Hericium erinaceus: Difference between revisions
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes” | Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes” | ||
=5. Metabolic processes= | =5. Metabolic processes= | ||
H. erinaceus contains a large percentage of polysaccharides, specifically in its cell wall. These polysaccharides act as the main bioactive compound that lend the mushroom to being beneficial to the medical and healthcare industries [7]. Furthermore, H. erinaceus contains a large variety of secondary metabolites, which can be loosely classed by characteristics of organic structure: erinacines, hericerins (aromatic compounds), glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and sterols [4]. Carbohydrate metabolism pathways – carbon metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis – in two mutant strains (HEB and HEC) of H. erinaceus with higher polysaccharide production, as well as a cAMP-PKA pathway, are upregulated such that glucose availability can be used efficiently in order to promote cell growth and division [9]. Cytochrome P450 proteins are highly active in H. erinaceus and have been found to play a large role in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid transport, and energy production in the mushroom [10]. H. erinaceus’s increased polysaccharide synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose signaling, are the properties of interest in the medical community. | |||
=6. Ecology= | =6. Ecology= | ||
H. erinaceus is a fungus with a mature fruiting body: a bulbous structure hidden by smooth fibrous spines dangling from the body in a radiating arrangement [2]. Generally, the spines’ characteristics vary with maturation. An immature specimen has white spines that are 1 cm or less in length, whereas a fully developed specimen’s spines are 1-4 cm and may discolor into a yellow-brown color [11]. H. erinaceus most often grows in Japan, North America, and the UK. Though overall, H. erinaceus is not common in nature, it is typically found growing from wood in sparsely populated forests with older trees [12]. It most often grows in dead wood, but also sometimes grows out of knotholes in trees or cracks in the bark of living trees. The growth of H. erinaceus indicates that it is a saprotroph, using already decaying wood as its source of nutrition rather than acting as the cause of disease in the wood [12]. It is most abundant in the northern hemisphere from the months of September to December [2]. H. erinaceus is beginning to disappear from natural habitats, perhaps indicating extinction [2]. | H. erinaceus is a fungus with a mature fruiting body: a bulbous structure hidden by smooth fibrous spines dangling from the body in a radiating arrangement [2]. Generally, the spines’ characteristics vary with maturation. An immature specimen has white spines that are 1 cm or less in length, whereas a fully developed specimen’s spines are 1-4 cm and may discolor into a yellow-brown color [11]. H. erinaceus most often grows in Japan, North America, and the UK. Though overall, H. erinaceus is not common in nature, it is typically found growing from wood in sparsely populated forests with older trees [12]. It most often grows in dead wood, but also sometimes grows out of knotholes in trees or cracks in the bark of living trees. The growth of H. erinaceus indicates that it is a saprotroph, using already decaying wood as its source of nutrition rather than acting as the cause of disease in the wood [12]. It is most abundant in the northern hemisphere from the months of September to December [2]. H. erinaceus is beginning to disappear from natural habitats, perhaps indicating extinction [2]. | ||
Revision as of 14:26, 11 December 2023
1. Classification
a. Higher order taxa
Hericium erinaceus is classified under the domain Eukaryota, kingdom Fungi, phylum Basidiomycetes, class Agaricomycetes, order Russulales, and family Hericiaceae [1].
2. Description and significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
- Include as many headings as are relevant to your microbe. Consider using the headings below, as they will allow readers to quickly locate specific information of major interest*
3. Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
4. Cell structure
Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes”
5. Metabolic processes
H. erinaceus contains a large percentage of polysaccharides, specifically in its cell wall. These polysaccharides act as the main bioactive compound that lend the mushroom to being beneficial to the medical and healthcare industries [7]. Furthermore, H. erinaceus contains a large variety of secondary metabolites, which can be loosely classed by characteristics of organic structure: erinacines, hericerins (aromatic compounds), glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and sterols [4]. Carbohydrate metabolism pathways – carbon metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis – in two mutant strains (HEB and HEC) of H. erinaceus with higher polysaccharide production, as well as a cAMP-PKA pathway, are upregulated such that glucose availability can be used efficiently in order to promote cell growth and division [9]. Cytochrome P450 proteins are highly active in H. erinaceus and have been found to play a large role in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid transport, and energy production in the mushroom [10]. H. erinaceus’s increased polysaccharide synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose signaling, are the properties of interest in the medical community.
6. Ecology
H. erinaceus is a fungus with a mature fruiting body: a bulbous structure hidden by smooth fibrous spines dangling from the body in a radiating arrangement [2]. Generally, the spines’ characteristics vary with maturation. An immature specimen has white spines that are 1 cm or less in length, whereas a fully developed specimen’s spines are 1-4 cm and may discolor into a yellow-brown color [11]. H. erinaceus most often grows in Japan, North America, and the UK. Though overall, H. erinaceus is not common in nature, it is typically found growing from wood in sparsely populated forests with older trees [12]. It most often grows in dead wood, but also sometimes grows out of knotholes in trees or cracks in the bark of living trees. The growth of H. erinaceus indicates that it is a saprotroph, using already decaying wood as its source of nutrition rather than acting as the cause of disease in the wood [12]. It is most abundant in the northern hemisphere from the months of September to December [2]. H. erinaceus is beginning to disappear from natural habitats, perhaps indicating extinction [2].
7. Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
8. Current Research
Include information about how this microbe (or related microbes) are currently being studied and for what purpose
9. References
It is required that you add at least five primary research articles (in same format as the sample reference below) that corresponds to the info that you added to this page.
