Arylglycerol-gamma-Formyl Ester as an Aromatic Ring Cleavage Product of Nonphenolic beta-O-4 Lignin Substructure Model Compounds Degraded by Coriolus versicolor.

Kawai S, Umezawa T, Higuchi T.

Research Section of Lignin Chemistry, Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611, Japan.

Abstract

4-Ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-gamma-formyl ester (compound IV) was identified as a degradation product of both 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-beta-syringaldehyde ether (compound I) and 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-beta-2,6-dimethoxyphenyl ether (compound II) by a ligninolytic culture of Coriolus versicolor. An isotopic experiment with a C-labeled compound (compound II’) indicated that the formyl group of compound IV was derived from the beta-phenoxyl group of beta-O-4 dimer as an aromatic ring cleavage fragment. However, compound IV was not formed from 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-beta-guaiacyl ether (compound III). gamma-Formyl arylglycerol (compound IV) could be a precursor of 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol (compound VI), because 3-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-formyloxy propane (compound VII) was cleaved to give 3-(4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propanol (compound VIII) by C. versicolor. 4-Ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-beta,gamma-cyclic carbonate (compound V), previously found as a degradation product of compound III by Phanerochaete chrysosporium (T. Umezawa, and T. Higuchi, FEBS Lett., 25:123-126, 1985), was also identified from the cultures with compound I, II, and III and degraded to give the arylglycerol (compound VI). An isotopic experiment with C-labeled compounds II’ and III’ indicated that the carbonate carbon of compound V was derived from the beta-phenoxyl groups of beta-O-4 substructure.

PMID: 16346950 [PubMed]PMCID: PMC238788

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16346950

Production of some enzymes in the autolysis of the white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor in fermenter.

Gómez-Alarcón G, Lahoz R, Saiz-Jiménez C.

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Velázquez, Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

The autolysis and production of some extracellular enzymes by Coriolus versicolor was studied in submerged cultures. After 48 days of incubation the fungus lost 31% of its maximum dry weight. 1.3-beta-glucanase was excreted at the beginning of autolysis and proteases were present during the course of the experiment. On the other hand, laccase was produced in very small amount in the first days of incubation, reaching the maximum activity at the 8th-day of autolysis.

PMID: 3152104 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3152104

[Restoration of depressed immune responses by PSK in C3H/He mice bearing the syngeneic X5563 tumor]

[Article in Japanese]

Matsunaga K, Morita I, Oguchi Y, Fujii T, Yoshikumi C, Nomoto K.

Abstract

PSK is a protein-bound polysaccharide prepared from cultured mycelium of Coriolus versicolor. The effects of PSK on immunologic responsiveness were investigated in C3H/He mice bearing syngeneic X5563 tumor. The results were as follows. elayed foot pad reaction and antibody-forming capacity to sheep erythrocytes were depressed in tumor bearing mice, and such depression was prevented by oral or intraperitoneal administration of PSK. In vitro cytotoxic activity of splenic lymphocytes against the tumor was augmented by PSK administration. Antitumor effect was augmented by combination of PSK and X-irradiation. Delayed foot pad reaction to sheep erythrocytes was suppressed in normal C3H/He mice given immunosuppressive substance obtained from tumor-bearing mice, and the depressed reaction recovered to the normal level following PSK administration. These results show that PSK is effective in the syngeneic murine tumor system.

PMID: 3789756 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3789756