A multilocus phylogeny of Hericium fungi in Canada and their production of Erinacine A
Abstract
The genus Hericium contains species demonstrated to produce bioactive secondary metabolites with potential medical applications. Previous phylogenies of the genus Hericium based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region struggle to support monophyly at the species level, hindering biochemical research efforts. Using concatenated sequence data from ITS, the large ribosomal subunit (LSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and RNA polymerase subunit 2 (rpb2) genes, Hericium species from North America and key taxa from Europe were resolved as monophyletic groups. Several species of Hericium from North America also demonstrated production of erinacine A, a secondary metabolite with nerve-growth factor stimulatory activity, and liquid culture conditions were modified for enhanced erinacine A biosynthesis in each species. Together with clear distinction of the species in Hericium, the findings presented herein will contribute to natural products research and medical applications of these edible and medicinally valuable mushrooms.