O-Chul Kwon

Taxonomy of Ganoderma lucidum from Korea Based on rDNA and Partial β-Tubulin Gene Sequence Analysis

In the present study, a phylogenetic analysis was undertaken based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and partial β -tubulin gene sequence of the Ganoderma species. The size of the ITS rDNA regions from different Ganoderma species varied from 625 to 673 bp, and those of the partial β-tubulin gene sequence were 419 bp. Based on the results, a phylogenetic tree was prepared which revealed that Korean Ganoderma lucidum strains belong in a single group along with a G. lucidum strain from Bangladesh.

Effects of Ganodermanondiol, a New Melanogenesis Inhibitor from the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum, a species of the Basidiomycetes class, has been attracting international attention owing to its wide variety of biological activities and great potential as an ingredient in skin care cosmetics including “skin-whitening” products. However, there is little information available on its inhibitory effect against tyrosinase activity. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the chemical composition of G. lucidum and its inhibitory effects on melanogenesis. We isolated the active compound from G. lucidum using ethanol extraction and ethyl acetate fractionation. In addition, we assayed its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity and melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. In this study, we identified a bioactive compound, ganodermanondiol, which inhibits the activity and expression of cellular tyrosinase and the expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), thereby decreasing melanin production. Furthermore, ganodermanondiol also affected the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signaling pathway, which are involved in the melanogenesis of B16F10 melanoma cells. The finding that ganodermanondiol from G. lucidum exerts an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase will contribute to the use of this mushroom in the preparation of skin care products in the future.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Novel Laccase Genes in the White-Rot Fungus Flammulina velutipes

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges, fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1 (Asn-454), fvLac-2 (Asn-437 and Asn-455), fvLac-3 (Asn-111 and Asn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402 and Asn-457). In addition, the first 19~20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses clearly reveal that CuSO4 affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes.

Apple pomace increases mycelial growth of Pleurotus ostreatus

Apple pomace is a by-product from the apple processing industry and has the potential to support the growth of microorganisms. In this study, the effect of apple pomace on the growth rate of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium was investigated. The mycelial growth dramatically increased by 34.5, 20 and 26% in solid culture, liquid culture, and solid-state fermentation, respectively, by adding 2.5% apple pomace. However, the growth of P. ostreatus mycelia was slightly inhibited by adding 5 or 10% compared to 2.5% apple pomace. Our findings reveal that apple pomace utilization can become a model for the valuable addition of similar wastes, and for the development of a solid-state fermenter.

Taxonomic Position and Species Identity of the Cultivated Yeongji 'Ganoderma lucidum' in Korea

Abstract Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of use as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. However, the taxonomy of Ganoderma species remains controversial, since they were initially classified on the basis of their morphological characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that G. lucidum from China be renamed as G. sichuanense or G. lingzhi. In the present study, phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region rDNA sequences of the Ganoderma species indicated that all strains of the Korean ‘G. lucidum’ clustered into one group together with G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi from China. However, strains from Europe and North American, which were regarded as true G. lucidum, were positioned in a clearly different group. In addition, the average size of the basidiospores from the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains was similar to that of G. lingzhi. Based on these results, we propose that the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains of ‘G. lucidum’ should be renamed as G. lingzhi.

Comparison of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-allergic effects of Ganoderma species mycelial extracts

ABSTRACT  This study wascarried out to compare the medicinal effects of various Ganoderma species mycelialextracts. Among 6 Ganoderma species mycelial extracts by using 100% MeOH, G . species ASI-7150 showed the highestantioxidant effect. In nitric oxide (NO) production and  -hexosaminidase release inhibition assay, the treatment of G.lucidum ATCC64251 (Taiwan) mycelia extracts most effectively inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7cells and  -hexosaminidase release. In addition, the treatment of all 6 Ganoderma species mycelial extracts were notaffect on RAW264.7 cell viability. Although this preliminary research has thrown up many questions in need of furtherinvestigation, it will serve as a base for further studies of medicinal effects of various Ganoderma species. KEYWORDS Anti-inflammatory, Anti-allergy, Antioxidant, Ganoderma species 서론 Ganoderma lucidum 을 포함한 영지 속 ( Ganoderma )은 열대, 아열대 및 온대 지방을 포한한 아시아, 유럽북미주 등 전 세계적으로 널리 분포한다. 영지버섯은오래 전부터 한국과 중국, 일본 등 아시아에서 약용버섯으로 취급되고 있다. 현재, 항암, 항종양, 고혈압및 당뇨 등과 관련된 여러 약효와 유효성분이 과학적으로 규명되고 있다 (Chen 등, 1980; Furusawa 등1992). 또한 영지버섯은 영양공급 뿐만 아니라 약리효과도 가지고 있어, 오랜 시간 동안 건강보조식품으로 여겨졌다. 특히 아시아 대부분의 나라에서 약용식품으로 받아들여지고 있다 (조 등, 2012b). 그리고 영지버섯에는 polysaccharide이외에 tritepene, nucleoside,steroid, fatty acid, alkaloid, 단백질, 아미노산, 무기염류 등 다양한 물질들이 함유되어 있고 이 중 고분자 물질 (polysaccharide 등)과 저분자물질(tritepene등)이 다양하다. 저분자물질은 항염증, 항산화, 간세포보호, 항알레르기, 항고혈압, 콜레스테롤 저하 및혈소판 응집 저해 등의 활성이 있다. 고분자물질에포함된 혈압강하, 정혈, 고지혈증 개선, 혈당강하, 면역, 그리고 항종양 등의 효과가 보고되었다 (Shiao 등1994). 특히 polysaccharide의 면역조절 작용에 대한연구가 많이 이루어져, polysaccharide는 lymphocytes의 interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)와 interleukin-12(IL-12) 생산을 증가시키고 IL-4의 생산에는 영향이없는 것으로 보고되었다 (Kohguchi 등 2004). 또한,영지버섯에서 추출한 polysaccharide는 IL-1, Tumornecrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) 및 nitric oxide 생산을 현저히 증가시켜, Th1 반응을 유도하는 효과가보고되었다 (Jiang 등 2003; Zhang 등 1999; Tang 등2004). 그러나 알레르기 질환에 대한 연구보고는 활발하지 못한 실정이다 (Liu 등 2003). 영지버섯은 동일한 종이라도 재배지역과 생육환경에 따라 2차 대사산물 및 생리활성 물질의 함량 차이를 보이는 것으로 보고되고 있다 (조 등, 2012a, 2012b). 따라서 본

Overproduction of Laccase by the White-Rot Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus Using Apple Pomace as Inducer

Abstract Laccase activity of Pleurotus ostreatus is significantly increased by the addition of apple pomace. Among various conditions, the best concentration of apple pomace and cultivation time for the production of laccase by P. ostreatus was 2.5% and 9 days, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses of laccase isoenzyme genes, including pox1, pox3, pox4, poxc, poxa3, and poxa1b, revealed a clear effect of apple pomace on transcription induction. Our findings reveal that the use of apple pomace can be a model for the valuable addition of similar wastes and for the development of a solid-state fermenter and commercial production of oyster mushroom P. ostreatus.

Study on HPLC conditions for chemotaxonomy of Ganoderma species

ABSTRACT  This study was carried out to optimize the conditions for a chemotaxonomic classification of Gan-oderma species. The mycelia of Ganoderma species were extracted with 100% MeOH, and the concentrated extractswere further purified and partitioned with column chromatography (HP20) and n -BuOH, respectively. From theresult of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the constituents of the samples were efficiently sep-arated with a Chemco Pak C 18 column (250 mm  4.6 mm) by linear gradient elution using water and acetonitrileas mobile phase components at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min and detector wavelength at 210 nm. However, the sampleswithout purification or partition were not detected the characteristic peaks. This profile could be used to classifyand identify the various Ganoderma species. KEYWORDS Chemotaxonomy, HPLC, Ganoderma species 서론 Ganoderma lucidum 을 포함한 영지 속 (Ganoderma)은 열대, 아열대 및 온대 지방을 포한한 아시아, 유럽북미주 등 전 영지버섯의세계적으로 널리 분포하고 있는 목재부후균으로 (Park 미국 9종, 일본 5종, 대만 13종, 중국 64종, 한국 4종이 보고되어 라도있다 (김 등, 2005; 조 등,2012b). 영지버섯은 오래 전부터 한국, 중국 생리활성일본 등아시아에서 약용버섯으로 취급되어 왔으며, 현재는항암, 항종양, 고혈압, 당뇨 등과 관련된 여러 대사산물의약효와유효성분이 과학적으로 고규명되고 있다 (김 등, 2005).그러나, 온대지방인 우리나라에서 자생하고 건을있는 영지의 대부분이 아열대열대지방에서 자생하는 을