GPI-Anchored Protein Homolog Functions Directly in Morphological Development of .

is a famous edible and medicinal fungus in China and Asia. The molecular basis of morphogenesis and synnemal formation needs to be understood in more detail because this is the main source of biomass production in . In the present study, a fruiting body formation-related gene with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring protein (GPI-Ap) gene homolog was identified by screening random insertion mutants. Targeted deletion of resulted in abnormal formation of synnemata, impairing aerial hyphae growth and sporulation. The IcFBR1 mutants were defective in the utilization of carbon sources with reduced polysaccharide contents and the regulation of amylase and protease activities. Transcriptome analysis of Δ showed that deletion influenced 49 gene ontology terms, including 23 biological processes, 9 molecular functions, and 14 cellular components. IcFBR1 is therefore necessary for regulating synnemal development, secondary metabolism, and nutrient utilization in this important edible and medicinal fungus. This is the first report illustrating that the function of IcFBR1 is associated with the synnemata in .