Molecular Omics Unveils the Antimicrobial Mechanism of UV-LED-Induced Chitosan Composite Film Against Penicillium itali-cum

ABSTRACT:

Penicillium italicum (P. italicum) is a primary pathogen responsible for postharvest decay in citrus fruits, resulting in substantial economic losses. Chitosan and titanium dioxide and silver (CTS&TiO2&Ag) composite film solutions activated by combined UV and LED light represent innovative anti-fungal technology that demonstrates high efficiency and safety. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to reveal the inhibitory capacity of a UV-LED-induced CTS&TiO2&Agfilm solution against P. italicum , showing that treatment significantly affected gene expres-sion and metabolite levels. At the transcriptomic level, 3120, 2601, 2543, 161, and 171 dif-ferentially expressed genes(DEGs) were identified at various time points, increasing as the induction time was extended. Notably, the combination of UV and LED red light treatment had a more pronounced impact on P. italicum. The research also identified several enriched pathways related to carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, indicating disruptions in essential cellular functions. ABC transporter synthesis represented the main affected pathway from a metabolomic perspective. The downregulation of betaine suggested that the efflux mechanisms were inhibited, which compromised cell viability. Additionally, lower glucose-6-phosphate levels triggered glycolysis, TCA cycle abnormalities and autophagy. A decrease in ornithine reflected amino acid metabolism disorders, affecting protein synthesis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and disrupting information transduction, which was consistent with the transcriptomic autophagy results. Studies have shown that UV-LED-induced CTS&TiO2&Ag film solutions disrupt P. italicum cell-wall integrity, suppress ribosome bio-genesis, induce autophagy, and inhibit growth, offering theoretical support for novel fruit preservation technology development.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - alternating - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS14711 | MetaboLights | 2026-06-08

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights