Chemical defence strategies of higher fungi

Like plants, fungi have evolved a variety of defence strategies in order to protect themselves against feeding mammals, insects and infection with parasitic fungi. In contrast to plants little is known on the chemical ecology of fruiting bodies of higher fungi, particularly those defence mechanisms which are induced upon wounding have only occasionally been recognised. Methods both for the detection of permanently present defence compounds and for the elucidation of wound-activated chemical defence mechanisms are discussed in this concept paper.     

Phospholipid and fatty-acid compositions of higher fungi

The phospholipid and fatty-acid compositions of nine species of higher fungi have been investigated. In the various species studied the amount of total lipids ranged from 14 to 78 mg per gram dry weight. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were found as the main classes of phospholipids. In addition to these, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin and lyso derivatives of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were also found. The main fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic, their amount in some species reaching 90%; other acids were also found, but in small amounts.Institute of Ecology of the Volga Basin, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Tol'yatti. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 182–184, March–April, 1991.     

Determination of some reactive oxygen species scavengers based on the peroxidase-oxidase oscillator

This paper reports a new method for detection of ROS scavengers including superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione based on a 'probe' of peroxidase-oxidase biochemical oscillator. The oscillation period and amplitude change with different concentrations of scavengers. The linear ranges of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione are respectively 1.56 x 10(-4)-1.56 x 10(-3) mg mL(-1), 1.75 x 10(-7)-1.75 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) and 9.38 x 10(-7)-7.5 x 10(-5) mol L(-1). The selectivity, linearity and precision for superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid, and glutathione are presented and discussed. The results compared well with other standard methods for determination of superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid and glutathione. Some possible steps in the overall reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Methods for isolation of chitin-glucan complexes from higher fungi native biomass

Chitin-containing materials have been isolated from the biomass of Armillariella mellea natural higher fungi (Mari El, Russia) and have been identified with the use of a new simplified procedure based on a domestic detergent and soft reagents and two standard methods. The properties of the materials are compared with those of pure chitin isolated from crustaceans. Variations in the semiproduct composition (the contents of water, mineral and organic substances, total nitrogen, and D-glucosamine) during the isolation process are monitored. The advantages of the new procedure are demonstrated; it enables preservation of the native properties of the material in the course of chitin isolation. It has been shown that Armillariella mellea fungus may be used as a potential raw material for chitin production.     

Fatty-acid composition of certain species of marine mycelial fungi

The fatty-acid composition of seven strains of marine mycelial fungi was studied. GC and GC—MS showed that marine fungi of the genus Penicillium synthesized fatty-acid mixtures of saturated and unsaturated acids of similar compositions with different percent contents. Fatty-acid profiles of fungi associated with holothuria Chiridota ochotensis were characterized for the first time. Producers of branched 15:0 and dichloro- and cyclopropane-containing acids were observed. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 18–20, January-February, 2009.