Glucanase-Induced Stipe Wall Extension Shows Distinct Differences from Chitinase-Induced Stipe Wall Extension of Coprinopsis cinerea

ABSTRACT This study reports that a high concentration of the endo-β-1,3-glucanase ENG (200 μg ml−1) induced heat-inactivated stipe wall extension of Coprinopsis cinerea, whereas a high concentration of the extracellular β-glucosidase BGL2 (1,000 μg ml−1) did not; however, in combination, low concentrations of ENG (25 μg ml−1) and BGL2 (260 μg ml−1) induced heat-inactivated stipe cell wall extension. In contrast to the previously reported chitinase-reconstituted stipe wall extension, β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted heat-inactivated stipe cell wall extension initially exhibited a fast extension rate that quickly decreased to zero after approximately 60 min; the stipe cell wall extension induced by a high concentration of β-1,3-glucanase did not result in stipe breakage during measurement, and the inner surfaces of glucanase-reconstituted extended cell walls still remained as amorphous matrices that did not appear to have been damaged. These distinctive features of the β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted wall extension may be because chitin chains are cross-linked not only to the nonreducing termini of the side chains and the backbones of β-1,6 branched β-1,3-glucans but also to other polysaccharides. Remarkably, a low concentration of either the β-1,3-glucanase ENG or of chitinase ChiE1 did not induce heat-inactivated stipe wall extension, but a combination of these two enzymes, each at a low concentration, showed stipe cell wall extension activity that exhibited a steady and continuous wall extension profile. Therefore, we concluded that the stipe cell wall extension is the result of the synergistic actions of glucanases and chitinases. IMPORTANCE We previously reported that the chitinase could induce stipe wall extension and was involved in stipe elongation growth of the mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea. In this study, we explored that β-1,3-glucanase also induced stipe cell wall extension. Interestingly, the extension profile and extended ultra-architecture of β-1,3-glucanase-reconstituted stipe wall were different from those of chitinase-reconstituted stipe wall. However, β-1,3-glucanase cooperated with chitinase to induce stipe cell wall extension. The significance of this synergy between glucanases and chitinases is that it enables a low concentration of active enzymes to induce wall extension, and the involvement of β-1,3-glucanases is necessary for the cell wall remodeling and the addition of new β-glucans during stipe elongation growth.

Chitinases Play a Key Role in Stipe Cell Wall Extension in the Mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea

ABSTRACT The elongation growth of the mushroom stipe is a characteristic but not well-understood morphogenetic event of basidiomycetes. We found that extending native stipe cell walls of Coprinopsis cinerea were associated with the release of N-acetylglucosamine and chitinbiose and with chitinase activity. Two chitinases among all detected chitinases from C. cinerea, ChiE1 and ChiIII, reconstituted heat-inactivated stipe wall extension and released N-acetylglucosamine and chitinbiose. Interestingly, both ChiE1 and ChiIII hydrolyze insoluble crystalline chitin powder, while other C. cinerea chitinases do not, suggesting that crystalline chitin components of the stipe cell wall are the target of action for ChiE1 and ChiIII. ChiE1- or ChiIII-reconstituted heat-inactivated stipe walls showed maximal extension activity at pH 4.5, consistent with the optimal pH for native stipe wall extension in vitro; ChiE1- or ChiIII-reconstituted heat-inactivated stipe wall extension activities were associated with stipe elongation growth regions; and the combination of ChiE1 and ChiIII showed a synergism to reconstitute heat-inactivated stipe wall extension at a low action concentration. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images showed that the inner surface of acid-induced extended native stipe cell walls and ChiE1- or ChiIII-reconstituted extended heat-inactivated stipe cell walls exhibited a partially broken parallel microfibril architecture; however, these broken transversely arranged microfibrils were not observed in the unextended stipe cell walls that were induced by neutral pH buffer or heat inactivation. Double knockdown of ChiE1 and ChiIII resulted in the reduction of stipe elongation, mycelium growth, and heat-sensitive cell wall extension of native stipes. These results indicate a chitinase-hydrolyzing mechanism for stipe cell wall extension. IMPORTANCE A remarkable feature in the development of basidiomycete fruiting bodies is stipe elongation growth that results primarily from manifold cell elongation. Some scientists have suggested that stipe elongation is the result of enzymatic hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides, while other scientists have proposed the possibility that stipe elongation results from nonhydrolytic disruption of the hydrogen bonds between cell wall polysaccharides. Here, we show direct evidence for a chitinase-hydrolyzing mechanism of stipe cell wall elongation in the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea that is different from the expansin nonhydrolysis mechanism of plant cell wall extension. We presumed that in the growing stipe cell walls, parallel chitin microfibrils are tethered by β-1,6-branched β-1,3-glucans, and that the breaking of the tether by chitinases leads to separation of these microfibrils to increase their spacing for insertion of new synthesized chitin and β-1,3-glucans under turgor pressure in vivo.

Characterization of stipe elongation of the mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea

Previously, we observed an acid-induced short-term wall extension in Flammulina velutipes apical stipes during a 15 min period after a change from a neutral to an acidic pH. This acid-induced stipe wall extension was eliminated by heating and reconstituted by a snail expansin-like protein, although we failed to isolate any endogenous expansin-like protein from F. velutipes because of its limited 1 mm fast elongation region. In this study, we report that Coprinopsis cinerea stipes possess a 9 mm fast elongation apical region, which is suitable as a model material for wall extension studies. The elongating apical stipe showed two phases of acid-induced wall extension, an initial quick short-term wall extension during the first 15 min and a slower, gradually decaying long-term wall extension over the subsequent 2 h. After heating or protein inactivation pretreatment, apical stipes lost the long-term wall extension, retaining a slower short-term wall extension, which was reconstituted by an expansin-like snail protein. In contrast, the non-elongating basal stipes showed only a weaker short-term wall extension. We propose that the long-term wall extension is a protein-mediated process involved in stipe elongation, whereas the short-term wall extension is a non-protein mediated process not involved in stipe elongation.

Effect of storage conditions on the quality of cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Sing.)

A number of quality factors were studied during storage of cultivated mushrooms (<i>Agaricus bisporus</i>) at 2°C in controlled atmospheres. A concentration of 15% CO₂ and 1.5-2% O₂ and an atmosphere with a continuous flow of nitrogen retarded cap expansion and stipe elongation, while 10% CO₂ retarded only cap expansion. Controlled atmospheres suppressed the growth of some microorganisms. The toughness of mushrooms stored in a normal atmosphere at 2°C markedly decreased during storage, while 10% CO₂ and nitrogen atmosphere did not influence toughness as compared to initial mushrooms. The acceptability value of mushrooms in controlled atmospheres was lower during 13 days of storage as compared to normal atmosphere. Normal atmosphere appeared to keep whiteness of mushrooms longer than did other treatments.

New species of Torrendia (Fungi, Agaricales) from remnant woodlands in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia

Two new species of sequestrate (truffle-like fungi) Basidiomycetes of the putatively ectomycorrhizal genus Torrendia Bres. with contrasting basidiome morphology are described from remnant patches of eucalypt woodland in the wheatbelt of Western Australia: Torrendia grandis Bougher and Torrendia inculta Bougher.Like other species of Torrendia, they have basidiomes which develop and mature mostly underground but may break through to the soil surface at a late stage of maturity. The gleba of Torrendia species does not become powdery. A comparison of the main diagnostic features of all known taxa of Torrendiais provided. T. grandishas stocky basidiomes with an agaric-like pileus. T. inculta has a gleba which fragments during stipe elongation. The basidiome development of T. incultaisdescribed and illustrated, and some possible mechanisms of spore dispersal are discussed.