A uv protective compound from Glomerella cingulata—a mycosporine

The isolation and structure of a biologically important mycosporine are described. The use of Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and HPLC provides a convenient method for the isolation of mycosporines.     

The tornabeatins, four tetrahydro-2-furanone derivatives from the lichenized ascomycete Tornabea scutellifera (With.) J.R. Laundon

Tornabeatins A, B, C and D, have been isolated as new natural products from the lichenized ascomycete Tornabea scutellifera, and their structures elucidated using UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral data and chemical degradation.     

Two new dianthramide glucosides with cardiomyocytes protective activity from Aconitum carmichaelii

Two new dianthramide glucosides, N-(2′-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5′-hydroxysalicyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methoxyanthranilic acid methyl ester (1) and N-(2′-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5′-hydroxysalicyl)-4-hydroxyanthranilic acid methyl ester (2), together with five known glycosides, were isolated from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. In the in vitro assays, compounds 1 and 2 showed activity against pentobarbital sodium-induced cardiomyocytes damage by recovering beating rhythm and increasing the cell viability.     

A lectin from the lichenized Basidiomycete Dictyonema glabratum

A lectin with hemagglutinating activity has been isolated from an aqueous extract of the symbiotic phenotype of Dictyonema glabratum and its cyanobacterial photobiont Scytonema sp. The purified lectin had a pI of 6.8 and its molecular mass was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, gel filtration and SDS-PAGE, which indicated its native conformation as a dimer formed by two identical subunits of 16540 Da. The lectin is a glycoprotein with a low degree of glycosylation, containing galactose, xylose, glucose and mannose as neutral monosaccharides, in addition to glucosamine, which could indicate both N - and O -linkages. Amino acid analysis showed the predominance of nonpolar residues such as phenylalanine. Agglutination of human erythrocytes required divalent cations, which is affected by addition of EDTA. The lectin was more stable at 30 °C or less for at least 1 h and between pH 5.0 and 7.0. Among the various compounds tested for hemagglutination inhibition, N -acetylgalactosamine was the most active. The potential role of this lectin in recognition of the compatible cyanobacterial photobiont is discussed.     

Studies in the lichen family Collemataceae VII. Two new tropical Collema species

Two new Collema species are described, C. chimbuense from Papua New Guinea and C. scabrum from Ecuador, both with interesting morphological characters.     

A novel tetrahydrobenzoangelicin with dark and photo biological activity

The synthesis of 8,9,10,11-tetrahydro-5-(3-dimethylaminopropoxy)-4-methylbenzofuro[2,3-h]coumarin (5) is described. The new compound showed the ability to inhibit cell growth both upon UVA irradiation and in the dark. The investigation on the mechanism of action highlighted the capacity of 5 to covalently photoadd to thymine, as demonstrated by the isolation and characterization of the 4',5'-monoadduct. Furthermore, in the ground state 5 interferes with the topoisomerase II relaxation activity, suggesting that this enzyme could constitute a molecular target responsible for the dark antiproliferative effect.     

A new lineage of lichenized basidiomycetes inferred from a two-gene phylogeny: The Lepidostromataceae with three species from the tropics

The lichen habit has apparently evolved independently in at least five major clades of mushroom-forming basidiomycetes (Agaricomycetes). Tracing the origin of lichenization in these groups depends on a clearer understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of basidiolichens to other fungi. We describe here a new family of basidiolichens made up of tropical, soil-inhabiting fungi that form lichenized, scale-like squamules and erect, coral-like fruiting structures. These structures are common to two basidiolichen genera, Multiclavula and Lepidostroma. Molecular studies have confirmed the phylogenetic position of Multiclavula species in the Cantharellales, but Lepidostroma species have never been sequenced. We obtained nuclear small and large subunit ribosomal sequences from specimens of L. calocerum collected in Costa Rica and Mexico and also from specimens of two Multiclavula spp. recently described from Rwanda. The phylogenetic placement of these fungi within the Agaricomycetes was investigated using likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Our results indicate that L. calocerum and the Rwandan species form a natural group unrelated to Multiclavula and sister to the Atheliales, members of which are neither lichen-forming nor clavarioid. The independent evolution of morphologically similar forms in so many groups of basidiomycetes is a remarkable example of convergence, indicating similar pathways to lichenization in these fungi.     

Studies in the lichen family Collemataceae VI. Collema subundulatum, a new species from New Zealand

Collema subundulatum from New Zealand is described. It is closely related to C. undulatum , a species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. It is phytogeographically somewhat similar to C. novozelandicum which is here recorded from Australia, its first known locality outside New Zealand.     

Pseudoeurotium globosum n. sp., a new ascomycete from Indian soils

Summary The namePseudoeurotium globosum Rai andTewari n. sp. has been given to a fungus isolated from soil collected from the banks of a stream in village Harchandpur, District Rae Bareli, (U.P.) India. This form is distinguished from any other described so far in this genus, in having multisporous asci with large globose ascospores. P.globosum n. sp. inhabits a specialised habitat, and this along with the fact that it was isolated only byWarcup's Soil-plate Method, makes it an ecologically interesting form.     

Two new diterpenoid quinones with lung protective activity from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza

Two new diterpenoid quinones, salvianolactone acid J and K (1 and 2), as well as eight known compounds (3–10) were isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis. All compounds (1-10) were evaluated for their protective effects against the BEAS-2B cells injury induced by LPS in vitro and compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed significantly protective activity at the concentration of 10 μM. Besides, compounds 1, 3, and 4 ameliorated the nuclear transport of p-P65 in LPS-induced BEAS-2B cells.     

A new sorediate species of Menegazzia (Parmeliaceae,lichenized Ascomycota) from Chile

Abstract:Menegazzia wandae Bjerke from Chile is newly described. It is characterized by lacerate soralia that are formed on laminar pustules; the sinuous, rather imbricate lobes with brown-black margins, and the presence of thamnolic acid in the medulla. Apothecia are unknown, and pycnidia are rare. The species is known from Chile between latitudes 38°30′S and 46°40′S.     

Venturia chinensis sp. nov., a new venturialean ascomycete from Khingan Mountains

A new species of Venturia (V. chinensis) is described and illustrated from the leaves of Lonicera praeflorens collected from Lesser Khingan Mountains, the northeast China. It is characterized by habitat saprobic; ascomata small-sized, solitary or scattered, superficial, subglobose to citriform, wall black, papillate, ostiolate, covered with setae; peridium thin; hamathecium evanescent in mature ascomata; asci 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, oblong to obclavate, with or without a short, knob-like pedicel; ascospores ellipsoidal, olivaceous pale brown, 1-septate, ascospore wall thin, smooth. Comparisons of V. chinensis with V. lonicerae (another species on Lonicera caerulea) and other species of Venturia lead to the conclusion that collected taxon is new. Its relationships with other species of Venturia are discussed based on morphology and 28S nrDNA and ITS nrDNA sequence comparisons.     

金花菌黄色素的稳定性及其抗氧化活性研究

【目的】评价茯砖茶金花菌黄色素的稳定性和抗氧化性能。【方法】以色素保存率为指标, 研究温度、光照和pH对黄色素稳定性的影响。并对还原能力、DPPH·清除能力和H2O2诱导的红细胞溶血抑制能力进行测定, 考察黄色素的抗氧化性能。【结果】该色素在低温下保存7 d保存率高于98.88%, 温度升高, 保存率降低; 光照尤其是太阳光对其稳定性影响较大; 黄色素在pH 2?10较稳定, pH 12时色素保存率仅为46.22%。低浓度黄色素具有明显高于维生素E (VE)的还原能力、DPPH·清除率和溶血抑制率, 其中DPPH·的EC50低于50 mg/L。【结论】金花菌黄色素对热、酸和弱碱较稳定, 对强碱和太阳光极不稳定, 并有优良的抗氧化能力, 研究和开发前景良好。     

Eurocristatine,a new diketopiperazine dimer from the marine sponge-associated fungus Eurotium cristatum

A new diketopiperazine dimer, eurocristatine (1), was isolated, in addition to eight known metabolites including the anthraquinones erythroglaucin, physcion, catenarin, emodin and the dioxopiperazine alkaloids echinulin, neoechinulin A, neoechinulin E, variecolorin J, from the culture of the sponge-associated fungus Eurotium cristatum KUFC 7356. The structure of eurocristatine (1) was established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HRESIMS, and the absolute configuration of its stereogenic carbons was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis. Eurocristatine (1) did not exhibit cytotoxic, antibacterial or antifungal activity.     

A remarkable new species in the lichen genusPlacopsis from Papua New Guinea (lichenized ascomycetes,Agyriaceae)

Placopsis auriculata Lumbsch & Kashiwadani is described from Papua New Guinea. This new species is characterized by the presence of campylidia-like helmet-shaped soralia and the presence of the gyrophoric acid chemosyndrome. Hiascic acid is reported for the first time from theAgyriaceae. The distinction of that species from other sorediate species ofPlacopsis is briefly discussed.     

Two new imidazolone-containing alkaloids and further metabolites from the ascomycete fungus Tricladium sp

Tricladins A and B (1 and 2, resp.), new imidazolone-containing alkaloids, together with five known metabolites, bacillamides A, B (3 and 4, resp.), 20-hydroxyaflavinine (5), N-(2-phenylethyl)acetamide (6), and N(b)-acetyltryptamine (7), have been isolated from the crude extract of the ascomycete fungus Tricladium sp. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated primarily by NMR and MS methods. Compound 2 showed marginal cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, whereas the known metabolite 4 displayed an inhibitory effect on HIV-1 replication in C8166 cells.     

A high-affinity ammonium transporter from the mycorrhizal ascomycete Tuber borchii

An ammonium transporter cDNA, named TbAMT1, was isolated from the ectomycorrhizal ascomycetous truffle Tuber borchii. The polypeptide encoded by TbAMT1 (52 kDa) functionally complements ammonium uptake-defective yeast mutants and shares sequence similarity with previously characterized ammonium transporters from Saccharomyces (Mep) and Arabidopsis (AtAMT1). Structural characteristics common to the Mep/Amt family and peculiar features of the Tuber transporter have been evidenced by a detailed topological model of the TbAMT1 protein, which predicts 11 transmembrane helices with an N terminus(OUT)/C terminus(IN) orientation. As revealed by uptake/competition experiments conducted in yeast, TbAMT1 is a high-affinity transporter with an apparent K(m) for ammonium of 2 microM. The TbAMT1 mRNA was very slowly, yet specifically upregulated in nitrogen-deprived T. borchii mycelia. Instead, a much faster return to basal expression levels was observed upon resupplementation of either ammonium or nitrate, which thus appear to be utilized as equally effective nitrogen sources by Tuber mycelia.