Aromatic ring cleavage of 4,6-di(tert-butyl)guaiacol, a phenolic lignin model compound, by laccase of Coriolus versicolor.

Kawai S, Umezawa T, Shimada M, Higuchi T.

Research Section of Lignin Chemistry, Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan.

Abstract

It was found that 2,4-di(tert-butyl)-4-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)-2-buten-4-ol ide (II) was formed as an aromatic ring cleavage product of a phenolic lignin model compound, 4,6-di(tert-butyl)guaiacol (I), by laccase of Coriolus versicolor. Based on isotopic experiments with 18O2 and H2 18O, the mechanism of formation of II from I is discussed.

PMID: 3410044 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3410044

Morphological and biochemical alterations of macrophages produced by a glycan, PSK.

Morphological and biochemical alterations of macrophages produced by a glycan, PSK.

Kamisato JK, Nowakowski M.

Department of Pathology, SUNY Health Science Center, Brooklyn 11203.

Abstract

A glycan extracted from Coriolus versicolor (PSK, Krestin) which has antitumor and immunomodulator properties produced marked morphological and biochemical changes when added to cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages. The cells were more spread and elongated than in control cultures, and these changes were accompanied by alterations in the rate of protein and DNA synthesis. In PSK-treated murine peritoneal macrophages the rate of protein synthesis increased above the level seen in control cultures after two days and reached a level twenty-fold higher than control on day four; this elevated rate of protein synthesis was maintained throughout the seven-day observation period. DNA synthesis was induced after four days in the presence of PSK, and reached a level ten-fold higher than control baseline on day five. This induction of DNA synthesis, however, could not be attributed to a mitogenic activity on lymphocytes. The alterations caused by PSK in macrophage metabolism may be related to the immunomodulating and antitumor activities of PSK in vivo.

PMID: 3204014 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3204014

[Effect of a protein-bound polysaccharide, PSK, on human hemopoietic progenitors]

[Article in Japanese]

Tsuji K, Takagi M, Kobayashi T, Ishiguro A, Naganuma K, Koike K, Nakahata T, Akabane T.

Abstract

Using in vitro clonal culture assays, we investigated the effects of PSK, a protein-bound polysaccharide derived from the cultured mycelium of CM101, Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quél in Basidiomycetes, on human hemopoietic progenitors. PSK alone did not stimulate colony formation by human bone marrow progenitors. Although 1-100 micrograms/ml of PSK had no effects on colony formation stimulated by erythropoietin and medium conditioned by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated leukocytes, more than 1 mg/ml of PSK inhibited all types of colony formation. In contrast, medium conditioned by PSK-stimulated leukocytes significantly stimulated formation of various types of colonies including erythroid bursts, granulocyte and/or macrophage colonies, eosinophil colonies, megakaryocyte colonies and mixed hemopoietic colonies. It is speculated that administration of the optimal dose of PSK can reduce the hematological suppression of antitumor drugs.

PMID: 2618537 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2618537

Detection of lignin peroxidase and xylanase by immunocytochemical labeling in wood decayed by basidiomycetes.

Blanchette RA, Abad AR, Farrell RL, Leathers TD.

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108; Repligen-Sandoz Research Corp., Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 ; and Northern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois 61604.

Abstract

The white rot fungi used in this study caused two different forms of degradation. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, strain BKM-F-1767, and Phellinus pini caused a preferential removal of lignin from birch wood, whereas Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor caused a nonselective attack of all cell wall components. Use of polyclonal antisera to H8 lignin peroxidase and monoclonal antisera to H2 lignin peroxidase followed by immunogold labeling with protein A-gold or protein G-gold, respectively, showed lignin peroxidase extra-and intracellularly to fungal hyphae and within the delignified cell walls after 12 weeks of laboratory decay. Lignin peroxidase was localized at sites within the cell wall where electron-dense areas of the lignified cell wall layers remained. In wood decayed by Trametes versicolor, lignin peroxidase was located primarily along the surface of eroded cell walls. No lignin peroxidase was evident in brown-rotted wood, but slight labeling occurred within hyphal cells. Use of polyclonal antisera to xylanase followed by immunogold labeling showed intense labeling on fungal hyphae and surrounding slime layers and within the woody cell wall, where evidence of degradation was apparent. Colloidal-gold-labeled xylanase was prevalent in wood decayed by all fungi used in this study. Areas of the wood with early stages of cell wall decay had the greatest concentration of gold particles, while little labeling occurred in cells in advanced stages of decay by brown or white rot fungi.

PMID: 16347939 [PubMed]PMCID: PMC202886Free PMC Article

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16347939