A novel apoptosis correlated molecule: expression and characterization of protein Latcripin-1 from Lentinula edodes C(91-3)

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the regulator of chromosome condensation 1 gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) is the world's most widely cultivated crop and an important staple food for humans, accounting for one-fifth of calories consumed. Proteins encoded by the regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) are highly conserved among eukaryotes and consist of seven repeated domains that fold into a seven-bladed propeller structure. In this study, a total of 76 RCC1 genes of bread wheat were identified via a genome-wide search, and their phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, protein-conserved domain, chromosome localization, conserved motif, and transcription factor binding sites were systematically analyzed using the bioinformatics approach to indicate the evolutionary and functional features of these genes. The expression patterns of 76 TaRCC1 family genes in wheat under various stresses were further analyzed, and RT-PCR verified that RCC1-3A (TraesCS3A02G362800), RCC1-3B (TraesCS3B02G395200), and RCC1-3D (TraesCS3D02G35650) were significantly induced by salt, cold, and drought stresses. Additionally, the co-expression network analysis and binding site prediction suggested that Myb-7B (TraesCS7B02G188000) and Myb-7D (TraesCS7D02G295400) may bind to the promoter of RCC1-3A/3B and upregulate their expression in response to abiotic stresses in wheat. The results have furthered our understanding of the wheat RCC1 family members and will provide important information for subsequent studies and the use of RCC1 genes in wheat.

Mushroom Polysaccharide-Assisted Anticarcinogenic Mycotherapy: Reviewing Its Clinical Trials

Of the biologically active components, polysaccharides play a crucial role of high medical and pharmaceutical significance. Mushrooms have existed for a long time, dating back to the time of the Ancient Egypt and continue to be well explored globally and experimented with in research as well as in national and international cuisines. Mushroom polysaccharides have slowly become valuable sources of nutraceuticals which have been able to treat various diseases and disorders in humans. The application of mushroom polysaccharides for anticancer mycotherapy is what is being reviewed herein. The widespread health benefits of mushroom polysaccharides have been highlighted and the significant inputs of mushroom-based polysaccharides in anticancer clinical trials have been presented. The challenges and limitation of mushroom polysaccharides into this application and the gaps in the current application areas that could be the future direction have been discussed.

Latcripin-7A from Lentinula edodes C91-3 induces apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in human gastric cancer cells via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling

Gastric cancer (G.C) is one of the most lethal cancer types worldwide. Current treatment requires surgery along with chemotherapy, which causes obstacles for speedy recovery. The discovery of novel drugs is needed for better treatment of G.C with minimum side effects. Latcripin-7A (LP-7A) is a newly discovered peptide extracted from Lentinula edodes. It is recently studied for its anti-cancer activity. In this study, LP-7A was modeled using a phyre2 server. Anti-proliferation effects of LP-7A on G.C cells were examined via CCK-8, colony formation, and morphology assay. Apoptosis of LP-7A treated G.C cells was evaluated via Hoechst Stain, western blot and flow cytometry. Autophagy was assessed via acridine orange staining and western blot. The cell cycle was assessed via flow cytometry assay and western blot. Pathway was studied via western blot and STRING database. Anti-migratory effects of LP-7A treated G.C cells were analyzed via wound healing, western blot, and migration and invasion assay. LP-7A effectively inhibited the growth of G.C cells by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. G.C cells treated with LP-7A arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase, contributing to the inhibition of migration and invasion. Furthermore, LP-7A induced apoptosis and autophagy in gastric cancer cells. These results indicated that LP-7A is a promising anti-cancer agent. It affected the proliferation and growth of G.C cells (SGC-7901 and BGC-823) by inducing apoptosis, autophagy, and inhibiting cell cycle at the G1 phase in G.C cells.

Purification of a novel protein with cytotoxicity against non-small-cell lung cancer cells from Boletus bicolor

A novel protein (D1 component) was purified from Boletus bicolor by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography on a HiTrap™ Q HP column, a diethylaminoethanol cellulose-52 column, and a Sephadex G75 column, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the D1 component was a single protein band with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa. The sulforhodamine B assay showed that at concentrations as low as 25-75 μg/ml, protein D1 significantly inhibited the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549 and H1299 cells) and had little effect on human normal kidney cells (HEK293 cells). After labeling protein D1, it was found that D1 could enter the cytoplasm of tumor cells and colocated with lysosomes. Flow cytometry results demonstrated that protein D1 induced apoptosis and G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle in A549 and H1299 cells. The Western blot analysis results showed that the expression of apoptosis and cell cycle-related proteins of cleaved caspase-3, cytochrome c, Bax, P16, and P21 was significantly upregulated, whereas the expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, cyclin D, p-Rb, and E2F was significantly downregulated after treatment with protein D1. Therefore, D1 exhibits potential to be developed into an antitumor agent.

Expression and in vitro anticancer activity of Lp16-PSP, a member of the YjgF/YER057c/UK114 protein family from the mushroom Lentinula edodes C91-3

Latcripin-16 (Lp16-PSP) is a gene that was extracted as a result of de novo characterization of the Lentinula edodes strain C_91-3 transcriptome. The aim of the present study was to clone, express, and investigate the selective in vitro anticancer potential of Lp16-PSP in human cell lines. Lp16-PSP was analyzed using bioinformatics tools, cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector pET32a (+) and transformed into E. coli Rosetta gami. It was expressed and solubilized under optimized conditions. The differential scanning fluorometry (DSF)-guided refolding method was used with modifications to identify the proper refolding conditions for the Lp16-PSP protein. To determine the selective anticancer potential of Lp16-PSP, a panel of human cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines was used. Lp16-PSP protein was identified as endoribonuclease L-PSP protein and a member of the highly conserved YjgF/YER057c/UK114 protein superfamily. Lp16-PSP was expressed under optimized conditions (37 °C for 4 h following induction with 0.5 mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside). Solubilization was achieved with mild solubilization buffer containing 2 M urea using the freeze-thaw method. The DSF guided refolding method identified the proper refolding conditions (50 mM Tris-HCl, 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 400 mM Arginine, 0.2 mM GSH and 2 mM GSSG; pH 8.0) for Lp16-PSP, with a melting transition of ~ 58 °C. A final yield of ~ 16 mg of purified Lp16-PSP from 1 L of culture was obtained following dialysis and concentration by PEG 20,000. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay revealed the selective cytotoxic effect of Lp16-PSP. The HL-60 cell line was demonstrated to be most sensitive to Lp16-PSP, with an IC₅₀ value of 74.4 ± 1.07 µg/ml. The results of the present study suggest that Lp16-PSP may serve as a potential anticancer agent; however, further investigation is required to characterize this anticancer effect and to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the action of Lp16-PSP.

Purification and characterization of a novel protein with activity against non-small-cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo from the edible mushroom Boletus edulis

A new anti-tumor protein (designated as Boletus edulis or in short BEAP) was isolated from dried fruit bodies of the edible bolete mushroom Boletus edulis. The purification protocol employed comprised fast ion exchange chromatography on a Hitrap Q column and ion exchange chromatography on a DEAE-52 cellulose column. Superdex G75 gel filtration and SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that BEAP was a protein with a molecular weight of 16.7 KD. The protein exhibited potent anti-cancer activity on A549 cells both in vitro and in vivo. With the use of AO/EB staining, annexin V-FITC/PI, and Western blotting, it was demonstrated in vitro that the cytotoxicity of BEAP was mediated by induction of apoptosis and arrest of A549 cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. BEAP significantly suppressed the growth of A549 solid tumors in vivo. These results prove that BEAP is a new multifunctional protein with anti-tumor and anti-metastasis capabilities.

Latcripin-7A, derivative of Lentinula edodes C91-3, reduces migration and induces apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in breast cancer cells

Due to the high mortality rate and an increase in breast cancer incidence, it has been challenging for researchers to come across an effective chemotherapeutic strategy with minimum side effects. Therefore, the need for the development of effective chemotherapeutic drugs is still on the verge. Consequently, we approached a new mechanism to address this issue. The naturally available peptide named latcripin-7A (LP-7A), extracted from a mushroom called Lentinula edodes, provided us promising results in terms of growth arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Expressions of protein markers for apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle were confirmed via Western blot analysis. Migration and invasion assays were performed to analyze the anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties of LP-7A, while cell cycle analysis was performed via flow cytometry to evaluate its affect over cell growth. Supportive assays were performed like acridine orange, Hoechst 33258 stain, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) to further confirm the anticancer effect of LP-7A on breast cancer cell lines. It is concluded that LP-7A effectively reduces migration and promotes apoptosis as well as autophagy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by inducing cell growth arrest at G₀/G₁ phase and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential without adverse effects on MCF-10A normal breast cells. KEY POINTS: • In this study, we have investigated the anti-cancer activity of novel latcripin-7A (LP-7A), a protein extracted as a result of de novo characterization of Lentinula edodes C_91-3. • We conclude in our research work that LP-7A can initiate diverse cell death-related events, i.e., apoptosis and autophagy in both triple-positive and triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by interacting with different nodes of cellular signaling that can further be investigated in vivo to gain a better understanding.

Anticancer potentiality and mode of action of low-carbohydrate proteins and peptides from mushrooms

Severe side effects of chemotherapy as well as drug resistance highlight the ongoing need to discover novel natural bioactive compounds with anticancer potentiality. Mushroom-derived proteins are among the naturally occurring compounds that have been the subject of a body of research on their potentiality in cancer therapy. The greatest attention in relevant review articles has been paid to well-known mushroom-derived glycoproteins such as lectins and protein-bound polysaccharide complexes such as polysaccharide-K (PSK) or krestin and polysaccharopeptide (PSP), which contain substantial amounts of carbohydrates (50-90%). These complex compounds exert their anticancer activity mainly by binding to cell membranes leading to extrinsic (death receptor) apoptosis or intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathways. However, several other research studies have reported pure, well-characterized, proteins or peptides from mushrooms, which are carbohydrate-free or have very low amounts of carbohydrate. These proteins may fall into four categories including fungal immunomodulatory proteins, ubiquitin-like proteins, enzymes, and unclassified proteins. Well-defined chemical structure, elucidated full amino acid or N-terminal sequences, purity, and having some distinct and specific pathways compared to glycoproteins have made these low-carbohydrate proteins attractive for cancer research. The aim of this review was therefore to improve the current understanding of mushroom-derived low-carbohydrate proteins and to consolidate the existing knowledge of the most promising mushroom species from which low-carbohydrate proteins have been derived, characterized, and examined for their anticancer activity. In addition, molecular targets and mechanisms of action of these proteins have been discussed. Key points • Mushroom-derived low-carbohydrate proteins lack or have low carbohydrate. • Low-carbohydrate proteins show potent anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. • There are specific pathways for low-carbohydrate proteins to inhibit cancer cells.

LP1 from Lentinula edodes C91-3 Induces Autophagy, Apoptosis and Reduces Metastasis in Human Gastric Cancer Cell Line SGC-7901

Present study aimed to elucidate the anticancer effect and the possible molecular mechanism underlying the action of Latcripin 1 (LP1), from the mushroom Lentinula edodes strain C91-3 against gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and BGC-823. Cell viability was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8); morphological changes were observed by phase contrast microscope; autophagy was determined by transmission electron microscope and fluorescence microscope. Apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed by flow cytometer; wound-healing, transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to investigate the effect of LP1 on gastric cancer cell's migration and invasion. Herein, we found that LP1 resulted in the induction of autophagy by the formation of autophagosomes and conversion of light chain 3 (LC3I into LC3II. LP1 up-regulated the expression level of autophagy-related gene (Atg7, Atg5, Atg12, Atg14) and Beclin1; increased and decreased the expression level of pro-apoptotic (Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) proteins respectively, along with the activation of Caspase-3. At lower-doses, LP1 have shown to arrest cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and decreased the expression level of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-2 and MMP-9. In addition, it has also been shown to regulate the phosphorylation of one of the most hampered gastric cancer pathway, that is, protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR) channel and resulted in cell death. These findings suggested LP1 as a potential natural anti-cancer agent, for exploring the gastric cancer therapies and as a contender for further in vitro and in vivo investigations.

A Preclinical Evaluation of the Antitumor Activities of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: A Molecular Insight

Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. For certain types of cancer, chemotherapy drugs have been extensively used for treatment. However, severe side effects and the development of resistance are the drawbacks of these agents. Therefore, development of new agents with no or minimal side effects is of utmost importance. In this regard, natural compounds are well recognized as drugs in several human ailments, including cancer. One class of fungi, “mushrooms,” contains numerous compounds that exhibit interesting biological activities, including antitumor activity. Many researchers, including our own group, are focusing on the anticancer potential of different mushrooms and the underlying molecular mechanism behind their action. The aim of this review is to discuss PI3K/AKT, Wnt-CTNNB1, and NF-κB signaling pathways, the occurrence of genetic alterations in them, the association of these aberrations with different human cancers and how different nodes of these pathways are targeted by various substances of mushroom origin. We have given evidence to propose the therapeutic attributes and possible mode of molecular actions of various mushroom-originated compounds. However, anticancer effects were typically demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo models and very limited number of studies have been conducted in the human population. It is our belief that this review will help the research community in designing concrete preclinical and clinical studies to test the anticancer potential of mushroom-originated compounds on different cancers harboring particular genetic alteration(s).

Recombinant latcripin 11 of Lentinula edodes C91-3 suppresses the proliferation of various cancer cells

Lentinula edodes C91-3 is an edible mushroom that has demonstrated a remarkable anti-tumor effect in various cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we report the ability of recombinant thioredoxin-like latcripin 11 (LP-11) of Lentinula edodes C91-3 to suppress the proliferation of various cancer cells. The LP-11 gene of Lentinula edodes C91-3 was cloned in the pET-32a(+) expression vector and expressed in a prokaryotic system. The expressed protein was refolded by gradual dialysis and purified by affinity gel filtration chromatography. The antioxidant activity of LP-11 was tested by 1,1-dipheny l-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The anti-tumor activity of recombinant LP-11 was tested in eight kinds of tumor cell lines by CCK-8 assay. Recombinant LP-11 significantly suppressed the proliferation of various cancer cells, but not normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Human lymphoma U937 cells exhibited the most sensitivity to LP-11 protein. U937 cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V staining coupled with flow cytometry, and mitochondrial morphology was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. It was revealed that recombinant LP-11 induced apoptosis in human leukemic monocyte lymphoma U937 cells. Our findings suggest that recombinant LP-11 is a promising agent for the treatment of lymphoma.

In vitro antitumor activity of Latcripin-15 regulator of chromosome condensation 1 domain protein

Cancer is one of the most significant health problems worldwide and thus the development of novel therapeutic agents with fewer side effects is required. The present study investigated the in vitro anticancer effects of a newly isolated fungal protein. In this study, Latcripin-15 (LP-15) regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) domain protein, which is obtained from the Lentinula edodes C_91-3 fungal strain, was identified, cloned, expressed, purified and re-folded to assess the in vitro antitumor activity of the protein. LP-15 RCC1 full-length cDNA was isolated from Lentinula edodes using 3′ and 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends and then cloned, expressed, purified and re-folded in vitro. In addition, the effects of the isolated LP-15 RCC1 protein's functional domain on the viability and apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining. The LP-15 RCC1 functional domain protein was successfully expressed, purified and re-folded in vitro. Treatment with the LP-15 RCC1 functional domain protein significantly reduced tumor cell viability and induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The results of the present study indicate that the LP-15 RCC1 functional domain requires further investigation as a novel therapeutic agent for cancer therapy.

Expression and functional analysis of novel molecule - Latcripin-13 domain from Lentinula edodes C91-3 produced in prokaryotic expression system

The shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes has health benefits and is used to treat various diseases due to its immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. In the present study, the Latcripin-13 domain, isolated from L. edodes, was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami(DE3) in the form of inclusion bodies. The Latcripin-13 domain was purified by Ni-His affinity chromatography with high purity and refolded by urea gradient dialysis. The product showed biological activity in A549 cells, a human lung cancer cell line, by flow cytometry and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The MTT assay and the flow cytometry results revealed that there was a great difference between the Latcripin-13 domain-treated group and the control group (p<0.05). Similarly, cell apoptosis observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supported the flow cytometry results. This work demonstrated that the Latcripin-13 domain can induce apoptosis of A549 cells, which will bring new insights into the development of new antitumor drugs in the future.

Antiproliferative protein from the culture supernatant of Lentinula edodes C91-3 mycelia

We purified and isolated a novel protein (LFP(91-3)A2) with antitumor effect from Lentinula edodes C(91-3) liquid mycelial culture supernatant. LFP(91-3)A2 was purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose) and gel filtration chromatography (Sephacryl S-200HR). SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF/MS analysis Mascot search showed LFP(91-3)A2 is a new protein with apparent molecular weight of 26 kDa. The effect on tumor cell proliferation was assessed by using MTT assay in vitro, and the LFP(91-3)A2 reduced tumor cell growth obviously in a dose dependent manner (5-15 μg/mL) (p < 0.05), while it exhibited no toxic effect on normal chick embryo fibroblasts. The antiproliferative mechanism of LFP(91-3)A2 was found to be associated with inducing cell apoptosis by flow cytometry analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The LFP(91-3)A2 is a novel protein from Lentinula edodes with tumor-suppressive activity via inducing apoptosis of tumor cells without toxicity on normal cells and may be beneficial to natural products in clinical treatment.