Recent advances in Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: Structures/bioactivities, biosynthesis and regulation

Ganoderma lucidum is a well-known functional food-grade and medicinal mushroom with 2000-year history for promoting health and longevity in Asian countries. G. lucidum polysaccharides are the most investigated biological components due to their attracting nutritional and medicinal values. The increasing efforts have also attempted to understand the biosynthesis pathways of G. lucidum polysaccharides and the roles of involved key genes based on the recent rapid advances and increasing availability in G. lucidum genome. On this basis, the present study presented the updated progresses on structural characteristics, bioactivities/potential mechanisms, and complex biosynthesis process/associated key genes of G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) in the past 5 years. The recent process optimization and genetic engineering to maximally produce GLPs were also summarized. The future trends and challenges to answer the structure-activity relationship, biosynthesis and molecular regulation of GLPs are also proposed.