Exogenous trehalose increased polysaccharide content and altered their properties and metabolism in Lentinula edodes mycelium.

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Trehalose promotes polysaccharide synthesis in edible mushrooms, yet its effect on the antioxidant activity and structure of Lentinula edodes mycelium polysaccharides is still unknown. We investigated the effect of trehalose on the antioxidant activity of L. edodes polysaccharides and expression of genes related to L. edodes polysaccharide metabolism. Five g/L trehalose increased the biomass and polysaccharide content of L. edodes mycelium by over 50 % compared to the control. Trehalose increased the superoxide anion radical scavenging rate of L. edodes polysaccharides up to 80.9 %. Compared to the control, the molecular weight of polysaccharides was lower, and their glucuronic acid content was higher in the trehalose treatment. RNA-seq analysis revealed 1045 differentially expressed genes in the trehalose treatment compared to the control. Genes related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway, starch and sucrose metabolic pathway, and the pentose and glucuronate interconversions pathway were differentially expressed, possibly accounting for the increased polysaccharide synthesis. In summary, exogenous trehalose has potential to increase the biosynthesis and biological activity of L. edodes polysaccharides.