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Frontiers in Microbiology 2020The genus has important economic and ecological values. In 2016, we isolated a strain . After studying the phylogenetic relationship of , we believe that is an...
The genus has important economic and ecological values. In 2016, we isolated a strain . After studying the phylogenetic relationship of , we believe that is an independent species and speculate that it is a natural nothospecies. Recently, the morphological characteristics and sequences of seven genes (ITS, LSU, β-tubulin, calmodulin, RNA polymerase II subunit, β-ketoacyl synthase, and mating-type locus 1-1) of 15 strains were analyzed, including sequencing of multiple clones of five protein genes in four strains. Two types of haplotypes (A and B) were observed in the five protein genes of . Haplotype A was closely related to , and haplotype B may be derived from an unknown species. The results demonstrated that including type strains may be a natural nothospecies. This study laid the foundation for further exploration of the genome, and the study may be of significant importance for the fermentation industry.
PubMed: 33414778
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.614910 -
Steroids Feb 2020Using a cell-based cytotoxicity assay, two new polyhydroxylated sterols, 16(S),22(S)-epoxy-3β,5α,6β,20(R),23(R),25-hexahydroxy-7-ergostene and...
Using a cell-based cytotoxicity assay, two new polyhydroxylated sterols, 16(S),22(S)-epoxy-3β,5α,6β,20(R),23(R),25-hexahydroxy-7-ergostene and 3β,7β,8α,25-tetrahydroxy-5,22E-ergostadiene were isolated from the ethyl acetate portion of the ethanolic extract of Monascus purpureus. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and in comparison with those reported in the literature. Both compounds showed cytotoxic activity against the lung adenocarcinoma (A549) with IC values of 12.6 and 18.5 μM, exhibited moderate activities against human ovarian cancer (A2780), with IC values of 8.8 and 9.4 μM.
Topics: A549 Cells; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Proliferation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Fermentation; Humans; Hydroxylation; Molecular Conformation; Monascus; Oryza; Sterols; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 31758964
DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2019.108546 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Jan 2022Azaphilone, biosynthesized by polyketide synthase, is a class of fungal metabolites. In this review, after brief introduction of the natural azaphilone diversity, we in... (Review)
Review
Azaphilone, biosynthesized by polyketide synthase, is a class of fungal metabolites. In this review, after brief introduction of the natural azaphilone diversity, we in detail discussed azaphilic addition reaction involving conversion of natural azaphilone into the corresponding azaphilone alkaloid. Then, setting red Monascus pigments (a traditional food colorant in China) as example, we presented a new strategy, i.e., interfacing azaphilic addition reaction with living microbial metabolism in a one-pot process, to produce azaphilone alkaloid with a specified amine residue (red Monascus pigments) during submerged culture. Benefit from the red Monascus pigments with a specified amine residue, the influence of primary amine on characteristics of the food colorant was highlighted. Finally, the progress for screening of alternative azaphilone alkaloids (production from interfacing azaphilic addition reaction with submerged culture of Talaromyces sp. or Penicillium sp.) as natural food colorant was reviewed. KEY POINTS: • Azaphilic addition reaction of natural azaphilone is biocompatible • Red Monascus pigment is a classic example of azaphilone alkaloids • Azaphilone alkaloids are alterative natural food colorant.
Topics: Alkaloids; Benzopyrans; Monascus; Pigments, Biological; Prospective Studies; Talaromyces
PubMed: 34921328
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11729-6 -
Food & Function Jul 2022rice (MR) and highland barley (HBM), the fermented products, are applied in food and medicine to reduce cholesterol and promote digestion. Due to the fermentation...
rice (MR) and highland barley (HBM), the fermented products, are applied in food and medicine to reduce cholesterol and promote digestion. Due to the fermentation substrates, their compositions are different. However, the exact differences have not been reported to date. By UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis, multiple components of twenty batches of MR and HBM samples were identified. In total, 100 components were confirmed (, monacolins, pigments, decalin derivatives, amino acids). Then, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to filter the components of MR and HBM. In the PCA model, 88.1% of the total variance was uncovered. The OPLS-DA model showed better discrimination between MR and HBM, and the values of , , and were 0.837, 0.996, and 0.956, respectively. Based on the value of the variable importance in projection (VIP) and the result of the -test, 424 components (VIP > 1, < 0.05) were acquired. Finally, 11 differential components were selected as the characteristic compounds to discriminate between MR and HBM: the content of 9 monacolins (3-hydroxy-3,5-dihydrodehydromonacolin K, monacolin K, dehydromonacolin K, dehydromonacolin J hydroxy acid, monacophenyl, dihydromonacolin J hydroxy acid, monacolin L, dehydromonacolin J, and monacolin R) in HBM was higher than the content in MR, but the content of 2 pigments (ankaflavin and monascin) was lower in HBM and higher in MR. The findings revealed the similarities and differences in the chemical composition between MR and HBM, which is expected to provide a basis for quality control of HBM.
Topics: Fermentation; Hordeum; Hydroxy Acids; Lovastatin; Monascus; Oryza
PubMed: 35723016
DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00402j -
Food & Function Jul 2020Lovastatin/monacolin K (MK) is used as a lipid lowering drug, due to its effective hypercholesterolemic properties, comparable to synthetic statins. Lovastatin's... (Review)
Review
Lovastatin/monacolin K (MK) is used as a lipid lowering drug, due to its effective hypercholesterolemic properties, comparable to synthetic statins. Lovastatin's biosynthetic pathway and gene cluster composition have been studied in depth in Aspergillus terreus. Evidence shows that the MK biosynthetic pathway and gene cluster in Monascus sp. are similar to those of lovastatin in A. terreus. Currently, research efforts have been focusing on the metabolic regulation of MK/lovastatin synthesis, and the evidence shows that a combination of extracellular and intracellular factors is essential for proper MK/lovastatin metabolism. Here, we comprehensively review the research progress on MK/lovastatin biosynthetic pathways, its synthetic precursors and inducing substances and metabolic regulation, with a view to providing reference for future research on fungal metabolism regulation and metabolic engineering for MK/lovastatin production.
Topics: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; Aspergillus; Fungal Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Lovastatin; Monascus; Promoter Regions, Genetic
PubMed: 32555902
DOI: 10.1039/d0fo00691b -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022In order to improve the flavor and taste of Camembert cheese, the use of Monascus as an adjunct starter for the production of Camembert-type cheese was studied to...
In order to improve the flavor and taste of Camembert cheese, the use of Monascus as an adjunct starter for the production of Camembert-type cheese was studied to investigate its effect on the proteolysis, lipolysis, and volatile compounds during ripening for 40 days. The Camembert cheese without Monascus was used as a control. The results showed that proteolytic and lipolytic activities increased to a certain extent. The addition of Monascus promoted primary and secondary proteolysis, due to the release of some proteases by Monascus. Aspartic, Threonine, Glutamic, Glycine, Methione, Isoleucine, Phenyalanine, and Lysine contents in experimental group (R) cheese were significantly higher than those in control group (W) cheeses. In addition, the free amino acid and fatty acid contents were also affected. The identification of flavor components using gas-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that 2-undecone, 2-tridecanone, phenylethyl alcohol, butanediol (responsible for the production of flowery and honey-like aroma), ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, and ethyl citrate (fruit-like aroma) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the experimental cheeses than in the control. The contents of 2-nonanone, 2-octanone and 2-decanone (showing milky flavor), and 1-octene-3 alcohol with typical mushroom-like flavor were lower than the control.
PubMed: 35681411
DOI: 10.3390/foods11111662 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2019Filamentous ascomycetes (Neurospora and Monascus) have been studied for a long time because of their production of secondary metabolites such as microbial pigments. The... (Review)
Review
Filamentous ascomycetes (Neurospora and Monascus) have been studied for a long time because of their production of secondary metabolites such as microbial pigments. The ascomycetes represent an interesting group of compounds with high potential for medicinal applications. Many recent studies have shown their efficacy in the treatment of serious pathological states such as oncological diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and hyperlipidaemia. Nevertheless, the clinical usability of ascomycetes is still limited. However, this problem can be solved by the use of these compounds with combinations of other therapeutic agents. This strategy can suppress their side effects and improve their therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, their co-application can significantly enhance conventional therapies that are used. This review summarizes and discusses the general principles of this approach, introduced and supported by numerous examples. In addition, the prediction of the future potential application of this methodology is included.
Topics: Animals; Ascomycota; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Pigments, Biological
PubMed: 29600749
DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180330091933 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2022pigments are a kind of high-quality natural edible pigments fermented by filamentous fungi, which have been widely used in food, cosmetics, medicine, textiles, dyes... (Review)
Review
pigments are a kind of high-quality natural edible pigments fermented by filamentous fungi, which have been widely used in food, cosmetics, medicine, textiles, dyes and chemical industries as active functional ingredients. Moreover, pigments have a good application prospect because of a variety of biological functions such as antibacterial, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, regulating cholesterol, and anti-cancer. However, the low productivity and color value of pigments restrict their development and application. In this review, we introduced the categories, structures, biosynthesis and functions of pigments, and summarized the current methods for improving the productivity and color value of pigments, including screening and mutagenesis of strains, optimization of fermentation conditions, immobilized fermentation, mixed fermentation, additives, gene knockout and overexpression technologies, which will help to develop the foundation for the industrial production of pigments.
Topics: Antioxidants; Fermentation; Monascus; Pigmentation; Pigments, Biological
PubMed: 34132617
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1935443 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) has been reported to be pivotal for various physiological processes in many fungi. However, the functions that HAT Rtt109 perform in...
Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) has been reported to be pivotal for various physiological processes in many fungi. However, the functions that HAT Rtt109 perform in edible fungi and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identified the gene in , constructed the knockout strain (Δ) and its complementary strain (Δ:com) by CRISPR/Cas9 methods, and functionally characterized the roles that Rtt109 play in . Deletion of significantly reduced conidia formation and colony growth, whereas, it increased the yield of pigments (MPs) and citrinin (CTN). Further real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis indicated that Rtt109 remarkably affected the transcriptional expression of key genes related to development, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism of . Together, our results revealed the critical roles of HAT Rtt109 in , and enriched our current knowledge of the development and regulation of secondary metabolism in fungi, throwing light on restraining or eliminating citrinin in the development and industrial applications of .
PubMed: 37233241
DOI: 10.3390/jof9050530 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Filamentous fungi are well-known for their ability to form mycelial pellets during submerged cultures, a characteristic that has been extensively studied and applied....
Filamentous fungi are well-known for their ability to form mycelial pellets during submerged cultures, a characteristic that has been extensively studied and applied. However, , a filamentous saprophytic fungus with a rich history of medicinal and culinary applications, has not been widely documented for pellet formation. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing pellet formation in and their impact on citrinin production, a key secondary metabolite. Through systematic exploration, we identified pH and inoculum size as critical factors governing pellet formation. exhibited optimal pellet growth within the acidic pH range from 5 to 6, resulting in smaller, more homogeneous pellets with lower citrinin content. Additionally, we found that inoculum size played a vital role, with lower spore concentrations favoring the formation of small, uniformly distributed pellets. The choice of carbon and nitrogen sources also influenced pellet stability, with glucose, peptone, and fishmeal supporting stable pellet formation. Notably, citrinin content was closely linked to pellet diameter, with larger pellets exhibiting higher citrinin levels. Our findings shed light on optimizing pellet formation for enhanced citrinin production and provide valuable insights into the cultivation of this fungus for various industrial applications. Further research is warranted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations.
PubMed: 37998925
DOI: 10.3390/jof9111120