image: Functions of m6A in the mycelial growth of Sparassis latifolia. (a) Cycloleucine inhibits mycelial growth and biomass production of S. latifolia. (b) Identification of key m6A modified genes by meRIP-seq. (c) Genome-wide identification of m6A related genes in S. latifolia. Art by Chi Yang.
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Sparassis latifolia, also known as cauliflower mushroom, is a prized species in the field of edible fungi. In 2010, a research team from the Institute of Edible Mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, overcame key technical challenges and pioneered the industrial cultivation of S. latifolia in China. Following more than a decade of promotion and development, the cauliflower mushroom industry has begun to take shape. Nevertheless, a significant bottleneck remains—an excessively long production cycle of approximately 90 days, which substantially increases production costs and constrains further industrial upgrading.
Recent advances in RNA epigenetics have revealed that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, the most common chemical modification on RNA, acts as a critical "molecular switch" in fungal growth and development. Studies ranging from yeast to Aspergillus flavus have shown that m6a precisely regulates key biological processes, including hyphal growth and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. This leads to a key scientific question: can the growth of S. latifolia be "accelerated" by regulating m6A modification?
In the study, the team integrated transcriptomic with m6A methylome analyses to elucidate the inhibitory effects of cycloleucine on S. latifolia. The results demonstrate that cycloleucine treatment suppresses hyphal growth and biomass accumulation in S. latifolia, which is associated with a significant reduction in global RNA m6A levels. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (meRIP-seq) identified 67 differentially m6A-modified genes, including aif1 (apoptosis-inducing factor 1) and mfs1 (major facilitator superfamily transporter 1), suggesting their involvement in growth regulation. Genome-wide screening and expression detection revealed that EVM0008471-mediated m6A demethylation plays a potential role in controlling hyphal growth dynamics.
These new exciting results not only enhance industrial efficiency but also open new avenues for the genetic breeding of edible fungi.
Founders - Special Fund for Scientific Research in the Public Interest of Fujian Province (2025R1032003, 2022R1035003), Seed Industry Innovation and Industrialization Project of Fujian Province (zycxny2021011), and Science and Technology Innovation Team of Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CXTD2021016-2).
Article Title
Molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition of Sparassis latifolia mycelial growth by cycloleucine: a comprehensive transcriptomic and m6A methylome analysis
Article Publication Date
28-Feb-2026