Combining Metabolomics and Metagenomics to Analyze the Biosynthetic Potential of Culturable Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Abstract

Plant endophytic fungi are reservoirs of novel bioactive natural products, which may be used directly or indirectly to treat numerous diseases. However, it is difficult to rapidly obtain the natural products of interest from enormous endogenic fungi by conventional chemical extraction and separation methods when the overall biosynthetic potential is unknown. There is a lack of systematic studies on the biosynthetic and metabolic potential of endophytic fungi of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Therefore, untargeted metabolomics and metagenomic binning technology were used in this study to analyze the biosynthetic potential of endophytic fungi isolated from S. miltiorrhiza, including 47 species and 166 strains of 24 genera. Metabolomics analysis showed that 3016 metabolites were annotated, involving multiple primary and secondary metabolic pathways. A total of 12 genera and 443 KEGG pathways were annotated in the metagenomic, involving the biosynthesis of amino acids, saccharides, lipids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polyketides. At the genus level, the biosynthesis and differences of amino acids, saccharides, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic acids and polyketides by endophytic fungi of S. miltiorrhiza were revealed. It provides a basis for quickly searching specific active substances from the endophytic fungi of S. miltiorrhiza and enhancing host plant productivity.