An Efficient and Stable PEG-Mediated Transformation System for Medicinal Fungus Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis: Optimization and Functional Validation

TL;DR

This study develops a reliable method for genetic transformation in the medicinal fungus Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis, enabling future research into its biology and drug production.

Contribution

An optimized and stable PEG-mediated transformation system for Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis is established for the first time.

Findings

Optimal protoplast yield was achieved using 1.5% lywallzyme 1 and 1.5% snailase at 34 °C for 3.5 h.

A transformation efficiency of 45.5% was achieved with stable plasmid integration over four generations.

The system enabled functional gene analysis using the endogenous gpd1 promoter for exogenous gene expression.

Abstract

Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis is an important medicinal fungus with considerable pharmaceutical and economic value. However, its industrial and scientific utilization has been severely limited by the lack of an efficient genetic transformation system, largely due to limited genomic information and wild growth. In this study, we established an efficient and stable plasmid transformation system within O. xuefengensis protoplasts mediated by PEG. To overcome low protoplast yield and transformation efficiency, key factors influencing protoplast preparation including enzyme composition and concentration, fungal age, and digestion conditions were systematically optimized. The optimal protocol involved digesting 4-day-old mycelia with a mixture of 1.5% lywallzyme 1 and 1.5% snailase at 34 °C and 130 rpm for 3.5 h, yielding at least 9.42 × 107 CFU/mL protoplasts. Protoplast regeneration was significantly enhanced in PY medium supplemented with 0.6 M mannitol. Under these optimized conditions, a transformation efficiency of 45.5% was achieved, with stable plasmid integration confirmed over four successive generations. Furthermore, the transformation system was successfully applied to functional gene characterization by driving exogenous gene expression using the endogenous gpd1 promoter. This study provides a foundational platform for functional gene analysis and paves the way for further elucidation of growth and development mechanisms and metabolic engineering in O. xuefengensis.

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