UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene affects mycelia growth and polysaccharide synthesis of Grifola frondosa

Carbon starvation drives biosynthesis of high mannose-composition polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum

Polysaccharides with high mannose composition exhibit favorable antitumor activity, but there is currently a lack of well-defined and practical approaches to efficiently manufacture this type of polysaccharide. This study explores the impact of carbon utilization on exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and monosaccharide composition in Ganoderma lucidum, aiming to promote the biosynthesis of polysaccharides with high mannose composition. Sucrose supply significantly increased the mannose proportion to 35.52 % in EPS via carbon starvation. To enhance polysaccharide production with high mannose composition, a joint control by carbon starvation and glucose feeding strategy was developed, achieving 0.42 g/L EPS and 18.67 % mannose with 5 g/L glucose supplementation on day 6 in an initial 10 g/L glucose medium. Using this approach, G. lucidum mycelia exhibited normal growth patterns similar to those in sucrose culture. Essentially, carbon starvation upregulated key genes in the GDP-mannose synthesis pathway, including phosphomannose isomerase (PMI), phosphomannose mutase (PMM), and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP), by over 2-fold, facilitating high mannose-composition polysaccharide synthesis in both sucrose and carbon starvation conditions. This work provides insights into the biosynthesis of structurally specific polysaccharides in G. lucidum and offers a foundation for developing polysaccharides with diverse applications in food, medicine, and other fields.

Recent insights into glucans biosynthesis and engineering strategies in edible fungi

Fungal α/β-glucans have significant importance in cellular functions including cell wall structure, host-pathogen interactions and energy storage, and wide application in high-profile fields, including food, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. Fungal species and their growth/developmental stages result in a diversity of glucan contents, structures and bioactivities. Substantial progresses have been made to elucidate the fine structures and functions, and reveal the potential molecular synthesis pathway of fungal α/β-glucans. Herein, we review the current knowledge about the biosynthetic machineries, including: precursor UDP-glucose synthesis, initiation, elongation/termination and remodeling of α/β-glucan chains, and molecular regulation to maximally produce glucans in edible fungi. This review would provide future perspectives to biosynthesize the targeted glucans and reveal the catalytic mechanism of enzymes associated with glucan synthesis, including: UDP-glucose pyrophosphate phosphorylases (UGP), glucan synthases, and glucanosyltransferases in edible fungi.

Unveiling the potential of red koji polysaccharides: biosynthesis, extraction, and multifaceted biological activities

Red koji polysaccharides, derived from the fermentation of Monascus, have been recognized for their health-enhancing properties. This article reviews their structural characteristics, biosynthesis pathways, and biological activities. It emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in fermentation and the optimization of extraction methods for scalable production. The significance of exploring the molecular mechanisms involved in their biosynthesis is also highlighted to enhance yield and efficiency. Research indicates that red koji polysaccharides possess diverse biological functions, beneficial for pharmaceutical applications due to their health benefits and minimal toxicity. The review points out the necessity for more detailed studies on key enzymes and genes in biosynthesis to improve production methods. It also identifies the current challenges in production scalability and extraction efficiency. Furthermore, while these polysaccharides show potential in pharmaceuticals, their clinical efficacy and mechanism of action in human subjects require further investigation. The review briefly explores potential structural modifications to improve their biological activities. The review concludes that red koji polysaccharides hold significant untapped potential, particularly in drug formulation. Future research should focus on overcoming current production and application challenges, including conducting clinical trials to validate their efficacy and exploring structural modifications for enhanced therapeutic benefits. This comprehensive understanding of red koji polysaccharides paves the way for their expanded application in the pharmaceutical industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigation of the Inhibitory Effects of Illicium verum Essential Oil Nanoemulsion on Fusarium proliferatum via Combined Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis

Fusarium proliferatum is the main pathogen that causes Panax notoginseng root rot. The shortcomings of strong volatility and poor water solubility of Illicium verum essential oil (EO) limit its utilization. In this study, we prepared traditional emulsion (BDT) and nanoemulsion (Bneo) of I. verum EO by ultrasonic method with Tween-80 and absolute ethanol as solvents. The chemical components of EO, BDT, and Bneo were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the antifungal activity and mechanism were compared. The results show that Bneo has good stability and its particle size is 34.86 nm. The contents of (-) -anethole and estragole in Bneo were significantly higher than those in BDT. The antifungal activity against F. proliferatum was 5.8-fold higher than BDT. In the presence of I. verum EO, the occurrence of P. notoginseng root rot was significantly reduced. By combining transcriptome and metabolomics analysis, I. verum EO was found to be involved in the mutual transformation of pentose and glucuronic acid, galactose metabolism, streptomycin biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and other metabolic pathways of F. proliferatum, and it interfered with the normal growth of F. proliferatum to exert antifungal effects. This study provide a theoretical basis for expanding the practical application of Bneo.

Current Advances in the Functional Genes of Edible and Medicinal Fungi: Research Techniques, Functional Analysis, and Prospects

Functional genes encode various biological functions required for the life activities of organisms. By analyzing the functional genes of edible and medicinal fungi, varieties of edible and medicinal fungi can be improved to enhance their agronomic traits, growth rates, and ability to withstand adversity, thereby increasing yield and quality and promoting industrial development. With the rapid development of functional gene research technology and the publication of many whole-genome sequences of edible and medicinal fungi, genes related to important biological traits have been mined, located, and functionally analyzed. This paper summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different functional gene research techniques and application examples for edible and medicinal fungi; systematically reviews the research progress of functional genes of edible and medicinal fungi in biological processes such as mating type, mycelium and fruit growth and development, substrate utilization and nutrient transport, environmental response, and the synthesis and regulation of important active substances; and proposes future research directions for functional gene research for edible and medicinal fungi. The overall aim of this study was to provide a valuable reference for further promoting the molecular breeding of edible and medicinal fungi with high yield and quality and to promote the wide application of edible and medicinal fungi products in food, medicine, and industry.

Recent advances in the biosynthesis of fungal glucan structural diversity

Glucans are the most abundant class of macromolecule polymers in fungi, which are commonly found in Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Fungal glucans are not only essential for cell integrity and function but also crucial for the immense industrial interest in high value applications. They present a variety of structural characteristics at the nanoscale due to the high regulation of genes and the involvement of stochastic processes in synthesis. However, although recent findings have demonstrated the genes of glucans synthesis are relatively conserved across diverse fungi, the formation and organization of diverse glucan structures is still unclear in fungi. Here, we summarize the structural features of fungal glucans and the recent developments in the mechanisms of glucans biosynthesis. Furthermore, we propose the engineering strategies of targeted glucan synthesis and point out the remaining challenges in the synthetic process. Understanding the synthesis process of diverse glucans is necessary for tailoring high value glucan towards specific applications. This engineering strategy contributes to enable the sustainable and efficient production of glucan diversity.

A newly discovered glycosyltransferase gene UGT88A1 affects growth and polysaccharide synthesis of Grifola frondosa

Grifola frodosa polysaccharides, especially β-D-glucans, possess significant anti-tumor, antioxidant and immunostimulatory activities. However, the synthesis mechanism remains to be elucidated. A newly discovered glycosyltransferase UGT88A1 was found to extend glucan chains in vitro. However, the role of UGT88A1 in the growth and polysaccharide synthesis of G. frondosa in vivo remains unclear. In this study, the overexpression of UGT88A1 improved mycelial growth, increased polysaccharide production, and decreased cell wall pressure sensitivity. Biomass and polysaccharide production decreased in the silenced strain, and the pressure sensitivity of the cell wall increased. Overexpression and silencing of UGT88A1 both affected the monosaccharide composition and surface morphology of G. frondosa polysaccharides and influenced the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from different strains. The messenger RNA expression of glucan synthase (GLS), UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (UGP), and UDP-xylose-4-epimerase (UXE) related to polysaccharide synthesis, and genes related to cell wall integrity increased in the overexpression strain. Overall, our study indicates that UGT88A1 plays an important role in the growth, stress, and polysaccharide synthesis of G. frondosa, providing a reference for exploring the pathway of polysaccharide synthesis and metabolic regulation. KEY POINTS: •UGT88A1 plays an important role in the growth, stress response, and polysaccharide synthesis in G. frondosa. •UGT88A1 affected the monosaccharide composition, surface morphology and antioxidant activity of G. frondosa polysaccharides. •UGT88A1 regulated the mRNA expression of genes related to polysaccharide synthesis and cell wall integrity.

Grifola frondosa polysaccharides: A review on structure/activity, biosynthesis and engineering strategies

Polysaccharides are the main polymers in edible fungi Grifola frondosa, playing a crucial role in the physiology and representing the healthy benefits for humans. Recent efforts have well elucidated the fine structures and biological functions of G. frondosa polysaccharides. The recently-rapid developments and increasing availability in fungal genomes also accelerated the better understanding of key genes and pathways involved in biosynthesis of G. frondosa polysaccharides. Herein, we provide a brief overview of G. frondosa polysaccharides and their activities, and comprehensively outline the complex process, genes and proteins corresponding to G. frondosa polysaccharide biosynthesis. The regulation strategies including strain improvement, process optimization and genetic engineering were also summarized for maximum production of G. frondosa polysaccharides. Some remaining unanswered questions in describing the fine synthesis machinery were also pointed out to open up new avenues for answering the structure-activity relationship and improving polysaccharide biosynthesis in G. frondosa. The review hopefully presents a reasonable full picture of activities, biosynthesis, and production regulation of polysaccharide in G. frondosa.

Selenium-molybdenum interactions reduce chromium toxicity in Nicotiana tabacum L. by promoting chromium chelation on the cell wall

Chromium (Cr) is a hazardous heavy metal that negatively affects animals and plants. The micronutrients selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo) have been widely shown to alleviate heavy metal toxicity in plants. However, the molecular mechanism of Cr chelation on the cell wall by combined treatment with Se and Mo has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of Se-Mo interactions on the subcellular distribution of Cr (50 µM) and on cell wall composition, structure, functional groups and Cr content, in addition to performing a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome. Our results showed that the cell walls of shoots and roots accumulated 51.0% and 65.0% of the Cr, respectively. Furthermore, pectin in the cell wall bound 69.5%/90.2% of the Cr in the shoots/roots. Se-Mo interactions upregulated the expression levels of related genes encoding galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT), UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (UGP), and UDP-glucose-4-epimerase (GALE), involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, thereby increasing pectin and cellulose levels. Moreover, combined treatment with Se and Mo increased the lignin content and cell wall thickness by upregulating the expression levels of genes encoding cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), peroxidase (POX) and phenylalanine amino-lyase (PAL), involved in lignin biosynthesis. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results showed that Se + Mo treatment (in combination) increased the number of carboxylic acid groups (-COOH) groups, thereby enhancing the Cr chelation ability. The results not only elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of Se-Mo interactions in mitigating Cr toxicity but also provide new insights for phytoremediation and food safety.

Increased production and anti-senescence activity of exopolysaccharides in Ganoderma lingzhi by co-overexpression of β-1,3-glucan synthase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase

A β-1,3-glucan synthase gene (gls) was cloned and overexpressed in Ganoderma lingzhi. The content of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) in G. lingzhi overexpressing gls was 22.36 mg/100 mg dry weight (DW), 19 % higher than those in the wild-type (WT) strain. Overexpression of gls did not affect the expression of the phosphoglucomutase gene and the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (ugp) in the polysaccharide biosynthesis. The gls and ugp were then simultaneously overexpressed in G. lingzhi for the first time. The combined overexpression of these two genes increased the IPS content and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production to a greater extent than the overexpression of gls independently. The maximum IPS content of the overexpressed strain was 24.61 mg/100 mg, and the maximum EPS production was 1.55 g/L, 1.31- and 1.50-fold higher than that in the WT strain, respectively. Moreover, the major EPS fractions from the overexpression strain contained more glucose (86.7 % and 72.5 %) than those from the WT strain (78.2 % and 62.9 %). Furthermore, the major fraction G+U-0.1 from the overexpression strain exhibited stronger antioxidant and anti-senescence activities than the WT-0.1 fraction from the WT strain. These findings will aid in the hyperproduction and application of Ganoderma polysaccharides and facilitate our understanding of mushroom polysaccharide biosynthesis.

CryoEM analysis of the essential native UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Aspergillus nidulans reveals key conformations for activity regulation and function

Invasive aspergillosis is one of the most serious clinical invasive fungal infections, resulting in a high case fatality rate among immunocompromised patients. The disease is caused by saprophytic molds in the genus Aspergillus, including Aspergillus fumigatus, the most significant pathogenic species. The fungal cell wall, an essential structure mainly composed of glucan, chitin, galactomannan, and galactosaminogalactan, represents an important target for the development of antifungal drugs. UDP (uridine diphosphate)-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) is a central enzyme in the metabolism of carbohydrates that catalyzes the biosynthesis of UDP-glucose, a key precursor of fungal cell wall polysaccharides. Here, we demonstrate that the function of UGP is vital for Aspergillus nidulans (AnUGP). To understand the molecular basis of AnUGP function, we describe a cryoEM structure (global resolution of 3.5 Å for the locally refined subunit and 4 Å for the octameric complex) of a native AnUGP. The structure reveals an octameric architecture with each subunit comprising an N-terminal α-helical domain, a central catalytic glycosyltransferase A-like (GT-A-like) domain, and a C-terminal (CT) left-handed β-helix oligomerization domain. AnUGP displays unprecedented conformational variability between the CT oligomerization domain and the central GT-A-like catalytic domain. In combination with activity measurements and bioinformatics analysis, we unveil the molecular mechanism of substrate recognition and specificity for AnUGP. Altogether, our study not only contributes to understanding the molecular mechanism of catalysis/regulation of an important class of enzymes but also provides the genetic, biochemical, and structural groundwork for the future exploitation of UGP as a potential antifungal target. IMPORTANCE Fungi cause diverse diseases in humans, ranging from allergic syndromes to life-threatening invasive diseases, together affecting more than a billion people worldwide. Increasing drug resistance in Aspergillus species represents an emerging global health threat, making the design of antifungals with novel mechanisms of action a worldwide priority. The cryoEM structure of UDP (uridine diphosphate)-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans reveals an octameric architecture displaying unprecedented conformational variability between the C-terminal oligomerization domain and the central glycosyltransferase A-like catalytic domain in the individual protomers. While the active site and oligomerization interfaces are more highly conserved, these dynamic interfaces include motifs restricted to specific clades of filamentous fungi. Functional study of these motifs could lead to the definition of new targets for antifungals inhibiting UGP activity and, thus, the architecture of the cell wall of filamentous fungal pathogens.

First report on the regulation and function of carbon metabolism during large sclerotia formation in medicinal fungus Wolfiporia cocos

The medicinal fungus Wolfiporia cocos colonizes and then grows on the wood of Pinus species, and utilizes a variety of Carbohydrate Active Enzymes (CAZymes) to degrades wood for the development of large sclerotia that is mostly built up of beta-glucans. Some differentially expressed CAZymes were revealed by comparisons between the mycelia cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and sclerotia formed on pine logs in previous studies. Here, different profile of expressed CAZymes were revealed by comparisons between the mycelia colonization on pine logs (Myc.) and sclerotia (Scl.b). To further explore the regulation and function of carbon metabolism in the conversion of carbohydrates from Pine species by W. cocos, the transcript profile of core carbon metabolism was firstly analyzed, and it was characterized by the up-regulated expression of genes in the glycolysis pathway (EMP) and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) in Scl.b, as well as high expression of genes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) in both Myc. and Scl.b stages. The conversion between glucose and glycogen and between glucose and β-glucan was firstly identified as the main carbon flow in the differentiation process of W. cocos sclerotia, with a gradual increase in the content of β-glucan, trehalose and polysaccharide during this process. Additionally, gene functional analysis revealed that the two key genes (PGM and UGP1) may mediate the formation and development of W. cocos sclerotia possibly by regulating β-glucan synthesis and hyphal branching. This study has shed light on the regulation and function of carbon metabolism during large W. cocos sclerotium formation and may facilitate its commercial production.

Comparative Proteomic Analyses within Three Developmental Stages of the Mushroom White Hypsizygus marmoreus

(1) Background: The Hypsizygus marmoreus is a popular edible mushroom in East Asian markets. In a previous study, we reported the proteomic analyses of different developmental stages of H. marmoreus, from primordium to mature fruiting body. However, the growth and protein expression changes from scratching to primordium are unclear. (2) Methods: A label-free LC-MS/MS quantitative proteomic analysis technique was adopted to obtain the protein expression profiles of three groups of samples collected in different growth stages from scratching to the tenth day after scratching. The Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis and principal component analysis were performed to reveal the correlation among samples. The differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were organized. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to divide the DEPs into different metabolic processes and pathways. (3) Results: From the 3rd day to the 10th day after scratching, mycelium recovered gradually and formed primordia. Compared with the Rec stage, 218 highly expressed proteins were identified in the Knot stage. Compared with the Pri stage, 217 highly expressed proteins were identified in the Rec stage. Compared with the Pri stage, 53 highly expressed proteins were identified in the Knot stage. A variety of the same highly expressed proteins were identified in these three developmental stages, including: glutathione S-transferase, acetyltransferase, importin, dehydrogenase, heat-shock proteins, ribosomal proteins, methyltransferase, etc. The key pathways in the development of H. marmoreus are metabolic process, catabolic process, oxidoreductase activity and hydrolase activity. DEPs in the Knot or Pri stages compared with the Rec stage were significantly decreased in the metabolic-, catabolic- and carbohydrate-related process; and the oxidoreductase, peptidase, and hydrolase activity, which can serve as targets for selectable molecular breeding in H. marmoreus. A total of 2000 proteins were classified into eight different modules by WGCNA, wherein 490 proteins were classified into the turquoise module. (4) Conclusions: Generally, from the 3rd day to the 10th day after scratching, mycelium recovered gradually and formed primordia. Importin, dehydrogenase, heat-shock proteins, ribosomal proteins, transferases were all highly expressed in these three developmental stages. DEPs in the Rec stage compared with the Knot or Pri stages were significantly enriched in the metabolic-, catabolic- and carbohydrate-related process; and in oxidoreductase, peptidase and hydrolase activities. This research contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of the development changes before primordium of H. marmoreus.

The function of uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase in the lyophilization-stress response of Lactobacillus acidophilus

Purpose

Uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) plays an important role in glucose metabolism, catalyzing the reversible formation and decomposition of UDP-glucose (UDPG). In previous work, we found that UGPase is a key enzyme in lyophilization response for Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus). However, its function and regulatory mechanism in the freeze-drying stress response are unknown. Herein, the effect of UGPase on freeze-drying survival rate of Staphylococcus carnosus (S. carnosus) was studied.

Methods

In this work, the genes LBA1719 encoding UGPase of L. acidophilus ATCC4356 were inserted into plasmid pMG-36e to construct the recombinant plasmid pMG-LBA1719 and then overexpressed in S. carnosus; the control group was S. carnosus transformed by pMG-36e. The lyophilization-survival rate of overexpressed S. carnosus was determined, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by transcriptome to disclose the mechanism of LBA1719 in regulating the lyophilization-survival rate.

Results

Compared with the control group, the UGPase activities of the overexpressed S. carnosus increased by 35.49%, while the lyophilization-survival rates decreased by 11.17% (p < 0.05). Overexpression of LBA1719 decreased the expression of genes gapA, gapB, and pgiA in carbohydrate metabolism and dapA, dapB, and dapE in amino acid metabolism, significantly changing the physiological characteristics of S. carnosus and decreasing its lyophilization-survival rate.

Conclusion

In summary, overexpression of UGPase accelerated the growth rate of S. carnosus and reduced its lyophilization-survival rates. GapA, gapB, pgiA, dapA, dapB, and dapE are vital to lyophilization protection in lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These findings provide new theoretical basis for analyzing the regulatory and molecular mechanisms of lyophilization resistance in LABs.

Enhancement of polysaccharides production using microparticle enhanced technology by Paraisaria dubia

Background

Polysaccharides are important active ingredients in Ophiocordyceps gracilis with many physiological functions. It can be obtained from the submerged fermentation by the anamorph (Paraisaria dubia) of Ophiocordyceps gracilis. However, it was found that the mycelial pellets of Paraisaria dubia were dense and increased in volume in the process of fermentation, and the center of the pellets was autolysis due to the lack of nutrient delivery, which extremely reduced the yield of polysaccharides. Therefore, it is necessary to excavate a fermentation strategy based on morphological regulation for Paraisaria dubia to promote polysaccharides accumulation.

Results

In this study, we developed a method for enhancing polysaccharides production by Paraisaria dubia using microparticle enhanced technology, talc microparticle as morphological inducer, and investigated the enhancement mechanisms by transcriptomics. The optimal size and dose of talc were found to be 2000 mesh and 15 g/L, which resulted in a high polysaccharides yield. It was found that the efficient synthesis of polysaccharides requires an appropriate mycelial morphology through morphological analysis of mycelial pellets. And, the polysaccharides synthesis was found to mainly rely on the ABC transporter-dependent pathway revealed by transcriptomics. This method was also showed excellent robustness in 5-L bioreactor, the maximum yields of intracellular polysaccharide and exopolysaccharides were 83.23 ± 1.4 and 518.50 ± 4.1 mg/L, respectively. And, the fermented polysaccharides were stable and showed excellent biological activity.

Conclusions

This study provides a feasible strategy for the efficient preparation of cordyceps polysaccharides via submerged fermentation with talc microparticles, which may also be applicable to similar macrofungi.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01733-w.

Transcription factor GlbHLH regulates hyphal growth, stress resistance, and polysaccharide biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) participate in many physiological and cellular processes in eukaryotes. However, their functions remain unclear in the macro basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum). In this study, a gene encoding bHLH TF, GlbHLH, was identified in G. lucidum. The knockdown of GlbHLH by RNA interference reduced hyphal growth, hyphal branching, and resistant to osmotic, oxidative, and cell wall stress. The content of cell wall components β-1,3 glucan and chitin and the expression of their synthesis genes were decreased in the GlbHLH knockdown strains. The knockdown of GlbHLH led to an increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species by decreasing the enzyme activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, the production of intracellular polysaccharides and extracellular polysaccharides was greatly decreased in the GlbHLH mutants. These results suggested that GlbHLH is involved in hyphal growth, stress response, and polysaccharide biosynthesis in G. lucidum.

Yeast Synthetic Biology for the Production of Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides

The fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (goji berry) is used as traditional Chinese medicine, and has the functions of immune regulation, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, anti-diabetes, and anti-fatigue. One of the main bioactive components is L. barbarum polysaccharide (LBP). Nowadays, LBP is widely used in the health market, and it is extracted from the fruit of L. barbarum. The planting of L. barbarum needs large amounts of fields, and it takes one year to harvest the goji berry. The efficiency of natural LBP production is low, and the LBP quality is not the same at different places. Goji berry-derived LBP cannot satisfy the growing market demands. Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used for the biosynthesis of some plant natural products. Recovery of LBP biosynthetic pathway in L. barbarum and expression of them in engineered S. cerevisiae might lead to the yeast LBP production. However, information on LBP biosynthetic pathways and the related key enzymes of L. barbarum is still limited. In this review, we summarized current studies about LBP biosynthetic pathway and proposed the strategies to recover key enzymes for LBP biosynthesis. Moreover, the potential application of synthetic biology strategies to produce LBP using engineered S. cerevisiae was discussed.