 38071331 PMCID: PMC10710699 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02261-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) is an important bioactive compound in medical and healthcare markets. The drawbacks of commercial cordycepin production using Cordyceps spp. include long cultivation periods and low cordycepin yields. To overcome these limitations and meet the increasing market demand, the efficient production of cordycepin by the GRAS-status Aspergillus oryzae strain using a synthetic biology approach was developed in this study. RESULTS An engineered strain of A. oryzae capable of cordycepin production was successfully constructed by overexpressing two metabolic genes (cns1 and cns2) involved in cordycepin biosynthesis under the control of constitutive promoters. Investigation of the flexibility of carbon utilization for cordycepin production by the engineered A. oryzae strain revealed that it was able to utilize C6-, C5-, and C12-sugars as carbon sources, with glucose being the best carbon source for cordycepin production. High cordycepin productivity (564.64 ± 9.59 mg/L/d) was acquired by optimizing the submerged fermentation conditions. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a powerful production platform for bioactive cordycepin production by A. oryzae using a synthetic biology approach. An efficient and cost-effective fermentation process for cordycepin production using an engineered strain was established, offering a powerful alternative source for further upscaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Jeennor
- Industrial Bioprocess Technology Research Team, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Jutamas Anantayanon
- Industrial Bioprocess Technology Research Team, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Sarocha Panchanawaporn
- Industrial Bioprocess Technology Research Team, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Chanikul Chutrakul
- Industrial Bioprocess Technology Research Team, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Wanwipa Vongsangnak
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food, and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Kobkul Laoteng
- Industrial Bioprocess Technology Research Team, Functional Ingredients and Food Innovation Research Group, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
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Long L, Liu Z, Wang Y, Lin Q, Ding S, Li C, Deng C. High-level production of cordycepin by the xylose-utilising Cordyceps militaris strain 147 in an optimised medium. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 388:129742. [PMID: 37734485 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Cordycepin is an important active metabolite of Cordyceps militaris. Xylose, an attractive feedstock for producing chemicals through microbial fermentation, cannot be effectively utilised by many reported C. militaris strains. Herein, a xylose-utilising C. militaris strain 147 produced the highest level of cordycepin (3.03 g/L) in xylose culture. Xylose, alanine, and ammonium citrate were determined as the main affecting factors on the cordycepin production using a Plackett-Burman design. The combination of these factors was optimised using response surface methodology, and the maximal 6.54 g/L of cordycepin was produced by the fungus in the optimal medium. Transcriptome analysis revealed that xylose utilisation upregulated the transcriptional levels of genes participating in purine and energy metabolisms in the fungus, which may facilitate the formation of precursors for cordycepin biosynthesis. This investigation provides new insights into the efficient production of cordycepin and is conducive to the valorisation of biomass rich in xylose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangkun Long
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Efficient Processing and Utilisation of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Jiangsu Key Lab for the Chemistry & Utilisation of Agricultural and Forest Biomass, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Efficient Processing and Utilisation of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Efficient Processing and Utilisation of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Qunying Lin
- Nanjing Institute for the Comprehensive Utilisation of Wild Plants, Nanjing, 211111, China.
| | - Shaojun Ding
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Centre for Efficient Processing and Utilisation of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Jiangsu Key Lab for the Chemistry & Utilisation of Agricultural and Forest Biomass, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Chuanhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Applied Mycological Resources and Utilisation, Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Research Centre of Edible Fungi; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Chunying Deng
- Guizhou Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550009, China.
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Song Z, Lin W, Duan X, Song L, Wang C, Yang H, Lu X, Ji X, Tian Y, Liu H. Increased Cordycepin Production in Yarrowia lipolytica Using Combinatorial Metabolic Engineering Strategies. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:780-787. [PMID: 36791366 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
As the first nucleoside antibiotic discovered in fungi, cordycepin, with its various biological activities, has wide applications. At present, cordycepin is mainly obtained from the natural fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris. However, due to long production periods, low yields, and low extraction efficiency, harvesting cordycepin from natural C. militaris is not ideal, making it difficult to meet market demands. In this study, an engineered Yarrowia lipolytica YlCor-18 strain, constructed by combining metabolic engineering strategies, achieved efficient de novo cordycepin production from glucose. First, the cordycepin biosynthetic pathway derived from C. militaris was introduced into Y. lipolytica. Furthermore, metabolic engineering strategies including promoter, protein, adenosine triphosphate, and precursor engineering were combined to enhance the synthetic ability of engineered strains of cordycepin. Fermentation conditions were also optimized, after which, the production titer and yields of cordycepin in the engineered strain YlCor-18 under fed-batch fermentation were improved to 4362.54 mg/L and 213.85 mg/g, respectively, after 168 h. This study demonstrates the potential of Y. lipolytica as a cell factory for cordycepin synthesis, which will serve as the model for the green biomanufacturing of other nucleoside antibiotics using artificial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqi Song
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Lin
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiyu Duan
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Song
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Chong Wang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Yang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyang Lu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Ji
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Tian
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
| | - Huhu Liu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, No. 1 Nongda Road, Changsha 410128, People's Republic of China
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