Differential Gene Expression Network in Terpenoid Synthesis of <i>Antrodia cinnamomea</i> in Mycelia and Fruiting Bodies

<i>Antodia cinnamomea</i>, a precious brown-rot fungus endemic to Taiwan, has pharmaceutical applications due to its diverse array of metabolites. The terpenoids found in <i>A. cinnamomea</i> contribute to its most important bioactivities. We identified several terpenoid compounds in <i>A. cinnamomea</i> and revealed that their content in mycelium and fruiting body were significantly different. Using next-generation sequencing and an in-house transcriptome database, we identified several terpene synthase (TPS) candidates. After sequence analysis and functional characterization, 10 out of 12 candidates were found to have single or multiple terpene synthesis functions. Most of the terpenoid compounds were found to confer important bioactivities. RT-PCR results showed a positive correlation between terpene synthase expression pattern and terpenoid content. In addition, we identified several modification enzyme candidates that may be involved in the postmodification of terpenoid compounds with a genomic DNA scaffold, and a putative genetic network