Major genes expression of storage carbohydrate metabolism in fruiting body formation of Pholiota microspora

Both mannitol, trehalose, glycogen and β-d-glucan play the key roles in the regulation of glucose metabolism and carbon storage, but biosynthesis and degradation pathways of them have not been comprehensively described in saprotrophic mushroom Pholiota microspora and it remains to be determined whether they are fully operational. In this study, the genome sequence of P. microspora was explored to construct a comprehensive genome-wide inventory of pathways involved in mannitol, trehalose, glycogen and β-d-glucan metabolism. Several genes and gene families were annotated. The transcriptional regulation of these pathways were studied using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in mycelium, primordia and fruiting bodies. Transcriptional profiling revealed significant changes in genes expression during P. microspora fruiting body formation. Further detailed studies on carbohydrates metabolism are likely to clarify the functions of mannitol, trehalose, glycogen and β-d-glucan in the development of fruit bodies in P. microspora.