A survey of domestic species of Basidiomycetes fungi for the presence of lectins inn their carpophores

Abstract

Preliminary investigations were conducted to determine the presence of active lectins in carpophores of fungi from the class <em>Basidiomycetes</em>, collected from natural localities in southern and south-eastern Poland. The degree of agglutination activity (expressed as the titre of agglutination) of aqueous extracts was determined at room temperature (18-20°C) and at +4°C in respect to human and animal erythrocytes suspended in physiological saline, part of which were additionally treated with proteolytic enzymes. From among the 104 tested species, extracts from 41 of them showed agglutination activity, among which 18 were high. In six cases, specific activity against human ABH group antigens was found. Extracts from 5 species agglutinated only animal erythrocytes, with pigeon erythrocytes being exceptionally sensitive to the lectins. Extracts from two species had distinctly higher agglutination activity at 4°C, which suggests that lectins of the "cold" agglutinin type are present in these species. Analysis of extracts from caps and stems showed that caps had a higher lectin content.