Physicochemical properties and acute toxicity studies of a lectin from the saline extract of the fruiting bodies of the shiitake mushroom,Lentinula edodes (Berk)

A lectin (LEL) was isolated from the fresh fruiting bodies of the shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes by a combination of gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and affinity chromatography on an N-acetyl-Dgalactosamine-Sepharose 4B column. Its molecular mass, as determined by gel filtration, was estimated to be 71, 000 Daltons and its structure is homotetrameric with subunit molecular weight of approximately 18,000 Daltons. LEL agglutinated non-specifically red blood cells from the human ABO system as well as rabbit erythrocytes and in haemagglutination inhibition assays, exhibited sugar-binding specificity toward N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. EDTA had no inhibitory effect on its haemagglutinating activity, which was stable up to 70°C and was not affected by changes in pH. The lectin had no covalently-linked carbohydrate and amino acid composition analysis revealed that it contained 124 amino acid residues and was rich in tyrosine, proline, phenylalanine, arginine, glutamic acid and cysteine. LEL did not cause mortality neither was it observed to alter the morphology of key organs when administered intraperitoneally at concentrations up to 10,000 mg kg^-1 body weight of mice.     

Effect of liquid mycelial culture used as a spawn on sawdust cultivation of shiitake (Lentinula edodes)

Mycelium of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) was cultured continuously in liquid medium. The liquid culture was carried out for the production of liquid spawn in the cultivation of this mushroom on synthetic sawdust substrate, and its performance was compared with that of the solid spawn. The initial colonization in culture bags was faster with the solid spawn than with the liquid spawn, but after this stage CO₂ production was higher with the liquid spawn than with the solid spawn. For harvesting sufficient amount of good quality mushrooms, 120 d of incubation in bags was needed with the solid spawn, but this was reduced to 90 d for the sawdust blocks using liquid spawn of less than 50 d old. If continuous culture of the liquid spawn was prolonged over 50 d, immature fruit-bodies or their initials formed during the period of bag incubation. The solid subcultures of the liquid spawns retained the fruiting characteristics acquired in the liquid culture. Liquid culture could be a useful tool for breeding of mushrooms.     

Effect of the physical properties ofLentinula edodes bedlogs on fruiting body production

Fruiting ofLentinula edodes was induced by soaking the bedlogs in water. It appeared that each bedlog had its own optimum water content for fruiting, and the value was affected by the extent of wood decay. A high content of free water, more than 20%, together with a high content of air volume, 32–43%, resulted in good fruiting. As less decayed young bedlogs have high contents of wood substance, it is difficult to obtain high contents of both free water and air volume. This is one reason why less decayed bedlogs produce less fruiting. Contribution No. 323 from the Tottori Mycological Institute.     

Correlation of the properties of several lignocellulosic substrates to the crop performance of the shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes

Two selected Lentinula edodes strains (S4080 and SIEF0231) were cultivated on oak-wood sawdust (OS), wheat straw (WS) and corn-cobs (CC) substrates in order to examine the influence of those residues on mycelium growth and on basidiomata production. For both strains, mycelial growth measurements conducted in race tubes demonstrated faster colonization of OS and WS media. Lag-phase and complete colonization periods were correlated to mycelium extension rates in the three substrates tested. Similar patterns of pH and electrical conductivity (Ec) changes were detected in all media and for all strains tested; the pH decreased steadily throughout the colonization process to reach values of 4.49–5.06; Ec increased by the end of mycelium colonization, and it presented the highest and lowest values in the WS and OS media respectively. In addition, a negative correlation was established between final salt content of the substrates and mycelium extension rates. Subjecting fully colonized substrates to a cold-shock treatment resulted in fruiting 58–65 days after inoculation in tubes; WS and CC promoted earlier sporophore initiation than OS. Monitoring CO₂ emissions by strain SIEF0231 in pilot-scale cultivation on synthetic blocks, revealed higher respiration rates from OS and CC than from WS, which were further correlated with substrate colonization rates. Among residues colonized by the same strain, WS appeared to promote earliness and crop productivity (BE 54.17%) by presenting shorter cropping periods and equal yield distribution among flushes, while on OS and CC maximum yields were obtained within the first two flushes. Moreover, heavier basidiomata were produced by WS and OS substrates.     

Characterization of a non-pigment producing Monascus purpureus mutant strain

A characterization of a non-pigment producing mutant Monascus purpureus M₁₂ compared with its parental strain Monascus purpureus Went CBS 109.07 has been performed aiming to investigate the relation between pigment biosynthesis and other characteristics of these fungi. A comparison has been made of morphological features, some physiological properties and biochemical activities of both strains. The albino mutant exhibits an anamorph life cycle, high conidia forming capability, slower radial growth rate and temperature sensitivity. The assimilation capacity of both strains for mono-, disaccharides and some alcohols is in the same range (Y_X/C 0.2 – 0.35), while the red strain has a higher fermentation capacity. In a selected albino mutant, the growth rate, metabolic activity and capacity for production of typical for Monascus fungi secondary metabolites were reduced considerably. Hydrolytic activity towards natural substrates expressed through glucoamylase and protease was approximately 10 fold lower in the non pigment producing strain (0.05 – 0.08 U/mg protein and 0.01 – 0.07 U/mg protein respectively) compared with the red one. Important qualitative differences between both strains was found in fatty acid composition and in the production of citrinin and monacolin. The mutant strain possessed C₁₇, C₂₀ and C₂₂ fatty acids and did not produce citrinin. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Improved fruiting of Coprinus atramentarius using cold-shock treatment during growth

Coprinus atramentarius was grown on two commercial composts at a constant 20°C or with a cold shock (25°C20°C) after 10 days. Cold shock was required for it to form fruiting bodies.The authors are with the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, School of Horticulture, Locked Bag 1, Richmond NSW 2753, Australia     

鲍姆氏层孔菌子实体中化合物的分离鉴定及其体外抑制肿瘤的研究

鲍姆氏层孔菌Phellinus baumii子实体中分离得到的化合物,通过波谱分析,分别鉴定为:麦角甾‐7,22‐二烯‐3β‐醇十五烷酸酯(1),星鱼甾醇(2),灵芝醇B(3),麦角甾‐6,22‐二烯‐3β,5α,8α‐三醇(4),灵芝酸DM(5)和Inoscavin A(6)。化合物1、2、3、4、5为首次从Phellinus baumii子实体中获得。对化合物进一步作了体外抗肿瘤实验,结果表明,化合物1、2、4、5、6对肿瘤细胞K562的增殖有不用程度的抑制作用,其抑制率IC50值分别为63.5、10.3、70.6、35.9和3.5μg/m L。化合物5对肿瘤细胞Hep G2也有明显的抑制作用,其抑制率IC50值为50.3μg/m L。     

Purification and characterization of a new ribonuclease from fruiting bodies of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.

A ribonuclease (RNase), possessing an N-terminal sequence disparate from those of ribonucleases from other mushrooms and previously isolated Pleuotus ostreatus RNases, was purified from the fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The N-terminal sequence of Pleurotus ostreatus RNase did not manifest homology even to a previously reported RNase from the same mushroom. The ribonuclease was adsorbed on CM-Sepharose and Mono S. It exhibited a molecular mass of 12 kDa in both sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration on Superdex 75. The ribonuclease displayed an activity of 11490 U/mg on yeast tRNA. The highest ribonuclease activity was exhibited toward poly U, followed by poly A and poly C. No activity was shown toward poly G. The optimal pH for its activity was 7 and the optimal temperature was 55 degrees C. It inhibited cell-free translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate with an IC50 of 240 nM.     

Characterization of a mutant Listeria monocytogenes strain expressing green fluorescent protein

To construct a recombinant strain of Listeria monocytogenes for the expression of heterologous genes, homologous recombination was utilized for insertional mutation, targeting its listeriolysin O gene (hly). The gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as the indicator of heterologous gene expression. The gene gfp was inserted into hly downstream from its promoter and signal sequence by an overlapping extension polymerase chain reaction, and was then cloned into the shuttle plasmid pKSV7 for allelic exchange with the L. monocytogenes chromosome. Homologous recombination was achieved by growing the electro-transformed L. monocytogenes cells on chloramphenicol plates at a non-permissive temperature. Sequencing analysis indicated correct insertion of the target gene in-frame with the signal sequence. The recombinant strain expressed GFP constitutively as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. The mutant strain L. monocytogenes hly-gfp lost its hemolytic activity as visualized on the blood agar or when analyzed with the culture supernatant samples. Such insertional mutation resulted in a reduced virulence of about 2 logs less than its parent strain L. monocytogenes 10403s as shown by the 50%-lethal-dose assays in the mouse and embryonated chicken egg models. These results thus demonstrate that mutated L. monocytogeues could be a potential carrier for the expression of heterologous passenger genes or could act as an indicator organism in the food industry.     

Structural characterization of a water-soluble beta-D-glucan from fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murr

A beta-D-glucan, Ab2-2N, was isolated from the hot-water extract of fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murr by ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. Its structure was investigated by composition analysis, methylation analysis, Smith degradation, mild hydrolysis, and NMR spectroscopy. It contains a (1-->6)-linked beta-D-glucopyranosyl backbone, with one side chain consisting of terminal and 3-substituted beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues attached at O-3 for every three backbone residues.     

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a polysaccharide from the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps militaris

The water-soluble crude polysaccharides were obtained from the fruiting bodies of cultured Cordyceps militaris by hot water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. The polysaccharides were successively purified by chromatography on DEAE–cellulose-52 and Sephacryl S-100 HR columns, giving main three polysaccharide fractions termed P50-1, P70-1, and P70-2. Structural features of P70-1 were investigated by a combination of chemical and instrumental analysis, such as partial acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation – Smith degradation, GC–MS, ¹³C NMR, HPAEC-PAD, and FT-IR. The results indicated that P70-1 has a backbone of (1 → 6)-linked β-d-mannopyranosyl residues, which occasionally branches at O-3. The branches were mainly composed of (1 → 4)-linked -d-glucopyranosyl and (1 → 6)-linked β-d-galactopyranosyl residues, and terminated with β-d-galactopyranosyl residues and -d-glucopyranosyl residues. In the in vitro antioxidant assay, P70-1 was found to possess hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 0.548 mg/ml.     

Characterization of a T-DNA insertion mutant for the protein import receptor atToc33 from chloroplasts

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the Toc34 receptor component of the chloroplast import machinery is encoded by two independent but highly homologous genes, atToc33 and atToc34. We have isolated a T-DNA insertion mutant of atToc33 which is characterized by a pale phenotype, due to reductions in the levels of photosynthetic pigments, and alterations in protein composition. The latter involve not only chloroplast proteins but also some cytosolic polypeptides, including 14-3-3 proteins which, among other functions, have been proposed to be cytosolic targeting factors for nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins. Within the chloroplast, many, though not all, proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus, as well as proteins not directly involved in photosynthesis, are found in significantly reduced amounts in the mutant. However, the accumulation of other chloroplast proteins is unaffected. This suggests that the atToc33 receptor is responsible for the import of a specific subset of nucleus-encoded chloroplast proteins. Supporting evidence for this conclusion was obtained by antisense repression of the atToc34 gene in the atToc33 mutant, which results in an exacerbation of the phenotype.Communicated by R. Hagemann     

一株白腐菌的食用安全性初步评价

本研究选取了一株白腐菌模式菌株进行了小鼠急性毒性试验、小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验以及小鼠精子畸形试验,以分析该白腐菌的食用安全性,为进一步应用白腐菌开发功能性食品提供数据支持。结果显示,小鼠经灌胃白腐菌,其LD50为6.76 g/kg(以白腐菌菌丝干重计)。微核试验和精子畸形试验结果均为阴性(P0.05)。试验结果表明,本次实验条件下,白腐菌对小鼠表现出一定的急性毒性,但未见遗传毒性,由此推断,在一定剂量范围内使用白腐菌作为食用材料是相对安全的,安全的剂量范围需要进一步扩大浓度梯度来确定。     

Isolation of a homothallic mutant in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lentinula edodes</Emphasis>

To obtain a homothallic mutant in Lentinula edodes, basidiospores derived from the common Bmut dikaryon (A1B1mut × A2B1mut) were treated with UV irradiation. Of a total of approximately 5000 monosporous cultures recovered, a single basidiospore isolate was found to produce the hyphae bearing clamp connections without mating. This mutant strain could form fruit bodies, and all its single basidiospore isolates developed into colonies with clamp connections. Such homothallic behaviors were transmitted from the mutant strain to the next generation. During the germination and following hyphal elongation in a single basidiospore of mutant strain, clamp connections were clearly detected in multicellular hyphae, which contained two nuclei in each cell. Their clamp connections were morphologically variable, viz., pseudo, abnormal, and true clamps. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) profiles among the basidiospore isolates of mutant strain were identical, indicating that the mutant strain produced isogenic basidiospore progeny. Contribution no. 385 from the Tottori Mycological Institute     

Characterization of a glucosylglycerol-phosphate-accumulating,salt-sensitive mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803

Salt-sensitive mutants of Synechocystis were obtained by random cartridge mutagenesis, and one mutant (mutant 4) was characterized in detail. The salt tolerance of mutant 4 was reduced to about 20% of that of the wild-type. This was caused by a defect in the biosynthetic pathway of the osmoprotective compound glucosylglycerol (GG). Salt-treated cells of mutant 4 accumulated the intermediate glucosylglycerol-phosphate (GG-P). Only low levels of phosphate-free GG were detected. The phosphorylated form of GG was not osmoprotective and seemed to be toxic. In vitro enzyme assays revealed that GG-P-phosphatase activity was completely absent in mutant 4, while GG-P-synthase remained unchanged. The integration site of the aphII cartridge in mutant 4 and the corresponding wild-type region was cloned and sequenced. Mutant 4 was complemented to salt resistance after transformation by the cloned wild-type region. The integration of the cartridge led to a deletion of about 1.1 kb of the chromosomal DNA. This affected two of the identified putative protein coding regions, orfII and stpA. The ORFII protein shows a high degree of similarity to the receiver domain of response regulator proteins. Related sequences were not found for StpA. We assume that in mutant 4, regulatory genes necessary for the process of salt adaptation in Synechocystis are impaired. Received: 12 January 1996 / Accepted: 28 May 1996     

Isolation and characterization of a temperature-sensitive conditional mutant of Escherichia coli altered for the control of phosphate-regulated proteins

We have identified a conditional mutation which confers a ple?otropic phenotype to Escherichia coli cells: no growth at temperature higher than 36 degrees C, an altered control of the synthesis of several phosphate-regulated polypeptides (including alkaline phosphatase, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate binding protein, phosphate binding protein and outer membrane porin protein PhoE) after growth at 36 degrees C and a wild-type phenotype at 30 degrees C. This mutation was located at minute 89.5 on the E. coli chromosome in a gene we have called cpr for conditional phosphate-regulated.     

Structural change and receptor binding in a chemokine mutant with a rearranged disulfide: X-ray structure of e38C/C50A IL-8 at 2 Å resolution

The characteristic CXC chemokine disulfide core of interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been rearranged in a variant replacing the 9—50 disulfide with a 9—38 disulfide. The new variant has been characterized by its binding affinity to IL-8 receptors A and B and the erythrocyte receptor DARC. This variant binds the three receptors with affinities between 500- and 2,500-fold lower than wild-type IL-8. Binding affinity results are also reported for the variant with alanine substituted for both cysteines 9 and 50. The Glu38 → Cys/Cys50 → Ala IL-8 crystallizes in space group P2₁2₁2₁ with cell parameters a = 46.4, b = 49.2, and c = 69.5 Å, and has been refined to an R-value of 19.4% for data from 10 to 2 Å resolution. Analysis of the structure confirms the new disulfide arrangement and suggests that changes at Ile10 may be the principal cause of the lowered affinities. © 1997 Wiley-Liss Inc.     

香菇菌丝体多糖的分离鉴定与免疫功能研究

从香菇（Ｌｅｎｔｉｎｕｓｅｄｏｄｅｓ）菌丝体提取得到的粗多糖,经ＤＥ５２柱层析,得到均一的多糖成分,命名为ＬＥ。其平均分子量为５．０８×１０５,ＬＥ经红外（ＩＲ）和紫外（ＵＶ）光谱分析,为多糖蛋白质复合体,其中糖含量为９４．２％,蛋白质含量为５．８％。完全酸水解表明糖组成为单一的葡萄糖,蛋白质组成主要为Ａｌａ等１６种天然氨基酸。ＬＥ经完全甲基化、酸水解、乙酰化、薄层层析（ＴＬＣ）和［１Ｈ］核磁共振（［１Ｈ］ＮＭＲ）分析,确定其多糖部分的基本结构为１→３连接的葡聚糖,含有部分１→６侧链。此外,用反转录聚合酶链式反应（ＲＴＰＣＲ）和生物测定法分别研究了健康人外周血单核细胞中白细胞介素２（ＩＬ２）和肿瘤坏死因子（ＴＮＦα）的基因表达和活性,结果发现ＩＬ２和ＴＮＦα的基因表达和活性均高于空白对照组,这表明ＬＥ可诱导某些免疫反应。     

Structure of a stabilizing disulfide bridge mutant that closes the active-site cleft of T4 lysozyme.

The engineered disulfide bridge between residues 21 and 142 of phage T4 lysozyme spans the active-site cleft and can be used as a switch to control the activity of the enzyme (Matsumura, M. & Matthews, B.W., 1989, Science 243, 792-794). In the oxidized form the disulfide increases the melting temperature of the protein by 11 degrees C at pH 2. The crystal structure of this mutant lysozyme has been determined in both the reduced and oxidized forms. In the reduced form, the crystal structure of the mutant is shown to be extremely similar to that of wild type. In the oxidized form, however, the formation of the disulfide bridge causes the alpha-carbons of Cys 21 and Cys 142, on opposite sides of the active-site cleft, to move toward each other by 2.5 A. In association with this movement, the amino-terminal domain of the protein undergoes a rigid-body rotation of 5.1 degrees relative to the carboxy-terminal domain. This rotation occurs about an axis passing through the junction of the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal domains and is also close to the axis that best fits the apparent thermal motion of the amino-terminal domain seen previously in crystals of wild-type lysozyme. Even though the engineered Cys 21-Cys 142 disulfide links together the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal domains of T4 lysozyme, it does not reduce the apparent mobility of the one domain relative to the other. The pronounced "hinge-bending" mobility of the amino-terminal domain that is suggested by the crystallographic thermal parameters of wild-type lysozyme persists in the oxidized (and reduced) mutant structures. In the immediate vicinity of the introduced disulfide bridge the mutant structure is more mobile (or disordered) than wild type, so much so that the exact conformation of Cys 21 remains obscure. As with the previously described disulfide bridge between residues 9 and 164 of T4 lysozyme (Pjura, P.E., Matsumura, M., Wozniak, J.A., & Matthews, B.W., 1990, Biochemistry 29, 2592-2598), the engineered cross-link substantially enhances the stability of the protein without making the folded structure more rigid.     

Enhanced biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates in a mutant strain of Rhizobium meliloti

Strains of Rhizobium spp. isolated from leguminous plants and standard strains accumulated 27% to 57% polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) of their cell biomass. Among these cultures, one strain of Rhizobium meliloti synthesized 10–30% more PHA than others and contained 3% hydroxyvalerate (HV) when grown on sucrose as carbon substrate. The occurrence of hydroxybutyrate (HB) and HV was confirmed by GC and ¹H NMR analysis. Treatment of the culture with 4-N-piperidinobutyl-2-chlorophenoxazine resulted in a mutant which synthesized upto 69%, PHA of the cell biomass with an improved yield of 11 to 47% under different carbon and nitrogen ratios, compared to the parent strain.