Function of ceramide synthases on growth, ganoderic acid biosynthesis and sphingolipid homeostasis in Ganoderma lucidum

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 172; p. 112283
• Main Authors: Lu, Xiaoxiao, Xie, Chunqin, Wang, Yunxiao, Liu, Yongnan, Han, Jing, Shi, Liang, Zhu, Jing, Yu, Hanshou, Ren, Ang, Zhao, Mingwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2020
• Subjects: Ceramide synthases; Ceramides; Ganoderic acid biosynthesis; Ganoderma lucidum Ganodermataceae; Growth; Homeostasis; Reishi; Sphingolipid; Sphingolipids; Triterpenes; Sphingolipid; Ganoderic acid biosynthesis; Ganoderma lucidum Ganodermataceae; Growth; Ceramide synthases
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112283

Ceramide synthases (CERSs) catalyse an N-acyltransferase reaction using long-chain base (LCB) and fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) as substrates to synthesize ceramide (Cer), which is the backbone of all complex sphingolipids. In the present study, three CERSs (LAG1, LAG2 and LAG3) form Ganoderma lucidum were analysed. The silencing of lag1 by RNA interference reduced ganoderic acid biosynthesis and Cer and complex sphingolipids contents, which contain long-chain-fatty-acids (LCFAs, including C16 and C18). In contrast, the silencing of lag2 or lag3 did not result in obvious phenotypic and sphingolipid homeostasis changes, although the lag2/lag3 double-silenced mutants exhibited increased ganoderic acid biosynthesis as well as reduced growth, reduced Cer and complex sphingolipids contents, which contain very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs, including C22, C24 and C26). The results of the present study indicate that the three assayed CERSs have distinct physiological functions and substrate specificities in G. lucidum. [Display omitted] •The roles of three ceramide synthases (CERSs) LAG1, LAG2 and LAG3 on sphingolipid metabolism and the G. lucidum phenotype.•The roles of LAG2 and LAG3 are functionally redundant and different from the role of LAG1.•Cellular sphingolipid homeostasis mediated by CERS regulates growth and ganoderic acid biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum.