A Combination of Transcriptome and Enzyme Activity Analysis Unveils Key Genes and Patterns of Corncob Lignocellulose Degradation by under Cultivation Conditions.

The cultivation of , a species of edible mushroom, heavily relies on the availability of wood resources serving as substrate for the growth of the species. To ensure the sustainable development of the industry and optimize the utilization of corncob as a substrate, this study sought to investigate the potential use of corncob as a substrate for the cultivation of . The purpose of this study was to explore the utilization of corncob lignocellulose by at the mycelium, primordium, and fruiting stages, by specifically examining the expression profiles of both carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and the transcriptome of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relevant to corncob biomass degradation. The results revealed 10,979, 10,630, and 11,061 DEGs at the mycelium, primordium, and fruiting stages, respectively, while 639 DGEs were identified as carbohydrate-active enzymes. Of particular interest were 46 differentially expressed CAZymes genes that were associated directly with lignocellulose degradation. Furthermore, the study found that A. heimuer exhibited adaptive changes that enabled it to effectively utilize the cellulose present in the corncob. These changes were observed primarily at the primordium and fruiting stages. Key genes involved in lignocellulose degradation were also identified, including , , , and at the mycelium stage, , , , and at the primordium stage, and , , , , and at the fruiting stage. This study found that lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) played a crucial role in the degradation of corncob cellulose, further highlighting the complexity of the molecular mechanisms involved in the degradation of lignocellulose biomass by . The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of to degrade corncob biomass, with implications for the efficient utilization of lignocellulose resources. The findings from this study may facilitate the development of innovative biotechnologies for the transformation of corncob biomass into useful products.