Molecular cloning and expression analysis of mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase in

Mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase (MVD) plays important roles in triterpenoid biosynthesis via the mevalonate pathway. A novel MVD gene was isolated and identified in Antrodia cinnamomea (Ac-mvd). The full-length cDNA contained an open reading frame with a length of 1,209 bp and encoded a 402-amino acid polypeptide with a molecular mass of 43.3 kDa and a theoretical pI of 8.23. As incubation time was prolonged for 28 days, the triterpenoid content in the mycelium gradually increased and reached 39.192 ± 2.025 mg/g; the triterpenoid content of the fruiting body grew in the hay of Cinnamomum kanehirae (ACFB-CK), was 49.391 ± 2.675 mg/g, which was significantly different from other samples (P < 0.05). qRT-PCR revealed that the highest expression levels of Ac-mvd in the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea were detected on the 7th day. The expression levels gradually decreased as culture time was extended from 14 days to 42 days