Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress

<i>Cordyceps militaris</i>, a model species in the genus Cordyceps, is widely distributed globally and is known for its significant medicinal value. It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to enhance immunity, alleviate fatigue, and treat tumors, among other therapeutic purpos...

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Main Authors: Yang Yang, Jingjing Huang, Gangqiang Dong, Xuebo Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/461
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author Yang Yang
Jingjing Huang
Gangqiang Dong
Xuebo Hu
author_facet Yang Yang
Jingjing Huang
Gangqiang Dong
Xuebo Hu
author_sort Yang Yang
collection DOAJ
description <i>Cordyceps militaris</i>, a model species in the genus Cordyceps, is widely distributed globally and is known for its significant medicinal value. It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to enhance immunity, alleviate fatigue, and treat tumors, among other therapeutic purposes. Here, we successfully assembled a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) level genome of <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome is 32.67 Mb in size, with an N50 of 4.70 Mb. Gene prediction revealed a total of 10,749 predicted genes in the <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 genome, with a gene completeness of 99.20%. Phylogenetic analysis showed the evolutionary relationship between <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 and other <i>Cordyceps</i> species, suggesting that the divergence between this strain and <i>C. militaris</i> ATCC 34164 occurred approximately 1.36 Mya. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses identified 842 differentially expressed genes and 2052 metabolites that were significantly altered under light stress, primarily involving key pathways related to amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Joint analysis of genes and metabolites revealed 79 genes coding for enzymes associated with the synthesis of adenine and adenosine, with the expression of 52 genes being upregulated, consistent with the accumulation trends of adenine and adenosine. Four gene clusters related to the synthesis of cordycepin were identified, with a significant upregulation of cns3 (<i>FUN_003263</i>), suggesting that light stress may promote cordycepin biosynthesis. This comprehensive analysis not only provides new insights into the genomics, metabolomics, and functional gene research of <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 but also offers a potential biological foundation for understanding the synthesis mechanisms of cordycepin and its efficient production.
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spelling doaj-art-e6115d3fb3e043b393941129c71e635a2025-08-20T03:27:19ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-06-0111646110.3390/jof11060461Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light StressYang Yang0Jingjing Huang1Gangqiang Dong2Xuebo Hu3Institute for Medicinal Plants, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaAmway (China) Botanical R&D Center, Wuxi 214115, ChinaAmway (China) Botanical R&D Center, Wuxi 214115, ChinaInstitute for Medicinal Plants, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China<i>Cordyceps militaris</i>, a model species in the genus Cordyceps, is widely distributed globally and is known for its significant medicinal value. It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to enhance immunity, alleviate fatigue, and treat tumors, among other therapeutic purposes. Here, we successfully assembled a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) level genome of <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C technologies. The assembled genome is 32.67 Mb in size, with an N50 of 4.70 Mb. Gene prediction revealed a total of 10,749 predicted genes in the <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 genome, with a gene completeness of 99.20%. Phylogenetic analysis showed the evolutionary relationship between <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 and other <i>Cordyceps</i> species, suggesting that the divergence between this strain and <i>C. militaris</i> ATCC 34164 occurred approximately 1.36 Mya. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses identified 842 differentially expressed genes and 2052 metabolites that were significantly altered under light stress, primarily involving key pathways related to amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Joint analysis of genes and metabolites revealed 79 genes coding for enzymes associated with the synthesis of adenine and adenosine, with the expression of 52 genes being upregulated, consistent with the accumulation trends of adenine and adenosine. Four gene clusters related to the synthesis of cordycepin were identified, with a significant upregulation of cns3 (<i>FUN_003263</i>), suggesting that light stress may promote cordycepin biosynthesis. This comprehensive analysis not only provides new insights into the genomics, metabolomics, and functional gene research of <i>C. militaris</i> CH1 but also offers a potential biological foundation for understanding the synthesis mechanisms of cordycepin and its efficient production.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/461<i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1telomere-to-telomerephylogenetic evolutioncomparative genomicstranscriptome and metabolomecordycepin biosynthesis
spellingShingle Yang Yang
Jingjing Huang
Gangqiang Dong
Xuebo Hu
Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
Journal of Fungi
<i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1
telomere-to-telomere
phylogenetic evolution
comparative genomics
transcriptome and metabolome
cordycepin biosynthesis
title Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
title_full Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
title_fullStr Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
title_full_unstemmed Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
title_short Telomere-to-Telomere Assembly of the <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1 Genome and Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Cordycepin Biosynthesis Under Light Stress
title_sort telomere to telomere assembly of the i cordyceps militaris i ch1 genome and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provide new insights into cordycepin biosynthesis under light stress
topic <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> CH1
telomere-to-telomere
phylogenetic evolution
comparative genomics
transcriptome and metabolome
cordycepin biosynthesis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/6/461
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