Integration of Physiological, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Reveals Molecular Mechanism of Paraisaria dubia Response to Zn(2+) Stress

Utilizing mycoremediation is an important direction for managing heavy metal pollution. Zn(2+) pollution has gradually become apparent, but there are few reports about its pollution remediation. Here, the Zn(2+) remediation potential of Paraisaria dubia, an anamorph of the entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps gracilis, was explored. There was 60% Zn(2+) removed by Paraisaria dubia mycelia from a Zn(2+)-contaminated medium. To reveal the Zn(2+) tolerance mechanism of Paraisaria dubia, transcriptomic and metabolomic were executed. Results showed that Zn(2+) caused a series of stress responses, such as energy metabolism inhibition, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense system disruption, autophagy obstruction, and DNA damage. Moreover, metabolomic analyses showed that the biosynthesis of some metabolites was affected against Zn(2+) stress. In order to improve the tolerance to Zn(2+) stress, the metabolic mechanism of metal ion transport, extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) synthesis, and microcycle conidiation were activated in P. dubia. Remarkably, the formation of microcycle conidiation may be triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. This study supplemented the gap of the Zn(2+) resistance mechanism of Paraisaria dubia and provided a reference for the application of Paraisaria dubia in the bioremediation of heavy metals pollution.