Light-responsive transcription factor CmOzf integrates conidiation, fruiting body development, and secondary metabolism in <i>Cordyceps militaris</i>.

ABSTRACT: Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungus, produces diverse bioactive compounds. Conidial fitness and secondary metabolite levels critically influence its morphogenesis and entomopathogenicity, yet the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, disruption of Cmozf severely impaired conidial development, significantly reducing conidial production. The Cmozf-deficient mutant (ΔCmozf) exhibited elevated polysaccharide and carotenoid accumulation in mycelia and accelerated fruiting body formation. Notably, Cmwc-1, a blue-light photoreceptor gene, was upregulated in ΔCmozf, whereas Cmozf expression was markedly suppressed in the ΔCmwc-1 mutant. Overexpressing Cmozf in ΔCmwc-1 restored conidial yield but had no

SUBMITTER: Chen J-f 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671173 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature