Extracellular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in

is a parasitic edible fungus with a variety of metabolically active ingredients. The main active ingredient, extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), shows favourable application prospects in prevention and treatment of certain diseases. EPS extracted from different parts of various species can be used in health foods or medicinal preparations because of the structural diversity and multiple bioactivities. In terms of the complexity of composition and structure, researchers have speculated on the anabolic pathways of EPSs and the genes involved in the synthesis process. Studies to increase the yield of polysaccharides are limited because the synthesis pathways and anabolic regulation mechanisms of exopolysaccharide remain unknown. This review summarises the current researches in the yield of polysaccharides. A mechanism for the biosynthesis of polysaccharides was proposed by referring to the polysaccharide synthesis in other species. Furthermore, we also discuss the future perspective and ongoing challenges of EPS in uses of health foods and pharmaceutics.