Identification and expression analysis of a new glycoside hydrolase family 55 exo-β-1,3-glucanase-encoding gene in Volvariella volvacea suggests a role in fruiting body development

The edible straw mushroom Volvariella volvacea is an important crop in South East Asia and is predominantly harvested in the egg stage. Rapid stipe elongation and cap expansion result in a swift transition from the egg to elongation and maturation stage, which are subjected to fast senescence and deterioration. In other mushrooms, β-1,3-glucanases have been associated with degradation (softening) of the cell wall during stipe elongation and senescence. We present a new glycoside hydrolase family 55 (GH55) exo-β-1,3-glucanase gene, exg2, and highly conserved deduced EXG2 protein. The 3D model and presumed catalytic residues of V. volvacea EXG2 are identical to Lentinula edodes EXG2 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium Lam55A, supporting similar enzymatic functions. In addition to previous association to stipe elongation and senescence, our data clearly indicates a role for cap (pileus) expansion. Digital gene expression, quantitative PCR and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis showed low exg2 and EXG2 levels in primordia, button, egg and elongation stages and significantly increased levels in the maturation stage. Subsequent relative quantitative PCR analysis designated expression of exg2 to the stipe in the elongation stage and to the pileus and stipe in the maturation stage. EXG2 cell wall softening activity, close correlation of exg2 expression with the principal expanding mushroom tissues and a strong conservation of expression patterns and protein sequences in other mushrooms, make V. volvacea exg2 an important candidate for future studies on mechanisms of fruiting body expansion and senescence causing commodity value loss.     

Molecular cloning of α-amanitin and characterization of its expression pattern in different parts and development stages of Amanita exitialis fruitbody

Amanita exitialis is a lethal mushroom in East Asia. α-Amanitin is one kind of the leading peptide toxins responsible for mushroom poisoning, which are mainly from the fatal amanitae. In the study, the full-length cDNA sequences of α-amanitin (α-AMA) and phallacidin (PHA) from A. exitialis were cloned and analyzed; in addition, the expression patterns of α-AMA in three parts as well as four developmental stages of the fruitbody were first characterized by quantitative real-time PCR. Results demonstrate that α-AMA and PHA were highly homologous to the toxin genes reported from A. bisporigera; the α-AMA could be expressed in all parts and stages of the fruitbody, from late elongation stage to late mature stage, α-AMA showed the highest expression level in the pileus, followed by the stipe and volva in sequence, while at the early elongation stage, the highest expression level was found in the stipe, followed by the pileus and volva. Further analysis revealed that the higher expression level of α-AMA was closely associated with the development stages, and the expression of α-AMA was accumulated in the more vigorous growth parts and stages, from which could be inferred that α-AMA might play an important role in the development of A. exitialis.     

Mutagenesis of Protoplasts and Regeneration of Mycelium in the Mushroom Volvariella volvacea

Regenerating protoplasts were obtained from mycelial culture of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea by the action of the lytic enzyme Novozym 234 in the presence of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 0.6 M NaCl. Regeneration was found to be poor in liquid medium, but more than 50% regeneration was achieved on solid 2% agar medium overlaid with 0.5% agar. Protoplasts of V. volvacea were found to be highly sensitive to the killing action of both UV irradiation and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. However, no morphological or auxotrophic mutants could be obtained from protoplasts by chemical mutagenesis. Four types of morphological mutants and one auxotrophic (adenine-negative) mutant were obtained from UV-irradiated protoplasts. The adenine-negative mutant of V. volvacea was found to be stable, not losing auxotrophy on repeated subculture.     

Mis-expression of the CLV3/ESR-like gene CLE19 in Arabidopsis leads to a consumption of root meristem

Mild heat shock treatment (32 degrees C) of isolated Brassica napus microspores triggers a developmental switch from pollen maturation to embryo formation. This in vitro system was used to identify genes expressed in globular to heart-shape transition embryos. One of the genes isolated encodes a putative extra-cellular protein that exhibits high sequence similarity with the in silico identified CLV3/ESR-related 19 polypeptide from Arabidopsis (AtCLE19) and was therefore named BnCLE19. BnCLE19 is expressed in the primordia of cotyledons, sepals and cauline leaves, and in some pericycle cells in the root maturation zone. Mis-expression of BnCLE19 or AtCLE19 in Arabidopsis under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter resulted in a dramatic consumption of the root meristem, the formations of pin-shaped pistils and vascular islands. These results imply a role of CLE19 in promoting cell differentiation or inhibiting cell division.     

Metallic and metalloid elements in various developmental stages of Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam

There is growing evidence that mushrooms (fruiting bodies) can be suitable for biogeochemical prospecting for minerals and as indicators of heavy metal and radioactive contaminants in the terrestrial environment. Apart from the nutritional aspect, knowledge of accumulation dynamics and distribution of elements in fruiting bodies, from emergence to senescence, is essential as is standardization when choosing mushroom species as potential bioindicators and for monitoring purposes. We studied the effect of fruitbody developmental stage on the contents of the elements (Li, K, V, Cr, Mn, Mg, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Ag, Al, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, Tl and U) in the individual parts of the Amanita muscaria fruiting body. Elements such as K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn and Se remained similar throughout all developmental stages studied, however for K, differences occurred in the values of caps and stipes, as expressed by the cap to stipe concentration quotient (index Q_C/S). The other elements quantified, i.e., Li, V, Cr, As, Rb, Sr, Ag, Al, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pb, Tl and U are considered as nonessential or toxic (with the exception of V in A. muscaria). Their accumulation in the fruiting bodies and their distribution between cap and stipe did not show a uniform pattern. Pb, Sb, Tl, Ba, Sr, Li, Rb and Cs decreased with increasing maturity of the fruitbodies, implying that translocation, distribution and accumulation in stipes and caps was not a continuous process, while V, Cr, As, Ag, Cd, and U remained at the same concentration, similarly to the essential elements. Our results for A. muscaria confirm that elemental distribution in different parts of fruiting bodies is variable for each element and may change during maturation. Soil properties, species specificity and the pattern of fruitbody development may all contribute to the various types of elemental distribution and suggest that the results for one species in one location may have only limited potential for generalization.     

A classification of the stages in the growth cycle of the cultivated paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea singer) and its commercial importance

The developmental stages in the growth of the cultivated paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) on damp straw beds were studied. Pure cultures of the strain CI/70/52 were grown on test tube slants of potato dextrose sugar, and the inoculum increased in large bottles filled with moistened paddy straw. The bottle inoculum was used to inoculate three layers of a four-tiered straw bed. The stages in the development of a carpophore were classified on the basis of the time sequence, length, breadth and length/breadth ratio. The results suggest that the classification provides a basis for harvesting the buttons at the most desirable stage.     

Stipe elongation during basidiocarp maturation in Coprinus macrorhizus: Mechanical properties of stipe cell wall

Stipe elongation during basidiocarp maturation in the wild-type,#5026+5132, and the elongationless mutant, NG0398, of Coprinusmacrorhizus was studied, and the following results were obtained.

1. In the wild-type the middle zone of the stipe elongated 8.4times in 15 hr during maturation, while in the mutant it elongatedoaiy 2.2 times.
2. Component cells of the stipe elongated inparallel with thestipe elongation in both the wild-type andthe mutant. The widthof stipe cells was almost constant duringelongation in thewild-type, while it increased 2 times in themutant. Cell volumeincreased ca. 8 times in both stocks.
3. Theosmotic value of stipe cells was almost constant (0.45–0.50M) throughout elongation of both the wild-type and the elongationlessstipes.
4. Mechanical properties of the cell wall were examinedby measuringshrinkage, extensibility and minimum stress-relaxationtime(To) of the stipe during maturation. These parameters weredirectlyproportional to the elongation rate to follow.
5. Whenthe wild-type stipes were incubated in various concentrationsof mannitol solution and then in plain buffer solution, theextensibility of the stipe after the incubation in mannitolsolutions changed proportionally with the stipe length afterthe mannitol treatment, and To with the elongation capacityin plain buffer solution.

(Received March 3, 1977; )     

Cytochemical studies on the protamine-type protein transition in sperm nuclei after fertilization and the early embryonic histones of Urechis caupo.

Cytochemical staining characteristics of nuclear histones during postfertilization maturation division and various early embryonic stages in Urechis have been studied. The transition of protamine-type protein to adult histones in the sperm nucleus is accomplished by 15 min after entrance into the egg cytoplasm. Newly synthesized egg proteins migrate into enlarging male and female pronuclei after this transition, followed by pronuclear DNA synthesis and fusion. The shift from protamine-type protein to adult histones, which occurs in the absence of RNA synthesis during the postfertilization maturation division of the egg, may be one of the processes involved in the normal structural reorganization of chromosomes. Such a reorganization is likely to be a prerequisite for chromosome replication and mitosis. No qualitative differences are detected in the stainability of histones of unfertilized eggs and embryos at the cleavage and later stages of development.     

Effect of lignin-derived phenolic monomers on the growth of the edible mushrooms Lentinus edodes,Pleurotus sajor-caju and Volvariella volvacea

Pleurotus sajor-caju was generally more tolerant to lignin-related phenolic monomers and tannin derivatives than Lentinus edodes and the straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea. Several phenols, at up to 5 mM, enhanced mycelial growth of P. sajor-caju. No clear pattern was evident when the effects of phenols and tannins on the growth of V. volvacea and L. edodes were compared, but the lower concentrations of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin which were tested were markedly more toxic to the straw mushroom. The distribution of phenolic monomers and tannin derivatives in the agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation may be an important growth determinant. However, the differences in the growth inhibition profiles of L. edodes, P. sajor-caju and V. volvacea suggest that, alone, the effect of these compounds on fungal growth is unlikely to account for the varying abilities of the three mushroom species to grow and fruit on a particular lignocellulosic substrate.     

Stipe elongation during basidiocarp maturation in Coprinus macrorhizus: Changes in polysaccharide composition of stipe cell wall during elongation

Changes in polysaccharide composition of stipe cell wall werefollowed during basidiocarp maturation in wild-type stock (#5026+5132)and the elongationless mutant (NG0398) of Coprinus macrorhizus,and then the correlation between contents of the respectivepolysaccharide components and mechanical properties of stipecell wall was examined. Polysaccharides of stipe cell wall werefractionated into five fractions, i.e., fraction I, II, IIIand IV polysaccharides and chitin. In the wild type, the content(% of cell wall) of fraction I decreased during an early phaseof maturation and then remained unchanged. Fraction III andIV contents increased once and then decreased. Fraction II andchitin contents remained almost constant during an early phaseof maturation and then increased as stipe elongation proceeded.On the basis of the correlation between the polysaccharide contentsand mechanical properties, it was suggested that the higherproportion of fraction III and/or fraction IV content(s) stimulatedstipe elongation, and that the higher proportion of fractionII and/or chitin content(s) resulted in lower rate of elongation.In the mutant, changes in the contents of the respective polysaccharideswere basically similar to those in the wild type. Thus, differencesin the rate of stipe elongation and mechanical properties betweenthe wild type and the mutant could not be simply explained interms of polysaccharide content. (Received June 27, 1977; )     

Composition and Expression of Genes Encoding Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes in the Straw-Degrading Mushroom Volvariella volvacea

Volvariella volvacea is one of a few commercial cultivated mushrooms mainly using straw as carbon source. In this study, the genome of V. volcacea was sequenced and assembled. A total of 285 genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in V. volvacea were identified and annotated. Among 15 fungi with sequenced genomes, V. volvacea ranks seventh in the number of genes encoding CAZymes. In addition, the composition of glycoside hydrolases in V. volcacea is dramatically different from other basidiomycetes: it is particularly rich in members of the glycoside hydrolase families GH10 (hemicellulose degradation) and GH43 (hemicellulose and pectin degradation), and the lyase families PL1, PL3 and PL4 (pectin degradation) but lacks families GH5b, GH11, GH26, GH62, GH93, GH115, GH105, GH9, GH53, GH32, GH74 and CE12. Analysis of genome-wide gene expression profiles of 3 strains using 3′-tag digital gene expression (DGE) reveals that 239 CAZyme genes were expressed even in potato destrose broth medium. Our data also showed that the formation of a heterokaryotic strain could dramatically increase the expression of a number of genes which were poorly expressed in its parental homokaryotic strains.     

Growth regulation inCoprinus radiatus

Some of the morphological and physiological parameters of stipe growth or elongation inCoprinus radiatus were investigated. During the development of the fruit body the number of cells in a row in the growing portion of the stipe doubled during the development of the button, and again during the phase of rapid stipe elongation. Also during the stage of rapid elongation the cells in the upper 2/3 of the stipe increased 6–8 fold in length. The existence of a growth regulator synthesized in the cap and exerting control over the stipe was demonstrated through decapitation experiments. The cap appears to be required for normal stipe development until the stipe reaches about 1/4 of its final length. Through decapitation and cap-stipe exchanges it was found that the cap produced growth regulator up to the time of autodigestion; however, the stipe responded to the regulator only during a brief period at the onset of elongation.     

Ultrastructure of some developmental stages of Helicosporidium sp. in the navel orangeworm, Paramyelois transitella

The ultrastructure of the developmental stages of Helicosporidium sp. is described from the early spherical cell stage to the maturation and germination of the spore. The presence of well-defined Golgi bodies and mitotic division of the nucleus suggests that this pathogen is not an ascomycete, as had been previously reported, and indicates an affinity to the Protozoa.