Combined transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of heat tolerance of Le023M, a mutant in Lentinulaedodes

Lentinula edodes, one of the most highly regarded edible mushrooms in China, is susceptible to damage from high temperatures. However, a mutant strain derived from L. edodes, known as Le023M, has shown exceptional thermotolerance. Compared to the original strain Le023, Le023M exhibited accelerated mycelial recovery following heat stress. Through RNA-seq analysis, the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be associated with functions such as “protein refolding”, “protein unfolding”, “protein folding”, and “response to heat”, all of which are closely linked to heat shock proteins. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results revealed significant accumulation of heat shock-related genes in Le023M under heat stress. GC-MS analysis indicated elevated levels of trehalose, aspartate, and glutamate in Le023M when subjected to heat stress. The highly expressed genes involved in these metabolic pathways were predominantly found in Le023M. Collectively, these findings highlight the following: (i) the crucial role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the thermo-resistant mechanisms of Le023M; (ii) the potential of trehalose accumulation in Le023M to enhance mycelium resistance to heat stress; and (iii) the induction of aspartate and glutamate accumulation in response to heat stress. These results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the thermotolerance of Le023M, providing valuable insights for further understanding and improving heat stress response in L. edodes. The findings also highlight the potential applications of Le023M in the cultivation and production of L. edodes under high-temperature conditions.