Metabolic profiling of two white-rot fungi during 4-hydroxybenzoate conversion reveals biotechnologically relevant biosynthetic pathways
White-rot fungi are efficient organisms for the mineralization of lignin and polysaccharides into CO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>O. Despite their biotechnological potential, WRF metabolism remains underexplored. Building on recent findings regarding the utilization of lignin-related aromatic compounds as carbon sources by WRF, we aimed to gain further insights into these catabolic processes. For this purpose, Trametes versicolor and Gelatoporia subvermispora were incubated in varying conditions - in static and agitation modes and different antioxidant levels - during the conversion of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (a lignin-related compound) and cellobiose. Their metabolic responses were assessed via transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, and microscopy analyses. These analyses reveal the significant impact of cultivation conditions on sugar and aromatic catabolic pathways, as well as lipid composition of the fungal mycelia. Additionally, this study identifies biosynthetic pathways for the production of extracellular fatty acids and phenylpropanoids - both products with relevance in biotechnological applications - and provides insights into carbon fate in nature.
Authors
- Lummy Maria Oliveira Monteiro
- Samuel Purvine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2257-2400)
- Bryon S. Donohoe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2272-5059)
- Davinia Salvachúa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0799-061X)
- Carlos del Cerro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1693-3895)
- Meagan Burnet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6747-468X)
- Allison Yaguchi
- Lye Meng Markillie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8275-4882)
- Trent R. Northen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8404-3259)
- Benjamin P. Bowen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1368-3958)
- Thomas V. Harwood (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3236-0637)
- Kelsey J. Ramirez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5114-742X)
- Hugh Mitchell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0143-8461)
- Teeratas Kijpornyongpan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5452-6276)
- Kent Bloodsworth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7596-1565)
- Andrew K. Benson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6330-0252)
- Katherine Louie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6787-7558)
- Anna K. Bennett
Institutions
- National Laboratory of the Rockies (US)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
- Joint Genome Institute (US)
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2025-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07640-9
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Biochemical and biochemical processes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.40
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Joint Genome Institute
- Office of Science
- Biological and Environmental Research