Erika Calla-Quispe1, Hammerly Lino Fuentes-Rivera1,2, Pablo Ramírez2, Carlos Martel1,3, Alfredo J Ibañez1. 1. Instituto de Ciencias Ómicas y Biotecnología Aplicada (ICOBA), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), Av. Universitaria 1801, San Miguel 15088, Lima, Peru. 2. Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), Av. Germán Amézaga 375, Lima 15081, Peru. 3. Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), Av. Arenales 1256, Jesús María 15072, Lima, Peru.
Abstract
Fungi are a highly diverse group of heterotrophic organisms that play an important role in diverse ecological interactions, many of which are chemically mediated. Fungi have a very versatile metabolism, which allows them to synthesize a large number of still little-known chemical compounds, such as soluble compounds that are secreted into the medium and volatile compounds that are chemical mediators over short and long distances. Mass spectrometry (MS) is currently playing a dominant role in mycological studies, mainly due to its inherent sensitivity and rapid identification capabilities of different metabolites. Furthermore, MS has also been used as a reliable and accurate tool for fungi identification (i.e., biotyping). Here, we introduce the readers about fungal specialized metabolites, their role in ecological interactions and provide an overview on the MS-based techniques used in fungal studies. We particularly present the importance of sampling techniques, strategies to reduce false-positive identification and new MS-based analytical strategies that can be used in mycological studies, further expanding the use of MS in broader applications. Therefore, we foresee a bright future for mass spectrometry-based research in the field of mycology.
Fungi are a highly diverse group of heterotrophic organisms that play an important role in diverse ecological interactions, many of which are chemically mediated. Fungi have a very versatile metabolism, which allows them to synthesize a lclass="Chemical">pan class="Chemical">argclass="Chemical">pan>e number of still little-known chemical compounds, such as soluble compounds that are secreted into the medium and volatile compounds that are chemical mediators over short and long distances. Mass spectrometry (MS) is currently playing a dominant role in mycological studies, mainly due to its inherent sensitivity and rapid identification caclass="Chemical">pabilities of different metabolites. Furthermore, MS has also been used as a reliable and accurate tool for fungi identification (i.e., biotyping). Here, we introduce the readers about fungal specialized metabolites, their role in ecological interactions and provide an overview on the MS-based techniques used in fungal studies. We particularly present the importance of sampling techniques, strategies to reduce false-positive identification and new MS-based analytical strategies that can be used in mycological studies, further expanding the use of MS in broader applications. Therefore, we foresee a bright future for mass spectrometry-based research in the field of mycology.