Cmfhp Gene Mediates Fruiting Body Development and Carotenoid Production in Cordyceps militaris

摘要

fruiting bodies contain a variety of bioactive components that are beneficial to the human body. However, the low yield of fruiting bodies and the low carotenoid content in have seriously hindered the development of the industry. To elucidate the developmental mechanism of the fruiting bodies of and the biosynthesis mechanism of carotenoids, the function of the flavohemoprotein-like gene of was identified for the first time. The gene was knocked out by the split-marker method, and the targeted gene deletion mutant Δ was obtained. An increased nitric oxide (NO) content, no fruiting body production, decreased carotenoid content, and reduced conidial production were found in the mutant Δ . These characteristics were restored when the gene expression cassette was complemented into the Δ strain by the -mediated transformation method. Nonetheless, the gene had no significant effect on the mycelial growth rate of . These results indicated that the gene regulated the biosynthesis of NO and carotenoids, the development of fruiting bodies, and the formation of conidia. These findings potentially pave the way to reveal the developmental mechanism of fruiting bodies and the biosynthesis mechanism of carotenoids in .