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Effects of Vanadate on the Mycelium of Edible Fungus Coprinus comatus

Summary

This research explores how the edible mushroom Coprinus comatus interacts with vanadium compounds, particularly in relation to its potential medicinal properties. The study reveals how the mushroom can safely absorb and process vanadium, which may enhance its health benefits. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides insight into developing natural treatments for diabetes using mushrooms • Helps understand safe consumption levels of vanadium-enriched mushrooms • Contributes to understanding how mushrooms can be used for removing heavy metals from environment • Advances knowledge of natural medicinal supplements • Supports development of new functional foods

Background

Coprinus comatus is an edible fungus widely distributed globally and used in traditional Chinese medicine for its anti-cancer, immunomodulatory and hypoglycemic properties. The fungus’s ability to absorb heavy metals and its hypoglycemic activity is enhanced when containing vanadium in +5 oxidation state (vanadate).

Objective

To establish the concentration of extracellular vanadate acceptable for submerged cultivation of C. comatus mycelium and characterize vanadium’s immediate influence on the phosphate metabolism using spectroscopic approaches.

Results

The mycelium could grow and overcome vanadate toxic effects up to a concentration of 3.3 mM, with biomass yield almost identical to control at the end of exponential growth phase. Addition of 10 mM vanadate caused immediate increase in sugar phosphates levels. 51V NMR measurements showed vanadate monomer present in cytoplasm causing metabolic changes. The fungus demonstrated capacity for vanadate reduction, though vanadyl uptake was significantly less compared to vanadate.

Conclusion

C. comatus demonstrates ability to grow in presence of vanadate, with metabolic changes occurring primarily through sugar phosphate pathways. The fungus can reduce vanadate to vanadyl inside cells, though preferentially takes up vanadate form.
  • Published in:Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2018.07.017
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