Toxic mushroom production is related to horizontal gene transfer

Highly toxic mushrooms can kill people because they contain toxins. The reporter was informed on the 21st that a research result of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences found that highly toxic mushrooms belonging to different families can synthesize the same and creepy "Amanita toxin peptide", which originated from the genetic level that occurred in the early years. Transfer events.

毒蘑菇

(The picture has nothing to do)

According to Luo Hong, an associate researcher at the Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Biogeography in East Asia, Chinese Academy of Sciences, toxins are produced by mushrooms due to the need for self-survival. They can drive away insects or other animals that are harmful to them, allowing offspring to have spores. Opportunity matures and can be spread and reproduced. As a result, some mushrooms have evolved efficient "toxin production lines," enhancing their ability to survive and adapt. As early as more than 100 years ago, it has been found that the most toxic amanita, Helicosum, and Pleurotus spp. Are far from each other, and belong to three different families in taxonomy, but they all Can synthesize the same toxoid-amanita toxin peptide. However, there are divergent opinions on how the "amanita toxin peptide production line" of these three types of highly toxic mushrooms evolved.

Recently, the research team of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that the mechanism for the synthesis of amanita toxin is far beyond people's imagination. Luo Hong told the Sci-tech Daily reporter that the ancestors of these poisonous mushrooms had an experience of coexisting in the same habitat in the early years. They used the horizontal gene transfer method to synthesize the toxin gene of Pleurotus ostreatus or the highly toxic mushroom close to Pleurotus ostreatus. "A copycat" was added to its own genes. This mechanism is very complicated. It may take tens of thousands of years for other organisms to evolve.

The study also found that the genes from the "cottage" were realized in steps from Pleurotus ostreatus, Heliosporium umbellata, and goose extract. Goose extract finally obtained this toxin synthesis "secret recipe", but it has evolved to synthesize new toxins. The ability of it, therefore, its toxicity exceeds that of Heliosporium umbellatum and Pleurotus ostreatus, transforming into a "poison king" and becoming the culprit of 90% mushroom poisoning deaths.

This study provides a basic scientific basis for the scientific analysis and prevention of the poisoning mechanism of highly toxic mushrooms, as well as the precise mining and utilization of toxin resources based on genome, genetic engineering and other means in the future. The research results have been published online in the "Journal of the International Association of Fungi".

Oblong Wall Tile Stickers

Waterproof Tile Stickers,Tile Decals,Kitchen Wall Tile Stickers,3D Tile Stickers

Fancy Tiles Co,. Ltd. , https://www.tilefancy.com