Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids

<i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>, a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, produces important pharmacological compounds such as triterpenoids, but at levels significantly lower than those required for medical use. This study investigated the effects of various concentrations of Ca<s...

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Main Authors: Zengcai Liu, Ying Yu, Shiyuan Wang, Li Zou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/3/238
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author Zengcai Liu
Ying Yu
Shiyuan Wang
Li Zou
author_facet Zengcai Liu
Ying Yu
Shiyuan Wang
Li Zou
author_sort Zengcai Liu
collection DOAJ
description <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>, a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, produces important pharmacological compounds such as triterpenoids, but at levels significantly lower than those required for medical use. This study investigated the effects of various concentrations of Ca<sup>2+</sup> on <i>S. baumii</i> mycelial growth and the heterologous biosynthesis of <i>S. baumii</i> triterpenoids. Under induction by 10 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>, the growth rate (0.39 cm/d) and biomass (4.48 g/L) of <i>S. baumii</i> mycelia were 1.03% and 10.05% higher than those in the 0 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>-treatment group, respectively. In contrast, 200 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup> significantly inhibited the growth rate and biomass of the mycelia. Notably, the total triterpenoid content reached its peak (17.71 mg/g) in the 200 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>-treatment group, with a significant increase in the Ca<sup>2+</sup> content (3869.97 µg/g) in the mycelia. Subsequently, the differential metabolic pathways and related genes between the <i>S. baumii</i> groups were examined using transcriptomic analysis. The results indicated that the increase in the growth rate and biomass of <i>S. baumii</i> mycelia was primarily due to elevated soluble sugar content, whereas the growth inhibition was associated with the toxic effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The observed differences in triterpenoid content were mainly attributed to the activation of the terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway and the <i>AACT</i> gene. Finally, the <i>AACT</i> gene was cloned and transformed into yeast cells, thus creating strain Sc-AA1. Upon treatment at the optimal Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration, the squalene content of strain Sc-AA1 reached 0.78 mg/g, 2.89-fold higher than that in the control group. These findings are significant for the heterologous biosynthesis of triterpenoids from <i>S. baumii</i>. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of producing triterpenoids in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> and provides a foundation for future optimization toward achieving industrially relevant yields.
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spelling doaj-art-c586d48695ef4cbfaf4e19f712fc721d2025-08-20T02:11:11ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-03-0111323810.3390/jof11030238Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its TriterpenoidsZengcai Liu0Ying Yu1Shiyuan Wang2Li Zou3College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China<i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>, a fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine, produces important pharmacological compounds such as triterpenoids, but at levels significantly lower than those required for medical use. This study investigated the effects of various concentrations of Ca<sup>2+</sup> on <i>S. baumii</i> mycelial growth and the heterologous biosynthesis of <i>S. baumii</i> triterpenoids. Under induction by 10 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>, the growth rate (0.39 cm/d) and biomass (4.48 g/L) of <i>S. baumii</i> mycelia were 1.03% and 10.05% higher than those in the 0 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>-treatment group, respectively. In contrast, 200 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup> significantly inhibited the growth rate and biomass of the mycelia. Notably, the total triterpenoid content reached its peak (17.71 mg/g) in the 200 mM Ca<sup>2+</sup>-treatment group, with a significant increase in the Ca<sup>2+</sup> content (3869.97 µg/g) in the mycelia. Subsequently, the differential metabolic pathways and related genes between the <i>S. baumii</i> groups were examined using transcriptomic analysis. The results indicated that the increase in the growth rate and biomass of <i>S. baumii</i> mycelia was primarily due to elevated soluble sugar content, whereas the growth inhibition was associated with the toxic effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The observed differences in triterpenoid content were mainly attributed to the activation of the terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway and the <i>AACT</i> gene. Finally, the <i>AACT</i> gene was cloned and transformed into yeast cells, thus creating strain Sc-AA1. Upon treatment at the optimal Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration, the squalene content of strain Sc-AA1 reached 0.78 mg/g, 2.89-fold higher than that in the control group. These findings are significant for the heterologous biosynthesis of triterpenoids from <i>S. baumii</i>. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of producing triterpenoids in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> and provides a foundation for future optimization toward achieving industrially relevant yields.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/3/238calcium<i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>triterpenoid<i>AACT</i> geneheterologous biosynthesis<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>
spellingShingle Zengcai Liu
Ying Yu
Shiyuan Wang
Li Zou
Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
Journal of Fungi
calcium
<i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>
triterpenoid
<i>AACT</i> gene
heterologous biosynthesis
<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>
title Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
title_full Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
title_fullStr Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
title_full_unstemmed Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
title_short Calcium-Induced Regulation of <i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i> Growth and the Biosynthesis of Its Triterpenoids
title_sort calcium induced regulation of i sanghuangporus baumii i growth and the biosynthesis of its triterpenoids
topic calcium
<i>Sanghuangporus baumii</i>
triterpenoid
<i>AACT</i> gene
heterologous biosynthesis
<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/3/238
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AT yingyu calciuminducedregulationofisanghuangporusbaumiiigrowthandthebiosynthesisofitstriterpenoids
AT shiyuanwang calciuminducedregulationofisanghuangporusbaumiiigrowthandthebiosynthesisofitstriterpenoids
AT lizou calciuminducedregulationofisanghuangporusbaumiiigrowthandthebiosynthesisofitstriterpenoids