Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of mycelial cells treated with Tween 80: differentially expressed protein related to enhanced metabolite production.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified 40 differentially expressed proteins which explained the mechanisms underlying the stimulatory effect of Tween 80 for exopolysaccharide production in the mycelium of an edible mushroom Pleurotus tuber-regium. The up-regulation of fatty acid synthase alpha subunit FasA might promote the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids and their incorporation into the mycelial cell membranes, increasing the membrane permeability. A down-regulation of Phospholipase D1 and an up-regulation of Hypothetical protein PGUG_02954 might mediate signal transduction between the mycelial cells and the extracellular stimulus (Tween 80). The down-regulated ATP-binding cassette transporter protein might function as pumps to extrude exopolysaccharide out of the cells that lead to a significant increase in its production. The present results explained how stimulatory agents like Tween 80 can increase mycelial cell membrane permeability to enhance the production of useful extracellular metabolites by submerged fermentation.