biostudies-literatureChen YNational Natural Science Foundation of China-Yunnan Joint FundNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae13066https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9898655biostudies-literatureUnknown9(2)Tryptophan and its derived metabolites have been assumed to play important roles in the development and survival of organisms. However, the links of tryptophan and its derived metabolites to temperature change remained largely cryptic. Here we presented that a class of prenyl indole alkaloids biosynthesized from tryptophan dramatically accumulated in thermophilic fungus <i>Thermomyces dupontii</i> under cold stress, in which lipid droplets were also highly accumulated and whose conidiophores were highly build-up. Concurrently, disruption of the key <i>NRPS</i> gene involved in the biosynthesis of prenyl indole alkaloids, resulted in decreased lipid and shrunken mitochondria but enlarged vacuoles. Moreover, the Fe³⁺ and superoxide levels in <i>ΔNRPS</i> were significantly increasHeliyonTryptophan-centered metabolic alterations coincides with lipid-mediated fungal response to cold stress.PMC98986552186701821977086Yang XLi SZhang KHe JWu QChen YZhang LGou JNiu XfalseTryptophan-centered metabolic alterations coincides with lipid-mediated fungal response to cold stress.Tryptophan and its derived metabolites have been assumed to play important roles in the development and survival of organisms. However, the links of tryptophan and its derived metabolites to temperature change remained largely cryptic. Here we presented that a class of prenyl indole alkaloids biosynthesized from tryptophan dramatically accumulated in thermophilic fungus <i>Thermomyces dupontii</i> under cold stress, in which lipid droplets were also highly accumulated and whose conidiophores were highly build-up. Concurrently, disruption of the key <i>NRPS</i> gene involved in the biosynthesis of prenyl indole alkaloids, resulted in decreased lipid and shrunken mitochondria but enlarged vacuoles. Moreover, the Fe³⁺ and superoxide levels in <i>ΔNRPS</i> were significantly increas2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2026-05-28T19:00:28.353Z2025-02-19T00:13:54.166ZS-EPMC98986553674756410.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13066