• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2010

We identified a gene for $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthesis (GBG1), a nonessential gene whose disruption alters cell wall synthesis enzyme activities and cell wall composition. This gene was cloned by functional complementation of defects in $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase activity of the the previously isolated Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant LP0353, which displays a number of cell wall defects at restrictive temperature. Disruption of the GBG1 gene did not affect cell viability or growth rate, but did cause alterations in cell wall synthesis enzyme activities: reduction of $\beta$-1,3-glucan synthase and chitin synthase III activities as well as increased chitin synthase I and II activities. GBG1 disruption also showed altered cell wall composition as well as susceptibility toward cell wall inhibitors such as Zymolyase, Calcofluor white, and Nikkomycin Z. These results indicate that GBG1 plays a role in cell wall biogenesis in S. cerevisiae.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.399-409
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• 2020

Many of the 𝛽-glucans are known to have antihypertensive activities, but, except for angiotensin-converting enzyme II inhibition, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Corin is an atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-converting enzyme. Activated corin cleaves pro-ANP to ANP, which regulates water-sodium balance and lowers blood pressure. Here, we reported a novel antihypertensive mechanism of 𝛽-glucans, involved with corin and ANP in mice. We showed that multiple oral administrations of 𝛽-glucan induced the expression of corin and ANP, and also increased natriuresis in mice. Microarray analysis showed that corin gene expression was only upregulated in mice liver by multiple, not single, oral administrations of the 𝛽-glucan fraction of Phellinus baumii (BGF). Corin was induced in liver and kidney tissues by the 𝛽-glucans from zymosan and barley, as well as by BGF. In addition to P. baumii, 𝛽-glucans from two other mushrooms, Phellinus linteus and Ganoderma lucidum, also induced corin mRNA expression in mouse liver. ELISA immunoassays showed that ANP production was increased in liver tissue by all the 𝛽-glucans tested, but not in the heart and kidney. Urinary sodium excretion was significantly increased by treatment with 𝛽-glucans in the order of BGF, zymosan, and barley, both in 1% normal and 10% high-sodium diets. In conclusion, we found that the oral administration of 𝛽-glucans could induce corin expression, ANP production, and sodium excretion in mice. Our findings will be helpful for investigations of 𝛽-glucans in corin and ANP-related fields, including blood pressure, salt-water balance, and circulation.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2021

Mushroom consumption causes changes in the immune system and gut microbiota via the actions of mushroom probiotic components. β-Glucan structure-related substances suppress secretion of inflammatory mediators, and induce macrophage activation, enhancing immunity and immune function. Substances other than directly useful components can be metabolized into short-chain fatty acids by gut microbiota. These short-chain fatty acids can then induce immunity, alleviating various diseases. Substances used to stimulate growth of health-promoting gut bacteria, thereby changing the gut microbiota community are defined to be probiotics. Probiotic altered intestinal microflora can prevent various types of bacterial infection from external sources, and can help to maintain immune system balance, thus preventing diseases. Research into beneficial components of Pleurotus eryngii, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Flammulina velutipes, Auricularia auricula-judae, and Agaricus bisporus, which are frequently consumed in Korea, changes in microbiota, changes in short-chain fatty acids, and correlations between consumption and health contribute to our understanding of the effects of dietary mushrooms on disease prevention and mitigation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-237
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• 2022

In this study, the effects of the immune stimulator Euglena gracilis (Euglena) in cyclophosphamide (CCP)-induced immunocompromised mice were assessed. The key component β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) constitutes 50% of E. gracilis. Mice were orally administered Euglena powder (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or β-glucan powder (250 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days. In a preliminary immunology experiment, ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg of CCP/kg B.W. during the final 3 consecutive days. In the main experiment, BALB/c mice were treated with CCP for the final 5 days. To evaluate the enhancing effects of Euglena on the immune system, mouse B.W., the spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression in splenocytes lungs and livers were determined. To detect cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with 5 ㎍/ml concanavalin A or 1 ㎍/ml lipopolysaccharide. The B.W. and spleen index were significantly increased and NK cell activity was slightly enhanced in all the experimental groups compared to the CCP-only group. In splenocytes, the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-12 receptor were increased in the E. gracilis and β-glucan groups compared to the CCP-only group, but there was no significant difference. Treatment with 500 mg of Euglena/kg B.W. significantly upregulated dectin-1 mRNA expression in the lung and liver compared to the CCP-only group. These results suggest that Euglena may enhance the immune system by strengthening innate immunity through immunosuppression.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.220-229
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• 2009

Strain improvement and morphology investigation in bioreactor cultures were undertaken in suspended cultures of Phellinus linteus mycelia for mass production of protein-bound polysaccharides(soluble ${\beta}$-D-glucan), a powerful immuno-stimulating agent. Phellineus sp. screened for this research was identified as Phellinus linteues through ITS rDNA sequencing method and blast search, demonstrating 99.7% similarity to other Phellinus linteus strains. Intensive strain improvement program was carried out by obtaining large amounts of protoplasts for the isolation of single cell colonies. Rapid and large screening of high-yielding producers was possible because large numbers of protoplasts ($1{\times}10^5{\sim}10^6\;protoplasts/ml$) formed using the banding filtration method with the cell wall-disrupting enzymes could be regenerated in relatively high regeneration frequency($10^{-2}{\sim}10^{-3}$) in the newly developed regeneration medium. It was demonstrated that the strains showing high performances in the protoplast regeneration and solid growth medium were able to produce 5.8~6.4%(w/w) of ${\beta}$-D-glucan and 13~15 g/L of biomass in stable manners in suspended shake-flask cultures of P. linteus mycelia. In addition, cell mass increase was observed to be the most important in order to enhance ${\beta}$-D-glucan productivity during the course of strain improvement program, since the amount of ${\beta}$-D-glucan extracted from the cell wall of P. linteus mycelia was almost constant on the unit biomass basis. Therefore we fully investigated the fungal cell morphology, generally known as one of the key factors affecting cell growth extent in the bioreactor cultures of mycelial fungal cells. It was found that, in order to obtain as high cell mass as possible in the final production bioreactor cultures, the producing cells should be proliferated in condensed filamentous forms in the growth cultures, and optimum amounts of these filamentous cells should be transferred as active inoculums to the production bioreactor. In this case, ideal morphologies consisting of compacted pellets less than 0.5mm in diameter were successfully induced in the production cultures, resulting in shorter period of lag phase, 1.5 fold higher specific cell growth rate and 3.3 fold increase in the final biomass production as compared to the parallel bioreactor cultures of different morphological forms. It was concluded that not only the high-yielding but also the good morphological characteristics led to the significantly higher biomass production and ${\beta}$-D-glucan productivity in the final production cultures.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 2018

This study was to investigate the optimal condition of mixture ratio for development of functional food ingredient from Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran. First, $^{\circ}Brix$ was measured along with extraction time. Five kinds of mixtures of Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran (10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, 0:10) were extracted in $95^{\circ}C$ water over a one-hour period and the extraction yield was evaluated. We further evaluated ${\beta}-glucan$ content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content and total flavonoids content. As a result, both Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran showed a constant $^{\circ}Brix$ after 45 minutes of extraction time. The content of ${\beta}-glucan$ was highest in the Sarcodon aspratus and rice bran mixture with a ratio of 3:7. As the ratio of rice bran increased in all mixtures, the antioxidant capacity also increased. In conclusion, to create a functional food ingredient the optimal mixing ratio of Sarcodon aspratus to rice bran is 3:7.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.199-203
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• 2007

Dental caries is a major worldwide oral disease problem. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays an important role in the information of dental plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. Therefore, the development of more effective, substantial and safe preventive agents against dental caries is strongly required. In the present study, inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of the husk of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) on the growth, acid production, adhesion and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) were examined. The ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (250 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) significantly lowered the growth of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. The acid production of S. mutans were inhibited by the presence of ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (500 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) significantly. The ethanol extract of pomegranate husk (5000 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml) also significantly lowered the adherence of S. mutans. In water-insoluble glucan synthesis assay, 1000 - 4000 ${\mu}$g/ml of the ethanol extract of pomegranate husk significantly inhibited the formation of water-insoluble glucan. These results suggest that pomegranate husk may inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of pomegranate husk responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2012

Three oat cultivars and one oat breeding line were evaluated for chemical, hydration and pasting properties. Protein, starch and ${\beta}$-glucan levels ranged 11.13~14.37, 56.37~64.86 and 3.44~4.76%, respectively. The oat cultivars Daeyang and Seonyang contained higher ${\beta}$-glucan levels of 4.76 and 4.35%. The Daeyang variety had a higher water absorption index (WAI) of 2.83~3.35 (g/g), but a lower water solubility index (WSI) of 8.67~11.08%. Daeyang and Seonyang cultivars showed higher peak and trough viscosity, but lower breakdown and setback, indicating that they easily swell, and thus could possibly provide the desirable viscosity of an oat product. The ${\beta}$-glucan levels were correlated positively with WAI, peak and trough viscosity, and negatively to WSI, breakdown and setback viscosity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.854-858
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• 2010

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) plays an important role in the information of dental plaque and it is being noticed as major causative bacteria of dental caries. In the present study, inhibitory effects of the ethanol extract of Dianthus superbus Linne (D. superbus) on the growth, acid production, adhesion and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans were examined. The ethanol extract of D. superbus (0.5 - 4 mg/ml) significantly lowered the growth of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. The acid production of S. mutans were inhibited by the presence of ethanol extract of D. superbus(1 - 4 mg/ml) significantly. The ethanol extract of D. superbus (0.25 - 4 mg/ml) also significantly lowered the adherence of S. mutans in a dose dependent manner. In water-insoluble glucan synthesis assay, 0.25 - 4 mg/ml of the ethanol extract of D. superbus significantly inhibited the formation of water-insoluble glucan. These results suggest that D. superbus may inhibit the caries-inducing properties of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of D. superbus responsible for such biomolecular activities.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2001

In order to breed barley lines with reduced viscosity of wort, a fractured starch mutant of naked barley cultivar, Nubet, was obtained from the M2 seeds mutated by the diethyl sulfate treatment. Seeds of this fractured starch mutant were opaque and the endosperm consists of angular, irregular and fractured starch. The mutant was caused by single recessive mutation and assigned by the symbol fra. The gene was located on chromosome 4, distal in long arm by linkage recombinations using translocation homozygote lethal test set. The linkage value between the fractured starch mutant and 72-4a, 72-4d were 26.0$\pm$4.9, 34.2$\pm$3.1 percent respectively. In addition to the reduced seed size, fewer kernels per spike and higher tillering ability, lower $\beta$-glucan viscosity and higher lysine content of the grain were associated with this mutant. $\beta$-glucan viscosity of the Nubet grains increased from 3 weeks after anthesis to matury and most of the viscose substances appeared to be stored in the middle of the endosperm tissue. Since the mutant grains showed better milling property as compared to Nubet, it can be used as breeding resources to develope new barley cultivars for maltins and milling purpose.