Spore Lipids Research Articles

Ganoderma spore lipid ameliorates docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy-induced damage to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoiesis

BackgroundA triplet chemotherapy regimen of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF) is used to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; however, it is toxic to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). We previously demonstrated that Ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) protect BMSCs against cyclophosphamide toxicity. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of GSL against TPF-induced BMSCs and hematopoietic damage.MethodsBMSCs and C57BL/6 mice were divided into control, TPF, co-treatment (simultaneously treated with GSL and TPF for 2 days), and pre-treatment (treated with GSL for 7 days before 2 days of TPF treatment) groups. In vitro, morphology, phenotype, proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and differentiation of BMSCs were evaluated. In vivo, peripheral platelets (PLTs) and white blood cells (WBCs) from mouse venous blood were quantified. Bone marrow cells were isolated for hematopoietic colony-forming examination.ResultsIn vitro, GSL significantly alleviated TPF-induced damage to BMSCs compared with the TPF group, recovering their morphology, phenotype, proliferation, and differentiation capacity (p < 0.05). Annexin V/PI and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining showed that GSL inhibited apoptosis and delayed senescence in TPF-treated BMSCs (p < 0.05). GSL downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and reduced ROS formation (p < 0.05). In vivo, GSL restored the number of peripheral PLTs and WBCs and protected the colony-forming capacity of bone marrow cells (p < 0.05).ConclusionsGSL efficiently protected BMSCs from damage caused by TPF and recovered hematopoiesis.

Ganoderma spore lipid protects mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoiesis from the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent.

Cancer chemotherapeutic agents are frequently toxic to bone marrow and impair bone marrow functions. It is unclear whether ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) can protect bone marrow cells from the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy. To investigate the protective effects of GSL on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoiesis, we examined the effects of GSL on MSCs in vitro and hematopoiesis in vivo after treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide. MSCs and peripheral blood cells were isolated and counted from the bone marrow of normal mice were pre-treated with GSL before CTX treatment or co-treated with GSL and CTX, followed by examining the changes in phenotype, morphology, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation potentials. The results showed that GSL could reduce the CTX-induced changes in the phenotype of MSCs and maintain the elongated fibroblast-like morphology. MTT and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) analyses found that GSL pre-treatment and co-treatment increased the proliferation and decreased the apoptosis in CTX-treated MSCs. Furthermore, GSL improved the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potentials of CTX-treated MSCs. In vivo, GSL treatment increased the number of peripheral blood cells including white blood cells (WBC) and platelets (PLT) in the CTX-treated mice and enhanced the in vitro formation of hematopoietic lineage colonies (erythrocyte colony forming unit, CFU-E; erythroid burst-forming units, BFU-E; and granulocyte macrophage colony-forming units, CFU-GM) from bone marrow cells in these mice. These findings suggest GSL could protect MSCs and hematopoiesis from the cytotoxicity of CTX and might become an effective adjuvant to attenuate side effects of chemotherapy during cancer treatment.

Lipid composition of the spores of zygomycetous and ascomycetous fungi during cessation of the exogenous dormancy state

The composition of lipids and fatty acids was studied in the spores of exogenously dormant (spores 0) and germinating (spores G) spores in distilled water for sporangiospores of zygomycetous fungi Cunninghamella echinulata VKM F-663 and Umbelopsis ramanniana VKM F-582 and for conidia of ascomycetous fungi Aspergillus tamarii VKM F-64 and A. sydowii VKM F-441. Compared to spores 0, the lipids of spores G contained higher shares of unsaturated fatty acids, lower levels of massive phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine), and elevated levels of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The level of cardiolipin, the main phospholipid of the mitochondrial membranes, increased when the spores of both zygomycetes exited from the dormant state. While a certain increase in the content of free and esterified sterols in the neutral lipids of the slowly germinating U. ramanniana G spores was observed, germination of sporangiospores and conidia of the studied fungi generally did not result in significant changes in the composition of the neutral lipid classes, which may be due to the fact that they are not the major reserve mobilized at the stage of exit from the dormant state.

Fatty Acid Composition of Lipids from Leaves and Strobila of Cycas Revoluta (Cycas revoluta)

Fatty acid (FA) composition of lipids from leaves and differentiated fleshy strobila tissues and sporangia with spores of Cycas (Cycas revoluta Thumb.) after their step quantitative extraction from plant material was investigated. Quantitative content and qualitative composition of FAs of extractable and nonextractable leaf lipids were determined. It was established that flesh lipids of sporophylls are characterized by a high saturation level and contain a considerable proportion of saturated FAs with the usual chain length (C12–C18, 53–57%). At the same time, total amount of etherified FAs with a very long chain in lipids not extractable by the method of Zhukov and Vereshchagin exceeds several times that found in extractable lipids (~15 and ~4%, respectively). Neutral lipids of Cycas spores were represented by triacylglycerols, the lower-alkyl esters of FAs, free FAs, and sterol esters.

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of Ganoderma lucidum spore lipids

In this paper extraction of G. lucidum spore lipids (GSL) by supercritical fluid extraction technology (SFE) was optimised and compared with soxhlet and sonication extraction. Response surface methodology was employed to study the effects of extraction pressure, time and temperature on the lipids yield. Under the optimal SFE conditions of pressure of 35 MPa, time of 3 h and temperature of 48 °C, the lipids yield could reach 29.50%, which was significantly greater than that of sonification method (23.74%) and was no significant difference compared to that of soxhlet extraction (30.02%). Fatty acid analysis showed that oleic acid, palmitic acid and linoleic acid were the main fatty acids of GSL extracted by three methods, which accounted for about 88% of total fatty acids. The total sterols content determined by GC/MS demonstrated that ergosta-7, 22-dien-3β-ol and ergosterol were the major sterol in all of the lipids extracted by SFE, Soxhlet and sonication, which represented about 80% of total sterols. Ergost-7en-3-ol ranged from 0.65 to 0.81 mg/g accounted for 21%. Ergosta-7, 22- diene-3β-5α-6β-triol ranged from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/g. The sterols content of GSL obtained by SFE with 20% ethanol as entrainer reached 3.72 mg/g, which was significantly greater than the other both methods.

Comparison of Chemical Composition of Spore Lipids Extracted from Two Species of Ganoderma

Ganoderma, commonly referred to as “Lingzhi” in Chinese, “Reizhi” in Japanese, and “Youngzhi” in Korean, is a family of medicinal mushrooms employed to maintain human vitality and to promote longevity in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years [1]. To date, Ganoderma has been used as remedy for the treatment of various diseases such as migraine and headache, hypertension, arthritis, hepatitis, cardiovascular problems, and cancer. It has been shown to contain a variety of bioactive ingredients including trierpenes, polysaccharides, nucleosides, steroids, fatty acids, alkaloids, proteins, peptides, amino acids, and inorganic elements [2]. Recently, Ganoderma spores gained considerable attention owning to their possible higher bioactivity [3]. However, spores have extremely hard and resilient bilayer walls, thus making them difficult to break open, and their bioactive lipid is stored between the inner and outer walls and is difficult to extract [4]. The difficulty above could be overcome by using superfine grinding technology through breaking the sporoderm and removing plant cellulose barriers [5]. Furthermore, it was reported that alcohol extracts from sporoderm-broken spores were more cytotoxic against tumor cells than that from sporoderm-nonbroken spores [6]. Super CO2 fluid extraction (SFE), a well-known extract technology, was established to extract liposoluble materials, which presented some advantages such as being nontoxic, high-efficiently, and less-deteriorating compared with the conventional methods viz. hydrodistillation, steam distillation, or solvent extraction [7]. In our current work, spores from Ganoderma duropora Lloyd (G. duropora) and Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.ex Fr.) Karst. (G. lucidum) were superfine pulverized prior to extraction by SFE. The chemical composition of DSL (G. duropora spores lipids) and LSL (G. lucidum spores lipids) were then determined and compared by GC-MS. The results showed that spore lipids from G. duropora and G. lucidum obtained by SFE gave an average yield of 14.14% and 20.66% on a dry weight basis, respectively. As given in Table 1, GC-MS analyses revealed the presence of 22 and 10 compounds whose total relative contents were 74.04% and 88.58% in DSL and LSL, respectively. Aliphatic compounds were the main constituents in these two spore lipids, except for naphthalene and ergosterol belonging to aromatics and steroids, respectively. The chromatographic profile showed that both contained eight compounds and high levels of n-hexadecanoic acid and oleic acid (9.52%, 61.19% in DSL and 7.99%, 80.01% in LSL, as shown in Table 1). Nevertheless, 1-nonadecene (0.02%) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl elaidate (0.07%) were detected in LSL but not in DSL. According to the above-mentioned results, it was concluded that the components from two spore lipids resembled each other. From this point of view, G. duropora in high production amounts might be developed as an alternative to Ganoderma.

Fatty acids, essential oils, and squalene in the spore lipids of Ganoderma lucidum by GC-MS and GC-FID

Spores of Ganoderma lucidum contain a large amount of bioactive components such as polysaccharides and lipids and have a higher bioactivity than the fruit bodies [1, 2]. It was reported that 24.82% (w/w) yield of spore oil was obtained from sporoderm-broken spores of G. lucidum by supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE-CO2) [3]. But if the crude spores were not superfine-pulverized, the yield of spore oil was only 3.96% (w/w) even under the optimal condition of SFE-CO2 [4]. This result was evidenced that sporoderm-broken was a necessary technical step before SFE extraction that enables the endo-substances such as lipids to be easily extracted. Table 1 shows the results of analysis of 15 kinds of fatty acids in the spore lipids by GC-MS. The main components were palmitic acid (16:0, 16.12%), stearic acid (18:0, 4.97%), oleic acid (18:1, 67.11%), and linoleic acid (18:2, 9.63%). The totaled relative contents of unsaturated fatty acids were 77.84% (mass fraction), including 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, and 20:1. Among them, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid and (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (total up to 76.74%) were the major compounds in the spore lipids of G. lucidum. The GC-MS results also showed that the chemical compositions of essential oils (from separator II) were different from the fatty acids (from separator I). At least 39 compounds were analyzed; among them 11 compounds were identified (see Table 2), including terpenoids (such as -pinene, D-limonene), aromatic aldehydes (such as nonanal, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-decenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal), and several alkanes (see Table 2). In addition, squalene in the spore lipids was isolated together with fatty acids from separator I and was separately determined by GC-FID with a standard substance (tR/min 23.062 and 22.863) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. The content of squalene was 0.43 mg/g. It is known that squalene exists in codliver oil, olive oil, and other major oil products and can improve the in vivo activity of superoxide dismutase, enhance immunity and improve sexual function, and has anti-aging, anti-cancer, and other physiological functions [5]. According to early reports, there were 20 kinds of fatty acids (C14–C25) from spore oils of G. lucidum obtained by GC-MS/LC-MS, and the major compounds were oleic acid (18:1, 63.28%), linoleic acid (18:2, 6.59%), and palmitic acid (C16:0, 20.73%) [6]. In our preliminary study, nine kinds of known fatty acids were determined by GC, and their main constituents were also oleic acid (18:1, 57.5%), linoleic acid (18:2, 13.4%), and palmitic acid (16:0, 19.6%) [7]. There are four types of components (lipids, terpenes, aromatics, and heterocyclic) in spore essential oil [8]. Moreover, some other reports have indicated that spore oils or lipids extracted from Ganoderma lucidum have antioxidant activity [4], and show positive antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo [9, 10]. The aim of this study was to use different operational conditions of SFE-CO2 from those reported previously for extracts of spore lipids and essential oils [3]. The conditions were 30 MPa of extract pressure, 40 C extract temperature, 25 L/h of CO2 flux, and 2.0 h of extract time. The spore lipids were collected from separator I (at 8 MPa and 45 C) with an average yield of 24.16% (w/w), and the essential oils were collected from separator II (at 5.0–5.5 MPa, 32 C) with an average yield of 0.64% (w/w). The chemical components of the spore lipids and essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS, respectively.

Supercritical fluid CO2 extraction, simultaneous determination of total sterols in the spore lipids of Ganoderma lucidum by GC-MS/SIM methods

Supercritical fluid CO2 extraction, simultaneous determination of total sterols in the spore lipids of Ganoderma lucidum by GC-MS/SIM methods

Active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores-induced apoptosis in human leukemia THP-1 cells via MAPK and PI3K pathways

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGanoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is traditionally drug, which has been traditionally effective used in the treatment of chronic hepatopathy, hypertension, hyperglycemia and cancer. Materials and methodsTHP-1 and HL-60 apoptosis induced by active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores was quantified by flow cytometry using FITC-conjugated annexin V and PI; MAPK and Akt were measured by Western blot, and caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were also detected by spectrophotometric assay. ResultsOur results showed that active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores decreased phosphorylation-ERK1/2 (P-ERK1/2), P-Akt and increased P-JNK1/2, but did not affect expressions of P-p38 MAPK in THP-1 cells. Moreover, treatment of THP-1 cells with active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores resulted in activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9. Furthermore, LY294002 (Akt inhibitor) or PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) significantly enhanced active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores-induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells, whereas caspase inhibitors or SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), decreased apoptosis in THP-1 cells. ConclusionTaken together, our study for the first time suggests that active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores is able to enhance apoptosis in THP-1 cells, at least in part, through inhibition of ERK1/2, Akt and activation of JNK1/2 signaling pathways. Moreover, it also triggers caspase-3, -8 and -9 activation mediated apoptotic induction.

GANODERMA LUCIDUM SPORE LIPID INDUCES PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR ALPHA ACTIVITY

As a popular medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (Lingzhi) has been used for centuries in China as food and traditional Chinesemedicine to prevent and treat various diseases. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha, gamma and delta (PPARα, PPARγ and PPARδ) are key regulators of energy metabolism. In this study, we presented evidences that G. lucidum spore lipid (GS) dose dependently and preferentially induced the activity of PPARα but not PPARγ and PPARδ. By a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, we found that GS was rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, GS induced the expression of PPARa target gene carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1a in human carcinoma HepG2 cells. Collectively, we identified a link between GS and PPARα which suggests that some of the therapeutic effects of GS may bemediated through activating the transcriptional activity of PPARα. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The induction of CPT-1a by activating PPARα implies that Ganoderma lucidum may also stimulate β-oxidation to reduce liver triglyceride content hence functioning as a hyperlipidemic agent. Ligands of PPARα have also been demonstrated to modulate the immune reaction specifically through suppressing nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells function. As a consequence of increasing the PPARα function in the liver, GS may improve alcoholic/nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases through suppressing the associated chronic inflammation due to dysregulated lipid homeostasis.

Ganoderma spore lipid inhibits N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal photoreceptor apoptosis in vivo

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Ganoderma spores lipid (GSL) on Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspase-3 expression in damaged retina and to address the effect of GSL on photoreceptor cell lesions induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Thirty 50-day-old female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided randomly into five groups to detect the dose–response effect of GSL by electroretinogram (ERG) analysis. Four groups received different daily GSL doses (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg, respectively) and one control group received no treatment. Sixty rats were divided randomly into an untreated MNU model control group and the GSL treatment group. Retina tissue samples were obtained sequentially 0 h before and 1, 3, 7 and 10 d after MNU injection. Expressions of Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspase-3 were detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays, then photoreceptor cell apoptosis was confirmed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-digoxigenin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) signals. GSL had a dose–response effect on retina ERG and reversed retinal photoreceptor damage induced by MNU. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that transcription levels of Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspase-3 in MNU control group and GSL treatment group were all upregulated on 1 d ( p < 0.01) and peaked on 3 d ( p < 0.01) after MNU injection compared to before MNU injection. GSL treatment significantly decreased mRNA levels of Bax on 1, 3, 7 and 10 d vs. MNU group (all p < 0.01) and mRNA levels of Caspase-3 on 1, 3, 7 d ( p < 0.01) and 10 d ( p < 0.05) vs. MNU group. Bcl-xl was clearly upregulation on 1, 3, 7 and 10 d vs. MNU group (all p < 0.01). Expression ratios of Bax/Bcl-xl were raised after MNU injection on 1 and 3 d vs. 0 h before MNU (both p < 0.01), peaked on 3 d, then dropped after GSL treatment on 1, 3, 7 and 10 d vs. MNU group (all p < 0.01). Immunofluorescence assays showed GSL decreased Bax and Caspase-3 positive staining levels in retina and increased Bcl-xl level. TUNEL-positive cells were evoked only in the outer nuclear layer and peaked on 3 d in rats receiving MNU ( p < 0.01 vs. 0 h before MNU). GSL administration decreased apoptosis levels significantly, and the apoptotic indexes (AIs) of the GSL group were lower than those of MNU group on 1 and 3 d (both p < 0.01). Taken together, these data suggest that GSL may regulate the expressions of Bax, Bcl-xl and Caspases-3, inhibiting MNU-induced rat photoreceptor cell apoptosis and protecting retinal function.

Distribution of free and esterified ergosterols in the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum

The fruiting bodies, spores, and lipid from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum have been widely used for medicinal purpose in China. Ergosterol content may be a suitable marker for evaluating the quality of ganoderma spore and ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) products. A gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the simultaneous determination of free and esterified ergosterols in G. lucidum. The contents of free and esterified ergosterols in the different parts (the stipe, pileus, tubes, and spores) of G. lucidum and GSL were determined. The results showed that total ergosterol levels in the stipe, pileus, tubes, and spores of G. lucidum were between 0.8 and 1.6 mg/g. The relative abundances of free to esterified ergosterol were different in the different parts of G. lucidum. The spores and the tubes, the hymenophore tissue that contains the spore-producing cells, have a considerably higher percentage of ergosteryl esters (41.9 and 39.7% of total ergosterol) in comparison with the pileus and stipe tissues (3.6 and 6.2%).

Characterization of ganoderma spore lipid by stable carbon isotope analysis: implications for authentication

The ratios of stable carbon isotopes ((13)C/(12)C) of ganoderma fruiting body, ganoderma spore, ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) and individual fatty acids in GSL were determined by gas chromatography-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry and elemental analysis-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. These values fall into a range from -26.9 to -23.3 per thousand, suggesting that the cut log as the Ganoderma-cultivated substrate in Fujian, China, may belong to C3 plants. Eighteen fatty acids were identified and their abundances measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the six GSL samples with C(16:0), C(18:0), C(18:1) and C(18:2) as major constituents, and C(16:1) is evidently enriched compared with the other edible vegetable oils. On the basis of the compositions of fatty acids and stable carbon isotopes in GSL, we have developed a novel method to detect the adulteration of GSL products with cheaper edible vegetable oils. An example of ideal blending between GSL and C4 or C3 vegetable oil is further provided to expound the discrimination procedures and corresponding sensitive indicators. Simultaneously, the carbon isotope fractionation in the biosynthesis of individual fatty acids was observed, revealing that the formation of C(18:0) from C(16:0) in ganodema spores had no conspicuous (13)C enrichment of +0.4 per thousand for Ganoderma sinensis spore and +0.1 per thousand for G. lucidum spore; the desaturation of C(18:0) to C(18:1) resulted in a distinct (13)C depletion of -1.4 per thousand for G. sinensis spore and -0.9 per thousand for G. lucidum spore; and the next desaturation from C(18:1) to C(18:2) displayed no evident (13)C fractionation of -0.1 per thousand for G. sinensis spore and -0.2 per thousand for G. lucidum spore.

Determination of Ergosterol in Ganoderma Spore Lipid from the Germinating Spores of Ganoderma lucidum by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the separation and determination of free ergosterol in ganoderma spore lipid (GSL) extracted from the sporoderm-broken germinating spores of Ganoderma lucidum. Sodium hydroxide in methanol was added for the hydrolysis of ergosteryl esters to determine the total content of ergosterol in GSL by HPLC. A 0.04 M concentration of sodium hydroxide in reaction mixtures was appropriate for the complete hydrolysis of ergosteryl esters without a significant loss of ergosterol during saponification. In addition, the ergosterol content in four commercial GSL softgel supplements from four different firms was determined. The results showed that the ergosterol content in these samples had significant differences. Ergosterol content may be a suitable marker for evaluating the quality of GSL products.

Lipid composition of Bacillus megaterium spores and spore membranes.

Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 spore lipids were extracted by an improved technique, and the phospholipid and fatty acid compositions were determined. Phospholipids accounted for 65% of the total fatty acids; the neutral lipid fraction contained 15% and the remaining fatty acids were in the interphase, aqueous phase and pellet from the lipid extraction. Each phospholipid had similar fatty acid compositions as did the delipidated pellet. However, the aqueous phase and, to some extent, the interphase had unique fatty acid compositions. Also, fatty acids were found acylated to proteins, which was observed by electrophoresis of delipidated proteins from spores grown in [1-14C]palmitate. Therefore, spores contain unique non-phosphatide fatty acid components that can now be analyzed.

Biochemistry of ungerminated and germinated spores of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus caledonius: changes in neutral and polar lipids.

Neutral and polar spore lipids of the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) endophyte Glomus caledonius, were identified and quantitatively determined during spore germination, germ tube growth, and germ tube senescence. There are no previous reports detailing the spore lipid components of any member of the Endogenaceae, which is in the Zygomycotina. The fungus contained 45 to 72% total lipid depending upon its stage of growth. The concentration of neutral lipids decreased during germination while the polar lipids increased. Triacylglycerides were the most abundant neutral lipid, and lesser amounts of diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, free fatty acids, bound fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and sterols. The major fatty acids identified by gas--liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were 16:1, 16:0, and 18:1. The minor fatty acids identified were n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturates. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have not been reported before in Zygomycetes. The fatty acid composition of the individual lipid classes was examined. The major phospholipids were phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, with smaller amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The free sterol fraction was in greater quantity than sterol esters during germination and germ tube elongation. The capacity to synthesize sterols was demonstrated. Approximate net rates of change in the different lipid components were calculated. During spore germination and early germ tube growth, there was a net synthesis of lipids, with a large production of free fatty acids, in the germinating spore. Later in the growth period there was a net degradation of lipid, characterized by a large conversion of free fatty acids to unidentified compounds. During this period net free sterol synthesis ceased and sterol ester synthesis continued using the existing free sterol.

Determination of Fatty Acid Composition of Spore Lipids of the Moss Polytrichum commune by Glass Capillary Column Gas Chromatography

AbstractFatty acid methyl esters of Polytrichum commune spore triglyceride and mono‐ and diglycosyl diglyceride fractions were analysed by glass capillary column gas chromatography provided with a precolumn system. The composition of the fatty acids in the lipid fractions differed only quantitatively: the diglycosyl diglyceride fraction was characterized by a high content of C 18: 3ω3 (67.7%), and the triglyceride and monoglycosyl diglyceride fractions by about 35%. The monoglycosyl diglyceride fraction contained a high proportion of C 14: 0 (18.4%). In all fractions the content of polyunsaturated C 20 acids was low, ranging from trace amounts to 4.9%.

Fatty acid composition of fern spore lipids

Abstract Fatty acid composition of lipids isolated from spores of different fern groups show differences between the families whereas species variations within the families are smaller. As in seed fats, the spore lipids are mainly triglycerides, with the exception of Osmunda where free fatty acids accumulate. The spore lipids contain as major components oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acid although those of the sporophylls contain C-20 polyunsaturated acids.

Lipids of Spores from Phycomyces in Relation to Heat-induced Germination

Fatty acids of the triglycerides and free lipids of Phycomyces blakesleeanus spores were extracted, isolated and separated by thin layer, liquid and gas chromatography, and the free levels of carotenes and free glycerol determined both before and after activation by heat-shock procedure (3 minutes at 50°C). Lipids account for about 3% of the dry weight, with triglycerides being the major constituents (25% of the total lipids). The fatty acids were almost exclusively unsaturated, and in both triglycerides and other lipids, the unbranched 16: 0 (5%), 18: 1 (12%), 18: 2 (31%), and 18: 3 (45%) were predominant. The only compound with an odd number of carbon atoms found in the spores was a 15: 0 acid which made up only 0.1% of the total fatty acids. β -carotene accounts for more than 95% of all colored carotenes (about 3.5 μ moles/100 mg spores) and it is probably located in the protoplast rather than in the cell wall. The levels of these substances are not influenced by heat-activation whereas the content of free glycerol shows a 300 fold increase 60 minutes after the spores were heat-activated. The results indicate that heat-activation does not stimulate lipid metabolism. The remarkable alterations in the free glycerol content (from 0.1 μ moles/100 mg dormant spores to 30 μ moles/100 mg heat-activated ones) is not a result of fat decomposition but rather a product of the stimulated carbohydrate breakdown which is known to occur when spores are submitted to heat-shock procedure.

Fatty Acid and Hydrocarbon Constituents of the Surface and Wall Lipids of Some Fungal Spores

SUMMARY: Microelectrophoresis has shown surface lipid to be present on conidia of Alternaria tenuis, Botrytis fabae and Neurospora crassa and on sporangiospores of Rhizopus stolonifer. Surface lipid is absent from conidia of Erysiphe cichoracearum, E. graminis, Nectria galligena, Penicillium expansum and Verticillium albo-atrum and sporangiospores of Mucor rouxii. The compositions of the fatty acid and hydrocarbon fractions of the surface and wall lipids from the same organisms are different. The fatty acids are mainly straight-chain and even carbon-numbered. Palmitic and stearic acids predominate. Polyunsaturated acids were absent. Surface hydrocarbons consist almost entirely of n-alkanes but wall fractions are more complex. An equal distribution of odd and even carbon-numbered alkanes occurs in both the surface and wall lipid fractions.