Thermomyces dupontii 2155 PKS30 Raw sequence reads
Up to now, regulation of iron homeostasis by metabolites has rarely been characterized. Moreover, no excretory mechanisms for iron in fungi have been reported. In this study, we found that Thermomyces dupontii can accumulate a large amount of anthraquinones under cold stress. The anthraquinones can release free ferric ions, reduce ferric to ferrous ions, and export ferrous ions, greatly enhancing thermophilic fungus to survive in the bio-system environment. Furthermore, a lack of the anthraquinones can inhibit oxygen-dependent ergosterol-mediated endocytosis, leading to an self-imposed isolation via oxygen-free ergosterene-mediated cell membranes. Importantly, the well-known anthraquinone compound Mitoxantraquinone for anticancer and the main terpenoid polycyclic aromatic metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine Danshen for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases both exhibit strong ferrous ions transport capabilities. Our findings provided new insights for developing potential therapies and drugs for iron homeostasis and drug delivery.