NRPS (non-ribosomal pepetide synthetase) plays an important role in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which includes economically important compounds such as antibiotics, antitumor agents, immune-suppressants, siderophores, toxins, etc. In most cases, however, their functions and biosynthesizing pathways have been still remained riddles because of their cryptic expression and recalcitrant genetics. In our previous genome analyses of Cordyceps bassiana C101, we predicted the sequences of secondary metabolite biosynthesizing gene clusters, which contain non-ribosomal pepetide synthetases whose functions are already known such as beauvericin, bassianolide, bassiatin, tenellin, beauverolides, and oosporein. The authors focused on nrps6 that has not been functionally studied. The single-gene deletion and overexpression mutants were established via Agrobacterium-mediated transformations. PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and southern blot analyses were carried out to confirm the correct single-gene integrated homologous recombination. In further study, comparative metabolic profiling between wild-type and mutant strains will be followed by their detailed chemical structure analysis through NMR spectroscopy.

Cordyceps species are diverse and grow worldwide from larval to adult stages of a range of insects. They are traditionally regarded as medicinal mushrooms in Asia for their immune-enhancing properties. Different species of Cordyceps are being cultivated in large scale to fulfill the demand of public consumption as supplementary health food or immune booster. Cultivation of Cordyceps fruiting bodies is a complex process and a controlled environment of temperature, light, humidity etc. along with appropriate medium is a prerequisite for regular, stable fruiting process. Besides environmental factors, recent molecular studies have shown the role of genetic factors that control normal fruiting body production of Cordyceps. Recent progress in our understanding of Cordyceps fruiting in laboratory condition is discussed with some prospect of better fruiting body production of Cordyceps spp. in future.

당류 성분을 단당류, 이당류, 알코올로 나눠서 비교 분 석하였으며 우선 단당류에서 Glucose는 ASI 7114가 81.11 g/l 로 다른 약용버섯 및 식용버섯과 비교를 해 봐도 가장 많은 함량을 보였고, Fructose에서는 노루궁뎅이버 섯이 119.98 g/l 이었고, 팽이버섯, 표고버섯도 많은 함량 을 보였다. 하지만 영지버섯 중 가장 높게 나타난 것은 ASI 7015로 15.70 g/l 이었다. 노루궁뎅이 버섯보다는 1/8 정도 수준이었다. Ribose는 전체적으로 낮은 값을 보였으 며, 대부분 함유하지 않음을 알 수 있었다. Xylose는 전체 적으로 낮은 값을 보였으며, ASI 7004가 0.96 g/l 로 다른 약용버섯 및 식용버섯과 비교를 해 봐도 가장 많은 함량 을 보였지만 큰 차이는 없었다. 다음은 이당류인 Trehalose에서는 양송이버섯이 35.21 g/l 로 가장 많은 함량을 보였고, 영지버섯중 가장 많은 함량을 갖고 있는 ASI 7033의 3.09 g/l 보다도 11배이상 함유하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. α-Lactose에서는 꽃송이 버섯이 3.38 g/l 로 높은 값을 보였고, 영지버섯 중 가장 많은 함량을 갖고 있는 ASI 7060의 0.27 g/l 보다도 12.5 배 이상 함유하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 당 알콜인 Glycerol 에서는 새송이버섯이 69.74 g/l 로 가장 많은 함량을 보였고, 영지버섯 중 가장 많은 함량을 갖고 있는 ASI 7004의 8.61 g/l 보다도 8배 이상 함유하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. Sorbitol에서는 팽이버섯이 0.72 g/l 로 가장 많은 함량 을 보였고, 영지버섯 중 가장 많은 함량을 갖고 있는 ASI 7003의 0.38 g/l 보다도 2배정도 함유하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한 대부분의 영지버섯에서는 함유하고 있지 않았다. Mannitol에서는 양송이가 2.96 g/l 로 가장 많은 함량을 갖고 있었으며, 표고버섯과 노랑느타리버섯 에서만 함유하고 있었으며, 영지버섯에서는 함유하고 있 지 않은 걸로 나타났다. 마지막으로 myo-Inositol의 함량 을 분석한 결과, 모든 것에서 함유하고 있지 않은 걸로 보였다.

느타리버섯은 한국사람들에게 인기있는 버섯이며 새송 이버섯, 팽이버섯과 더불어 대부분 많이 재배되어지는 버 섯이다. 느타리버섯의 항산화 효능과 폴리페놀 함량을 비 교 분석하였다. 항산화 효능을 분석한 결과 열수추출에서 는 ASI 2099가 가장 높게 나타났으며, 주정과 메탄올 추 출물에서는 ASI 2122가 가장 높게 나타났다. 폴리페놀 성분은 대부분 7~10 mg/g 이었으며, 추출용매별 함량차 이는 크지 않았다.

이번 연구에서는 식용 및 약용버섯 자실체를 가지고 버 섯의 주요 기능성 성분인 총 당의 함량을 추출방법을 달 리하여 비교분석하였다. 열수추출, 산추출, 알칼리 추출을 통해 총 당 측정법으로 미량의 시료에 적합한 페놀-황산 법으로 측정하였다. 표준 곡선은 glucose solution을 사용 하여 작성하고 측정한 흡광도를 표준곡선에 적용하여 시 료의 농도를 얻었다. 열수추출에서는 동충하초가 658.4 (μg/g)로 가장 높았고, 산추출과 알칼리 추출에서는 운지 버섯이 각각 649.7(μg/g)와 679.0(μg/g)로 가장 높음을 알 수 있었다. 추출방법별로 열수추출과 마이크로웨이브 추출로 총 당 함량을 정량한 결과 열수 추출에서는 동충하초, ASI 7025가 높았고, 1 hr 마이크로웨이브 추출 및 2 hr 마 이크로웨이브 추출에서는 운지버섯, 꽃송이가 높게 나타났 다. 이러한 결과를 통해 각기 다른 추출용매와 추출방법에 따라서 추출되는 총 당 함량이 다름을 알 수 있었다.

4-isopropyl-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)aniline 1 (KTH13-AD1) is a metabolite of Cordyceps bassiana that has been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory disease. Even though it has the magnificent pharmaceutical potential, there was not much understanding on its anti-inflammatory actions. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of KTH13-AD1. We found that KTH13-AD1 suppressed nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-treated macrophages (RAW264.7 cells). Similarly, mRNA expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) analyzed by RT-PCR and real-time PCR was also reduced by this compound. Interestingly, KTH13-AD1 also strongly diminished the levels of NF-kB-mediated luciferase activities and nuclear translocated NF-kB family proteins. In agreement with these, KTH13-AD1 suppressed the upstream signaling pathway for NF-kB activation including IkBa, IKKa/b, AKT, p85/PI3K and Src in time- and dose-dependent manners. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that KTH13-AD1 has a strong anti-inflammatory activity via suppression of the NF-kB signaling pathway.

In the past two decades, European ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) have been severely damaged by ash dieback disease of which causal agent is a fungal species called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (anamorphic stage Chalara fraxinea). Recent molecular phylogenetic and population genetic studies suggested that this fungus may have been introduced from Eastern Asia to Europe. In the course of fungal biodiversity survey in Korea, H. fraxineus-like apothecia were collected from fallen leaves, rachis and petioles of Korean ash and Manchurian ash trees. The morphological and ecological traits of these materials are provided, supplemented by ITS rDNA sequence comparison of H. fraxineus strains collected from Europe, China and Japan.

Cordyceps species (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) were previously mentioned under dominant genera such as basidiomycetous Clavaria Vaill. ex L. and ascomycetous Sphaeria Haller. Cordyceps Fr. was coined by Fries (1818) from a combination of a Greek word cordyle, meaning a club, and a Latin word caput, meaning a head. Cordyceps was, however, ranked at tribal level under Sphaeria by Fries (1823). Link (1833) later re-elevated Cordyceps to genus level. As a result, there was variation on author citation of Cordyceps in different botanical codes such as Cordyceps (E. M. Fries) Link (1833), Cordyceps E. M. Fries (1818) and Cordyceps Fr. (1824). In 19th and 20th centuries, more and more species were described, with necessity to divide Cordyceps into subgenera, sections and subsections based on morphological similarities. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies, however, showed that Cordyceps is polyphyletic and its members are dispersed in various clades within Hypocreales. As a consequence, Cordyceps was amended in strict sense by Sung et al. (2007) and distantly related clades were named under separate genera. Here, we review recent nomenclatural changes of Cordyceps-related fungi in light of recent changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN).

Cordyceps militar is (Clavicipitales) is an edible mushroom which is widely distributed in China, Japan and Korea. Various phytochemical constituents, cordycepin, homocitrully laminoadenosine and sterols have been reported from this source and a wide range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, macrophage activation, anticancer, immune modulatory effects were studied. In a continuing search for bioactive constituents from Korean mushrooms, we performed a phytochemical investigation of the MeOH extract from the fruiting bodies of C. militaris. By repeated column chromatographic separation of the extract, fourteen compounds, were isolated. The identification and structural elucidation of the compound was based on NMR spectral data. anti-aging activities were performed on adriamycin-induced cellular senescence model. Human dermal fibroblasts(HDFs) and human umbilical endothelial cells(HUVECs) treated with adriamycin for inducing aging were used for cytotoxicity and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase(SA-β-gal) activity assay.

Thousands of mushrooms grow wild in earth and fifteen hundreds of mushrooms in Asia. Mushrooms has been used for food ingredients since early times. Recently it is being used as a good pharmaceutical material or functional bio-material. Because of unknown function, it is worth while to examine the wild mushrooms. We performed experiments with 15species(Russula sorroria, Lactarius japonicum, Tylopilus vireus, Amanita, Russula foetens, pseudoporphyia, etc.) of wild mushrooms. With Methyl alcohol extracts of wild mushrooms, we have investigated the cell growth inhibition by the MTT assay and antioxidant effects by DPPH. Among them, showed excellent results. In this meaning, Forward a variety of biologically research(antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects) is needed.

Mushrooms has been used for food ingredients since early times. Recently it is being used as a good pharmaceutical material or functional bio-material. Especially Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus and Inonotus are used for medicinal purposes. Ganoderma is a basidiomycete white rot fungus which has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries particularly in China, Japan and Korea. A great deal of work has been carried out on Ganoderma lucidum. The metabolites consist of mainly polysaccharides and terpenoids. At present, Ganoderma is a health food supplement to support cancer patients, yet the evidence supporting the potential of direct in vivo anticancer effects should not be underestimated. the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects and anti-inflammatory of Ganoderma lucidum in some kinds of human cell lines (Gastric:AGS, liver:HepG2, breast:MCF-7, lung:A549, uterine:Hela, Raw 264.7) we are examined the cell viability by MTT assay and effects of anti-inflammatory by NO assay. Anticancer and anti-inflammatory effect in the 10strains were selected.

Ganoderma lucidum, a popular medicinal mushroom, has been used in China for longevity and health promotion since ancient times. Recently it is being used as a good pharmaceutical material or functional bio-material. Total 106 strains was cultured at temperature(25 ℃, 30 ℃ ,35 ℃) to study cultural properties of Ganoderma lucidum. Then the mycelium growth was digitized in the average diameter. With the result, Ganoderma lucidum strain has the optimum growing temperature at 25 ℃ with 25 strains, 30 ℃ with 70 strains and 35 ℃ with 11 strains. The 84strains were cultivated in wood for investigating the cultivation properties of Ganoderma lucidum. With the result, 70mm~90mm of the pileus diameter (major axis, mm) and 70mm-80mm of pileus diameter (minor axis, mm) was measured after one year cultivation. And 1,000-2,000 ㎟ of strain took the most the area (major axis x minor axis). The 30-40mm of stipe length,1time of harvesting and volume was 200g~400g took the most. 10cm-15cm of the pileus diameter (major axis, mm), 5cm~7.5cm of pileus diameter (minor axis, mm) and 15-20mm of thickness was measured after 2 year cultivation. And 50~100 ㎟ of strain took the most the area (major axis x minor axis). The 5-10mm of stipe length, 2 times of harvesting and volume was 200g~400g took the most. we are selected a middle model through this result. phylogenetic relationships was drawn based on the ITS sequence analysis in Ganoderma lucidum.

Beauveria bassiana is one of universal insect pathogenic fungi that have been used for biocontrol agent against insect pests. This fungus has also been studied for medicinal use. To meet for commercial use, the artificial production of the fruit body of this fungus has been established by the Mushtech Co in Korea. This study was carried out to define the morphological features of the fruit body of B. bassiana developed through artificial cultivation. For the observation of mycelia growth, B. bassiana was cultured on the Sabouraud Dextrose agar plus Yeast Extract(SDAY), nut-supplemented medium, and Fe ion-supplemented SDAY at 25℃ for 15 days. The variation of colony color was observed between the different media. Strong pigmentation was observed on Fe ion-supplemented SDAY. To investigate morphological characteristics of fruit body, geminating ascospores and vegetative hyphae were observed though light microscopy and scanning microscope. During seven weeks of cultivation period, the development process of apical fertile part of stromata can be separated by the development stage of perithecia. To understand the developing process of fruit body at the transcript level, investigating process of distinct gene expression according to cultural condition and developmental stage was discussed.

This study was carried out to investigate neuronal protective activity of fruiting body of Hericium erinaceum. In order to search the effective active compound against amyloid beta peptide-induced oxidative stress on neuronal cells, rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12), Extracts of Hericium erinaceum were screened and evaluated using both the 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate assay (DCF-DA), and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. According to above assays, Solvent partitions of extracts were selected for further purification and isolation of anti-Alzheimer’s disease compound as it exerted the highest protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress.

We investigated 18 amino acid contents in the fruiting bodies of Agaricus strains to understand their variation in different growth temperature. Although total content of amino acid was more or less different depending on the isolates, it increased until the temperature was 22℃ and decreased above 22℃. Commercial strains of A. bisporus, such as Yangsongi-505, Yangsongi-705 and commercial strain A collected in the market exhibited these general trend in total amino acid content. However, another commercial strain B did not follow these trend. A strain of A. bitorquis did not produce mushrooms at 10 and 13℃, but mushrooms harvested in the other treated temperatures exhibited with the similar patten. Generally, the most amino acid contained in Agaricus spp. was cysteine and followed by phenylalanine, glutamic acid, lysine, proline and histidine. We detected two trends for the contents of each amino acid in the fruiting bodies of Agaricus spp. grown at the different growing temperature. Some amino acid contents were largely correlated with the growth temperature, but the others showed the trend of increase until 22℃ and decrease above 22℃.

We investigated 18 amino acid contents in the fruiting bodies of Agaricus strains to understand their variation in the harvesting periods. Total content of amino acid was different depending on the isolates. In the case of A. bitorquis and A. brunnescens, the total amino acid content increased and correlated with the harvesting periods. For commercial strains of A. bisporus, such as Yangsongi-505, Yangsongi-705 and commercial strain A collected in the market, it increased until the second harvesting period, but decreased in the third harvesting period indicating that these three isolates exhibit the exceptions for the general trend. Among isolates we used in our experiments, the isolate of A. brunnescens contained the highest and two isolates of A. bisporus were the lowest in total amino acids. We found two trends for the contents of each amino acid in the fruiting bodies of Agaricus spp.. One is the same with the trend of the total amino acid content and the amino acid content were largely correlated with the harvesting period. The other is the trend of increase of amino acid until the second harvesting period and decrease of amino acid in the third harvesting period, which was also shown in the total amino acid content of A. bisporus. Generally, the most amino acid contained in Agaricus was cysteine and followed by phenylalanine, glutamic acid, lysine, proline and histidine.

Cordyceps sensu lato is known as one of the largest genera in hypocrealean fungi and largest group of entomopathogenic fungi in Ascomycota. Approximately 400 species are members of Cordyceps s. l. and most of them are obligate symbionts of 10 orders of arthropods and false truffles specifically parasitizing Elaphomyces spp. Recently, Cordyceps s. l. was reclassified into Cordyceps sensu stricto, Elaphocordyceps, MetaCordyceps, and OphioCordyceps in three families (i.e., Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae, Ophiocordycipitaceae) with the evidence of recent multigene phylogenetic analyses coupled with morphological and ecological characters. With the closely related animal, plant and fungal associated genera (e.g., Balansia, Claviceps, Hypocrella and Torrubiella) of Cordyceps s. l., Cordyceps s. l. and its related genera in Hypocreales have been considered as one of the model systems in understanding the evolution of host affiliation in Kingdom Fungi. Here the overview of molecular systematic of Cordyceps was presented with its evolutionary hypotheses of host affiliation based on the ancestral state reconstruction from 162-taxon data set. In our results, the evolution of its host affiliation is largely characterized by frequent interkingdom host-jumps and ergot and grass endophytes (e.g., Balansia, Claviceps, Epichloe and Neotyphodium) are hypothesized to be derived from an ancestor that parasitized arthropods. Around 350 taxa have been included in the molecular phylogeny of Cordyceps s. l. after the new classification was proposed. Therefore, the progress and problems in current molecular phylogeny are also presented with introduction of the future research direction in molecular systematics and genomics of Cordyceps and its related genera.