Optimization of the medium composition for production of mycelial biomass and exo-polymer by Grifola frondosa GF9801 using response surface methodology

In this work, a three-level Box-Behnken factorial design was employed combining with response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the medium composition for the production of the mycelial biomass and exo-polymer in submerged cultures by Grifola frondosa GF9801. A mathematical model was then developed to show the effect of each medium composition and their interactions on the production of mycelial biomass and exo-polymer. The model estimated that, a maximal yield of mycelial biomass (17.61 g/l) could be obtained when the concentrations of glucose, KH2PO4, peptone were set at 45.2 g/l, 2.97 g/l, 6.58 g/l, respectively; while a maximal exo-polymer yield (1.326 g/l) could be achieved when setting concentrations of glucose, KH2PO4, peptone at 58.6 g/l, 4.06 g/l and 3.79 g/l, respectively. These predicted values were also verified by validation experiments. Compared with the values obtained by other runs in the experimental design, the optimized medium resulted in a significant increase in the yields of mycelial biomass and exo-polymer. Maximum mycelial biomass yield of 22.50 g/l was achieved in a 15-l fermenter using the optimized medium.

Immunomodulatory properties of Grifola frondosa in submerged culture

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a popular mushroom in Asia for its tasty flavor and immune-stimulating property. The aim of the study is to investigate the innate immunity augmentation effects of different extracts of mycelia and culture filtrate from G. frondosa in submerged cultures. The hot water extract of mycelia showed the strongest cytokine induction effect as a function of its concentration in human whole blood culture. The most potent fractions of hot water extract, Fr. I and II, were mainly composed of polysaccharides with molecular masses of 43-140 and 13-38 kDa, respectively. These fractions (0.025 mg/mL) showed marked activity in enhancing phagocytosis of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). In parallel, the expression of CD11b, an early marker of PMN activation, was also up-regulated dose dependently. This result suggested that complement receptor 3 was primed by these fractions. In addition to activation of phagocytes, these bioactive fractions also increased human peripheral blood natural killer cell cytotoxicity. These results imply that the relatively low molecular mass polysaccharides isolated from mycelia of G. frondosa can enhance innate immunity in vitro and therefore may serve as biological response modifiers.

Chemical characteristics and immuno-modulating activities of exo-biopolymers produced by Grifola frondosa during submerged fermentation process

The immuno-modulating activities and chemical characteristics of exo-biopolymer (EX-GF) produced by a submerged mycelial culture of Grifola frondosa were studied. The EX-GF was fractionated into EX-GF-Fr.I, II, and III by Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography. Anti-complementary activity of EX-GF-Fr.III was highest (71.1%) among them, and its activation system occurred through both classical and alternative pathways, where the classical pathway found to be major one. Lysosomal enzyme activity and nitric oxide production ability of macrophage were also found to be mediated by EX-GF-Fr.III. The molecular weight of the EX-GF-Fr.I, II, and III was estimated to be about 163, 40, and 2.8 kDa, respectively. Total sugar and protein contents of the three fractions were 80.3, 61.9 and 89.3%, and 17.3, 35.2, and 10.7%, respectively. The sugar and amino acid compositions of the EX-GF-Fr.I, II, and III were also analyzed in detail.

Functions of a Glucan Synthase Gene GFGLS in Mycelial Growth and Polysaccharide Production of Grifola frondosa

Glucan synthase (GLS) gene is known to be involved in the fungal biosynthesis of cell wall, differentiation, and growth. In the present study, a glucan synthase gene (GFGLS) in the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa with a full sequence of 5927 bp encoding a total of 1781 amino acids was cloned and characterized for the first time. GFGLSp is a membrane protein containing two large transmembrane domains connected with a hydrophilic cytoplasmic domain. With a constructed dual promoter RNA silencing vector pAN7-gfgls-dual, a GFGLS-silencing transformant iGFGLS-3 had the lowest GFGLS transcriptional expression level (26.1%) with a shorter length and thinner appearance of the mycelia, as well as decreased mycelial biomass and exo-polysaccharide production of 5.02 and 0.38 g/L, respectively. Further analysis indicated that GFGLS silence influenced slightly the monosaccharide compositions and ratios of mycelial and exo-polysaccharide. These findings suggest that GFGLS could affect mycelial growth and polysaccharide production by downregulating the glucan synthesis.

Characterization of phytase activity from cultivated edible mushrooms and their production substrates

Phytase is used commercially to maximize phytic acid degradation and to decrease phosphorus levels in poultry and swine manure. To determine phytase content in edible mushrooms, basidiomata of Agaricus bisporus and three specialty mushrooms (Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus cornucopiae) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS) were surveyed. Enzyme activity ranged from 0.046 to 0.074 unit/g of tissue for four A. bisporus types (closed and open whites and closed and open browns) grown at The Pennsylvania State University's Mushroom Test Demonstration Facility (MTDF). The addition of various nutrient supplements to phase II mushroom production substrate did not alter phytase activity in A. bisporus. Portabella mushrooms (open brown) obtained from a commercial farm had significantly higher levels of phytase activity (0.211 unit/g of tissue) compared to A. bisporus grown at the MTDF. Of the specialty mushrooms surveyed, maitake (G. frondosa) had 20% higher phytase activity (0.287 unit/g of tissue) than commercial portabella mushrooms. The yellow oyster mushroom (P. cornucopiae) ranked second in level of phytase activity (0.213 unit/g of tissue). Shiitake (L. edodes) contained the least amount of phytase in basidiomata (0.107 unit/g of tissue). Post-crop steam treatment (60 degrees C, 24 h) of SMS reduced phytase activity from 0.074 to 0.018 unit/g. Phytase was partially purified from commercially grown portabella basidiomata 314-fold with an estimated molecular mass of 531 kDa by gel filtration chromatography. The optimum pH for activity was 5.5, but appreciable phytase activity was observed over the range of pH 5.0-8.0. Partially purified A. bisporus phytase was inactivated following a 10-min incubation at > or =60 degrees C.

Alteration in the ultrastructural morphology of mycelial hyphae and the dynamics of transcriptional activity of lytic enzyme genes during basidiomycete morphogenesis

The morphogenesis of macromycetes is a complex multilevel process resulting in a set of molecular-genetic, physiological-biochemical, and morphological-ultrastructural changes in the cells. When the xylotrophic basidiomycetes Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa, and Ganoderma lucidum were grown on wood waste as the substrate, the ultrastructural morphology of the mycelial hyphal cell walls differed considerably between mycelium and morphostructures. As the macromycetes passed from vegetative to generative development, the expression of the tyr1, tyr2, chi1, chi2, exg1, exg2, and exg3 genes was activated. These genes encode enzymes such as tyrosinase, chitinase, and glucanase, which play essential roles in cell wall growth and morphogenesis.

[Effects of companion fungus on several enzymatic activities of Grofola umbellata]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of companion fungus on several enzymatic activities of Grifola umbellata.

METHOD

Chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, proteinase and extracellular enzymes of G. umbellata were measured during dual culturing with companion fungus.

RESULT

Companion fungus could induce the increase of chitinase and beta-1, 3-glucanase activities of G. umbellata. noevident changeswere found in proteinase activity. When in liquid culture, the activities of extracellular enzymes in dual cultured filtrate were between of these of G. umbellata and companion fungus in monocultures.

CONCLUSION

Sclerotia differentiation related materials supplied by mutual nutritional supplement between G. umbellata and companion fungus conduce to sclerotial formation of G. umbellata.

Isolation of bacteria from Grifola frondosa cultivation on wood logs to find mycelial growth-promoting bacteria

This study aimed to isolate bacteria that coexist with the edible mushroom Grifola frondosa when it is cultured on wood, and to determine their interactions; in turn, the aim was to find bacteria that stimulate mycelial growth so as to decrease the time required for spawn preparation on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Some Pseudomonas, Dyella, Bacillus, and Priestia spp. isolated from the cultivation surroundings of G. frondosa had a positive effect on the mycelial growth of the fungus in PDA. However, some isolated bacteria had a severe negative effect on the mycelial growth, especially Burkholderia spp. Thus, both mycelial-promoting bacteria and potentially pathogenic bacteria coexist with G. frondosa in cultivation. Enzyme activity assays indicated that some wood-degrading bacteria inhabit the cultivation surroundings of G. frondosa, and these bacteria probably help the fungus to degrade wood (especially cellulose).