Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the differential response to cadmium stress of two Pleurotus fungi: Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus ostreatus

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2021-08, Vol.416, p.125814-125814, Article 125814
• Main Authors: Xu, Fei, Chen, Peng, Li, Hao, Qiao, Suyu, Wang, Jiaxin, Wang, Ying, Wang, Xitong, Wu, Bohan, Liu, Huangkang, Wang, Can, Xu, Heng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cadmium; Molecular mechanism; Pleurotus; Stress response
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125814

Pleurotus has great potential for heavy metal mycoremediation. Using comparative transcriptome analysis, the response of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cornucopiae under Cd contamination was evaluated. P. ostreatus and P. cornucopia accumulated 0.34 and 0.46 mg/g Cd in mycelium, respectively. Cd removal elevated with its concentration elevation, which reached 56.47% and 54.60% for P. ostreatus and P. cornucopia with Cd at 20 mg/L. Low-level Cd (≤ 1 mg/L) had no significant influence on either fungus, while varied response was observed under high-level Cd. 705 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in P. cornucopia at Cd1 and Cd20, whereas 12,551 DEGs in P. ostreatus. Differentially regulated functional categories and pathways were also identified. ATP-binding cassette transporters were involved in Cd transport in P. cornucopia, whereas the endocytosis and phagosome pathways were more enhanced in P. ostreatus. 26 enzymes including peroxisomal enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase were upregulated in P. ostreatus, whereas only cytosolic catalase was overexpressed in P. cornucopia, suggesting their different Cd detoxification pathways. Also, the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway involved in Cd resistance in both species instead of glutathione metabolism, although more active in P. ostreatus. These findings provided new insight into the molecular mechanism of mycoremediation and accumulator screening. [Display omitted] •First Cd exposure study of Pleurotus based on comparative transcriptome analysis.•Cd uptake in P. cornucopiae and P. ostreatus mycelium reached 0.34 and 0.46 mg/g.•As next of kin, P. cornucopiae and P. ostreatus showed varied response under Cd.•Molecular mechanism of Cd response and accumulation was explored.•Different Cd detoxification pathways were determined for two mushrooms.