Recent insights into glucans biosynthesis and engineering strategies in edible fungi

Abstract

Fungal α/β-glucans have significant importance in cellular functions including cell wall structure, host-pathogen interactions and energy storage, and wide application in high-profile fields, including food, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals. Fungal species and their growth/developmental stages result in a diversity of glucan contents, structures and bioactivities. Substantial progresses have been made to elucidate the fine structures and functions, and reveal the potential molecular synthesis pathway of fungal α/β-glucans. Herein, we review the current knowledge about the biosynthetic machineries, including: precursor UDP-glucose synthesis, initiation, elongation/termination and remodeling of α/β-glucan chains, and molecular regulation to maximally produce glucans in edible fungi. This review would provide future perspectives to biosynthesize the targeted glucans and reveal the catalytic mechanism of enzymes associated with glucan synthesis, including: UDP-glucose pyrophosphate phosphorylases (UGP), glucan synthases, and glucanosyltransferases in edible fungi.

Keywords:

• Edible fungi
• glucan
• biosynthesis pathway
• molecular regulation
• glucan synthase

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funding from Natural Science Foundation of China [32172187, 31771961] and Science & Technology Platform Construction Program of Jiangxi Province.