Comparative transcriptomics discloses the regulatory impact of carbon/nitrogen fermentation on the biosynthesis of Monascus kaoliang pigments

Carbon and nitrogen play a fundamental role in the production of Monascus pigments. However, their effects on pigment biosynthesis remain undetermined. In this study, we found that Monascus kaoliang produces pigments via liquid fermentation using glycerol and peptone as suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Comparative transcriptomic profiling was performed using RNA sequencing. It indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of carbon were enriched using amino acids and carbohydrates via the transport and metabolism pathways, respectively. DEGs of nitrogen were enriched only using general functional prediction pathways. These data provide a comprehensive interpretation of the linkage between primary and secondary metabolisms in M. kaoliang. Moreover, they provide insights into the effects of various substances involved in secondary metabolism.