Ergot fungus

Mutterkom, n. ergot. -pUz, m. ergot fungus, -saure, /. ergotio acid, -vergiftung, /. ergotism. 

Abe, M. Isolation and Properties of an Alkaloid Agroclavine Produced by Ergot Fungus in Saprophytic Culture. Annu. Rep. Takeda Res. Lab. 10, 145 (1951). 

D-Lysergic acid (R = CO2H) Found in ergot fungus... 

Paspalin cannot be regarded as a true alkaloid, its unique structure— a seco-steroid annelated to an indole nucleus—deserves, however, attention as it demonstrates the great versatility of the ergot fungus. 

However, when radioactive L-valyl-L-proline lactam was fed into cultures (94) an unexpected observation was made. Degradation studies revealed that it had been hydrolyzed prior to incorporation. This fact, together with the repeatedly postulated high transaminase activity of the system, could offer an explanation for an observation of Abe (95) who noticed that in cell-free systems from a strain of Elymus type of ergot fungus, L-phenylalanine-D-proline lactam was also incorporated into ergotamine. 

Crystals of ergotamine ("E.T. ), the precursor usually used in the manufacture of LSD after extraction from ergot fungus. 

In saprophytic cultures of the Pennisetum ergot fungus, only tryptophan, deuterated in the 5 or 6 position, was used for the synthesis of the clavine alkaloids without loss of the deuterium. Deuterium in the 4 position was lost. These experiments showed that the hypotheses, according to which 5-hydroxytryptophan would be an intermediate stage in the biosyntheses (126, 127), could not be correct (128). 

Claviceps purpurea, C. spp. (ergot fungus) on cereals e.g. Secale sp. (rye) (Poaceae)... 

Ricinoleic acid (i -12-hydroxy-9-cw-octadecenoic acid) (Fig. 6) accounts for 80-90% of fatty acids in castor oil (from Ricinus communis). It is found in other plant species and in the sclerotia of the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea). Lesquerolic acid (i -14-hydroxy-ll-cw-eicosenoic acid), which is a C20 homolog of ricinoleic acid, occurs in Lesquerella species (up to 70% of total fatty acids). Isoricinoleic acid (i -9-hydroxy-12-cw-octadecenoic acid, or 9-OH 18 2 12c) is a major acid in the Wrightia species. In plants, several C16 and C18 mono, di, and trihydroxy fatty acids are stmctural components of cutin (a polyester constituent of plant cuticle). 

Order 6.— Pyrenomycetales, the mildews and black fungi common as superficial parasites on various parts of plants. To the black fungi division of this order the Ergot fungus, Claviceps purpurea belongs. 

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) Synthetic, but derived from the ergot fungus Ergot native to Europe Acid, many others... 

It is important to remember that the ergot fungus species Claviceps purpurea was the source of Albert Hofmann s original discovery of LSD. This fungus, which grows on ryegrass, contains as many as thirty separate alkaloids, some of which are responsible for ergotism, a disease which over the centuries has killed many thousands of people worldwide ... 

Lewis, R.W. Development of Conidia and Sclerotia of the Ergot Fungus on Inoculated Rye Seedlings Phytopathology (1956) 46 295-297. 

Vikings went berserk after eating derivatives of lysergic acid (1.5) made by the ergot fungus growing on rye. 

Esser K, Tudzynski P. Genetics of the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea. Theor Appl Genet 53 145-149, 1978. 

Gray AJ, Drury M, Raybould AF. Spartina and the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea—a singular contest In Burson JJ, Leathe SR, Eds. Pests, Pathogens and Plant Communities Blackwell Scientific Oxford, UK, 63-79, 1990a. 

Kumar S, Thakur DP. Cultural studies on ergot fungus of pearl millet. Ann. Biol. 11 236-239, 1995. 

Siddiqui MR, Khan ID. Renaming Claviceps microcephala ergot fungus on Pennisetum typhoides in India as Claviceps fusiformis. Trans Mycol Soc Japan 14 195-198, 1973. 

Lewis RW. Development of conidia and sclerotia of the ergot fungus on inoculated rye seedlings. Phytopathology 46 295-296, 1956. 

Walzel B, Riederer B, Keller U. Mechanism of alkaloid cyclopeptide synthesis in the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea. Chem Biol 4 223-230, 1997. 

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