ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Light in Fungi: Photoreception, Metabolism Regulation and Current Biotechnological Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2025 | Viewed by 986

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
Interests: laccase; wood degradation; microbiology; genomics; phylogenetics; fungal enzymes; light; enzymes in biotechnology; bioremediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sunlight is a very important environmental signal for every living organism, and it can be considered crucial for effective competition and survival in nature. In fungi, which are able to detect light stimuli via various protein receptors, light controls several processes, e.g., metabolic processes, developmental decisions, physiological adaptations, morphogenesis, the circadian clock and cellular stress response. Therefore, the reaction of fungi to a light signal is multidirectional and varies across fungal species. In recent years, it has been repeatedly proven that in response to light, fungi can change their global gene expression profile and, consequently, influence metabolism and numerous signal transduction pathways. Changes in response to light have been observed in the metabolism of many important metabolites and macromolecules. The research conducted so far in the field of fungal photobiology focuses on the physiological importance of light for fungi, as well as on the regulation of metabolism and enzyme activity by light and the possibility of using this property to improve biotechnological processes.

The proposed Special Issue will cover all aspects of the influence of light on fungi, with importance in the fields of biochemistry, genetics and biotechnology, and will highlight possible areas for development. At the same time, research or review papers contributing significantly to a better understanding of fungal photobiology and light-based regulation of metabolism, especially using “-omics” techniques and molecular methods, are highly welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to give greater value to the present project.

Dr. Anna Pawlik
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photoreceptor
  • opsin
  • white collar
  • phytochrome
  • cryptochrome
  • fungal photobiology
  • light regulation
  • metabolism
  • biotechnological processes
  • light signalling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 5061 KiB  
Article
Expanded Gene Regulatory Network Reveals Potential Light-Responsive Transcription Factors and Target Genes in Cordyceps militaris
by Paradee Buradam, Roypim Thananusak, Mattheos Koffas, Pramote Chumnanpuen and Wanwipa Vongsangnak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10516; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910516 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris, a fungus widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology, is recognized for its abundant bioactive compounds, including cordycepin and carotenoids. The growth, development, and metabolite production in various fungi are influenced by the complex interactions between regulatory cascades and [...] Read more.
Cordyceps militaris, a fungus widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and pharmacology, is recognized for its abundant bioactive compounds, including cordycepin and carotenoids. The growth, development, and metabolite production in various fungi are influenced by the complex interactions between regulatory cascades and light-signaling pathways. However, the mechanisms of gene regulation in response to light exposure in C. militaris remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify light-responsive genes and potential transcription factors (TFs) in C. militaris through an integrative transcriptome analysis. To achieve this, we reconstructed an expanded gene regulatory network (eGRN) comprising 507 TFs and 8662 regulated genes using both interolog-based and homolog-based methods to build the protein–protein interaction network. Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa were chosen as templates due to their relevance as fungal models and the extensive study of their light-responsive mechanisms. By utilizing the eGRN as a framework for comparing transcriptomic responses between light-exposure and dark conditions, we identified five key TFs—homeobox TF (CCM_07504), FlbC (CCM_04849), FlbB (CCM_01128), C6 zinc finger TF (CCM_05172), and mcrA (CCM_06477)—along with ten regulated genes within the light-responsive subnetwork. These TFs and regulated genes are likely crucial for the growth, development, and secondary metabolite production in C. militaris. Moreover, molecular docking analysis revealed that two novel TFs, CCM_05727 and CCM_06992, exhibit strong binding affinities and favorable docking scores with the primary light-responsive protein CmWC-1, suggesting their potential roles in light signaling pathways. This information provides an important functional interactive network for future studies on global transcriptional regulation in C. militaris and related fungi. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop