Identification and Reconstitution of the First Two Enzymatic Steps for the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Meroterpenoids from <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> (Lion’s Mane Mushroom)

<i>Hericium erinaceus</i> (Lion’s Mane mushroom) is widely consumed for its numerous reported benefits for brain health. A growing body of evidence suggests that these benefits are likely attributable to aromatic compounds contained in its fruiting bodies, including the meroterpenoids he...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Riccardo Iacovelli, Fons Poon, Kristina Haslinger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/23/5576
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:<i>Hericium erinaceus</i> (Lion’s Mane mushroom) is widely consumed for its numerous reported benefits for brain health. A growing body of evidence suggests that these benefits are likely attributable to aromatic compounds contained in its fruiting bodies, including the meroterpenoids hericenones. Here, we report the identification and reconstitution of the first two steps of the biosynthetic pathway of hericenones via heterologous expression of the polyketide synthase HerA and the carboxylic acid reductase HerB in <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i>. Furthermore, we investigated a putative prenyltransferase that might be responsible for the following biosynthetic step. Ongoing efforts to reconstitute the full pathway will enable large-scale production of hericenones and other meroterpenoids in heterologous hosts.
ISSN:1420-3049