A novel alkaline protease with antiproliferative activity from fresh fruiting bodies of the toxic wild mushroom Amanita farinosa

A novel protease with a molecular mass of 15 kDa was purified from fresh fruiting bodies of the wild mushroom Amanita farinosa. The purification protocol entailed anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, cation exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose, and gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. The protease was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and SP-Sepharose. It demonstrated a single 15-kDa band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE) and a 15-kDa peak in gel filtration. The optimal pH and optimal temperature of the protease were pH 8.0 and 65 °C, respectively. Proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 cells was inhibited by the protease with an IC(50) of 25 μM. The protease did not have antifungal or ribonuclease activity.     

Cicerarin,a novel antifungal peptide from the green chickpea

A peptide designated cicerarin, with an N-terminal amino acid sequence VKSTGRADDDLAVKTKYLPP dissimilar from known proteins and peptides and a molecular mass of 8kDa, was isolated from seeds of the green chickpea Cicer arietinum cv green chickpea. Cicerarin was isolated with a procedure that involved ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, and gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. Cicerarin was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel in 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.3). Cicerarin exerted antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella arachidicola, and Physalospora piricola. The antifungal activity was preserved after exposure to 100 degrees C for 15min.     

Adustin, a small translation-inhibiting polypeptide from fruiting bodies of the wild mushroom Polyporus adusta

A polypeptide, with a molecular mass of 16.5 kDa as determined by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, has been isolated from the mushroom Polyporus adusta. The polypeptide, designated as adustin, inhibited translation in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte lysate system with an IC50 of 0.34 microM. It was isolated using a protocol that involved ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose and fast protein liquid chromatography-gel filtration on Superdex 75. Adustin was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, and adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and CM-Sepharose.     

Isolation of allicepin, a novel antifungal peptide from onion (Allium cepa) bulbs.

From the bulbs of the onion Allium cepa, a novel antifungal peptide distinct from the antimicrobial peptide previously reported from onion seeds was isolated. The antifungal peptide, designated allicepin, was purified with a procedure that involved aqueous extraction, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel and FPLC-gel filtration on Superdex 75. Allicepin was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel. The molecular weight of allicepin was estimated to be 10 K by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration on Superdex 75. Allicepin exerted an inhibitory activity on mycelial growth in several fungal species including Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Physalospora piricola.     

Pleurostrin, an antifungal peptide from the oyster mushroom

A 7kDa peptide, with inhibitory activity on mycelial growth in the fungi Fusaerium oxysporum, Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Physalospora piricola, was isolated from fresh fruiting bodies of the oyster mushroom. The isolation procedure entailed extraction with an aqueous buffer, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel and gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. The protein was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel. It demonstrated an N-terminal sequence different from known antifungal proteins and peptides.     

Purification of allivin,a novel antifungal protein from bulbs of the round-cloved garlic

A novel antifungal protein, designated allivin, was isolated from bulbs of the round-cloved garlic Allium sativum var. round clove with a procedure involving ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, ion exchange chromatography on CM-Sepharose and FPLC-gel filtration on Superdex 75. Allivin possessed an N-terminal sequence demonstrating very little similarity to sequences of Allium sativum chitinases and ribosome inactivating proteins. Allivin exhibited a molecular weight of 13 kDa in gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It displayed antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Physalospora piricola. It inhibited translation in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte system with an IC50 of 1.6 microM.     

Isolation of alliumin, a novel protein with antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities from multiple-cloved garlic bulbs

A protein designated alliumin, with a molecular mass of 13 kDa and an N-terminal sequence similar to a partial sequence of glucanase, and demonstrating antifungal activity against Mycosphaerella arachidicola, but not against Fusarium oxysporum, was isolated from multiple-cloved garlic (Allium sativum) bulbs. The protein, designated as alliumin, was purified using ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose and Mono S, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, and gel filtration on Superdex 75. Alliumin was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, but was adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel, CM-cellulose and Mono S. Its antifungal activity was retained after boiling for 1 h and also after treatment with trypsin or chymotrypsin (1:1, w/w) for 30 min at room temperature. Alliumin was inhibitory to the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens and exerted antiproliferative activity toward leukemia L1210 cells. However, it was devoid of ribonuclease activity, protease activity, mitogenic activity toward mouse splenocytes, and antiproliferative activity toward hepatoma Hep G2 cells.     

A ubiquitin-like peptide from the mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju exhibits relatively potent translation-inhibitory and ribonuclease activities

The fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju were extracted with an aqueous buffer and then subjected to affinity chromatography on Affi-gel Blue gel, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Superdex 75. From the fraction of the extract adsorbed on Affi-gel Blue gel and unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, a 9.5 kDa peptide with an N-terminal sequence similar to ubiquitin was isolated with a yield of 0.25 mg/kg mushroom. The peptide inhibited cell-free translation with an IC(50) of 30 nM. It exhibited a ribonuclease activity of 450 U/mg toward yeast transfer RNA. The activities were substantially more potent than those of previously isolated mushroom ubiquitin-like protein and peptide.