• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.289-294
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• 2021

A mushroom survey was conducted in Mt. Cleopatra Needle Forest Reserve (CNFR) northeast of Puerto Pincesa, the capital city of Palawan island, from August 2018 to September 2019. During this period, 433 fungal fruiting bodies were collected from 3 different from survey sites, Concepcion, Kalakwasan, and Tanabag Barangays. The specimens were identified based on their morphological and molecular analyses and classified into 176 species, 114 genera, 55 families, and 22 orders. The mushrooms belong to Ascomycota were classified into 20 species, 15 genera, 12 families, and 7 orders, while those belongs to Basidiomycota were classified into 156 species, 99 genera, 43 families, and 15 orders, respectively. Among these mushrooms, the families with high frequency were Polyporaceae (18.9%), Marasmiaceae (11.5%), Xylariaceae (9.7%), Agaricaceae (8.3%), Auriculariaceae (4.8%), Ganodermataceae (4.2%), Hypoxylaceae (3.2%), and Sarcoscyphaceae (3.0%), and comprised 63.7% of the total specimens identified. This report may be the first checklist of mushrooms in Mt. CNFR and could be used for developing conservation strategies of the critical habitat in Palawan island.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.676-685
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• 2021

RNA-binding proteins are involved in RNA metabolism and posttranscriptional regulation of various fundamental biological processes. The PUF family of RNA-binding proteins is highly conserved in eukaryotes, and its members regulate gene expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and RNA processing. However, their biological functions in Aspergillus species remain mostly unknown in filamentous fungi. Here we have characterized the puf genes in the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. We generated deletion mutant strains for the five putative puf genes present in the A. nidulans genome and investigated their developmental phenotypes. Deletion of pufA or pufE affected fungal growth and asexual development. pufA mutants exhibited decreased production of asexual spores and reduced mRNA expression of genes regulating asexual development. The pufE deletion reduced colony growth, increased formation of asexual spores, and delayed production of sexual fruiting bodies. In addition, the absence of pufE reduced both sterigmatocystin production and the mRNA levels of genes in the sterigmatocystin cluster. Finally, pufE deletion mutants showed reduced trehalose production and lower resistance to thermal stress. Overall, these results demonstrate that PufA and PufE play roles in the development and sterigmatocystin metabolism in A. nidulans.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

The ascomycete fungus Cordyceps militaris infects lepidopteran larvae and pupae and forms characteristic fruiting bodies. Owing to its immune-enhancing effects, the fungus has been used as a medicine. For industrial application, this fungus can be grown on geminated soybeans as an alternative protein source. In our study, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to identify core gene sets during C. militaris cultivation on germinated soybeans. RNA-Seq technology was applied to the fungal cultures at seven-time points (2, 4, and 7-day and 2, 3, 5, 7-week old cultures) to investigate the global transcriptomic change. We conducted a time-series analysis using a two-step regression strategy and chose 1460 significant genes and assigned them into five clusters. Characterization of each cluster based on Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases revealed that transcription profiles changed after two weeks of incubation. Gene mapping of cordycepin biosynthesis and isoflavone modification pathways also confirmed that gene expression in the early stage of GSC cultivation is important for these metabolic pathways. Our transcriptomic analysis and selected genes provided a comprehensive molecular basis for the cultivation of C. militaris on germinated soybeans.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.551-558
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• 2021

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an island country in the western Pacific and is a known biodiversity hotspot. However, a relatively small number of fungi (236 species) have been reported till July 2021. Since fungi play major ecological roles in ecosystems, we investigated the fungal diversity of FSM from various sources over 2016 and 2017 and constructed a local fungal inventory, which also included the previously reported species. Fruiting bodies were collected from various host trees and fungal strains were isolated from marine and terrestrial environments. A total of 99 species, of which 78 were newly reported in the FSM, were identified at the species level using a combination of molecular and morphological approaches. Many fungal species were specific to the environment, host, or source. Upon construction of the fungal inventory, 314 species were confirmed to reside in the FSM. This inventory will serve as an important basis for monitoring fungal diversity and identifying novel biological resources in FSM.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

Agaricales species form pileate-stipitate fruiting bodies and play important roles in maintaining the terrestrial ecosystem as decomposers, symbionts, and pathogens. Approximately 23,000 Agaricales species have been known worldwide, and 937 species have been recorded in the Republic of Korea. However, most of them were identified solely based on morphological characteristics that often led to misidentifications. The specimens collected from 2018 to 2020 in the Republic of Korea were identified based on phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Their identities were confirmed by microscopic characteristics. As a result, 14 Agaricales species were discovered for the first time in the Republic of Korea. They belonged to nine genera: Agaricus, Calocybe, Cortinarius, Hygrocybe, Inocybe, Lepista, Leucoagaricus, Marasmius, and Psathyrella. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic descriptions were provided to help distinguish these species. The morphological and molecular data provided in this study will serve as reliable references for the identification of Agaricales species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.183-194
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• 2022

Two fungal strains, designated KNUF-21-006 and KNUF-21-028, were isolated from soil samples collected from Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. The strain KNUF-21-006 was similar to other Pestalotiopsis species in terms of morphological characteristics, including whitish to pale brown mycelium, conidial shape, and size. The isolate had aerial hyphae that produced black fruiting bodies on the mycelium. The conidia were fusoid to ellipsoid, four-septate, and appendage-bearing. Phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), and β-tubulin (TUB) gene sequences confirmed that the closest relationship of the isolate at the species level was with Pestalotiopsis clavata. The strain KNUF-21-028 exhibits similar morphological characteristics to other Botryotrichum species, including white aerial mycelium with sulcate and irregular margins, conidial shape, and size. The conidia were globose, single, and hyaline. Upon molecular analysis-using the ITS region, large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and TUB gene sequences-the fungus was identified as Botryotrichum iranicum. This is the first record of these fungal species in Korea.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2022

The ascomycete fungus Cordyceps militaris infects lepidopteran insect pupae, forming characteristic fruiting bodies called "Dong Chung Ha Cho" in Korean. They have been used as medicines owing to their anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-enhancing effects. This fungus can be grown on the geminated soybeans Rhynchosia nulubilis, which also contains several novel isoflavones. We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis to determine core gene sets or pathways contributing to biologically active products such as isoflavone. Initially, we sequenced 2-week-old fungal cultures on different soybean agar media, where different amounts of water agar were implemented to show different surface topology. We selected 830 upregulated and 188 downregulated genes by comparing linear models of the samples (two-fold change threshold). Gene ontology analysis identified that the "IMP biosynthesis" term was significantly found in the upregulated gene sets. The pathway is involved in the synthesis of cordycepin, the reference chemical for C. militaris. This finding in the transcriptome data is consistent with the previous observation: increased cordycepin concentrations in the C. militaris cultured on germinated soybean.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.83-97
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• 2024

Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops, employs the production of sexual fruiting bodies (perithecia) on plant debris as a strategy for overwintering and dissemination. In an artificial condition (e.g., carrot agar medium), the F. graminearum Z3643 strain was capable of producing perithecia predominantly in the central region of the fungal culture where aerial hyphae naturally collapsed. To unravel the intricate relationship between natural aerial hyphae collapse and sexual development in this fungus, we focused on 699 genes differentially expressed during aerial hyphae collapse, with 26 selected for further analysis. Targeted gene deletion and quantitative real-time PCR analyses elucidated the functions of specific genes during natural aerial hyphae collapse and perithecium formation. Furthermore, comparative gene expression analyses between natural collapse and artificial removal conditions reveal distinct temporal profiles, with the latter inducing a more rapid and pronounced response, particularly in MAT gene expression. Notably, FGSG_09210 and FGSG_09896 play crucial roles in sexual development and aerial hyphae growth, respectively. Taken together, it is plausible that if aerial hyphae collapse occurs on plant debris, it may serve as a physical cue for inducing perithecium formation in crop fields, representing a survival strategy for F. graminearum during winter. Insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying aerial hyphae collapse provides offer potential strategies for disease control against FHB caused by F. graminearum.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

Calcium ions play an important role in development and intracellular signaling. Dictyostelium discoideum has 14 genes encoding calcium -binding proteins (CBPs), but the function of most CBPs during development has not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated the specific functions of CBP7, one of 14 CBPs, in development using RNA interference cell lines of CBP7, cell lines overexpressing CBP7, cell lines with point mutations in the EF-hand domain, and cell lines expressing fragment proteins. was intended to reveal. CBP7 consists of 169 amino acids and contains 4EF-hand domains. The CBP7-overexpressing cells showed complete loss of developmental process. These cells remained in the single-cell growth stage under development -inducing conditions, while wild-type cells formed aggregations within 6-8h of development and eventually formed fruiting bodies. The experiments using point-mutated CBP7 protein showed that all EF-hand domains of CBP7 were important for CBP7 to function during developmental process. These results suggest that CBP7 plays an important role in developmental processes across all EF-hand domains.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2011

80% methanol and 0.9% neutral saline soluble and hot water substances (hereinafter referred to Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH, respectively) were extracted from fruiting bodies of Grifola frondosa. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, crude polysaccharides were not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines such as Sarcoma 180 and RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 10~2000 ${\mu}g/ml$, but crude polysaccharides from Fr. NaCl was slightly toxic to HT-29 and NIH3T3 at the concentration of 2000 ${\mu}g/ml$. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides exhibited life prolongation effect of 25.0~52.9% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Fr. HW increased the numbers of spleen cells by 1.3 fold at the concentration of 200 ${\mu}g/ml$ compared with control. Fr. NaCl improved the immuno-stimulating activity of B lymphocyte by increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.5 fold compared with control at the concentration of 200 ${\mu}g/ml$. 10~14 ${\mu}M$ of nitric acid were generated when Fr. NaCl was added to RAW 264.7 at the concentration of 50~500 ${\mu}g/ml$, while the control group produced 4.3 ${\mu}M$ of nitric oxide. The Fr. NaCl, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH increased the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, Il-2 and IL-6 by more than 1.4 times compared with the control group. The Fr. of MeOH increased the numbers of peritoneal exudate cells and circulating leukocytes by 3.0 and 2.0 folds compared with the control at the concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Therefore, the crude polysaccharides extracted from fruiting bodies of Grifola frondosa could improve antitumor activity of mice.