Molecular mushrooms

Figure 38 Self-assembled molecular mushrooms from miniaturized ABC-triblock copolymers [437]. With permission of the American Association for the Advancement of Science...

Gottlieb and Geller (34) reported further to have obtained an enzyme preparation from mushroom spawn, which they claim to catalyze a reaction between native lignin and oxygen. They believe that this enzyme is different from other phenol oxidases heretofore studied. It was later reported that the enzyme acts on low molecular weight water soluble compounds closely related to native lignin. The nature of these compounds was, however, not determined (35). 

The design and synthesis of supramolecular architectures with parallel control over shape and dimensions is a challenging task in current organic chemistry [13, 14], The information stored at a molecular level plays a key role in the process of self-assembly. Recent examples of nanoscopic supramolecular complexes from outside the dendrimer held include hydrogen-bonded rosettes [15,16], polymers [17], sandwiches [18, 19] and other complexes [20-22], helicates [23], grids [24], mushrooms [25], capsules [26] and spheres [27]. 

There is evidence that gyrometrin does not exist in the free state in the mushroom, but rather is bound to an unknown high-molecular component. Therefore, fruiting bodies have to be heated with water in a closed tube at 120°C for several hours before methylhydrazine can be extracted with chloroform under an atmosphere of nitrogen. Gas chromotography and TLC have been used for its identification. 

Muscarine Muscarine, molecular formula C9H2qN02, first isolated from fly agaric Amanita muscaria, occurs in certain mushrooms, especially in the species of the genera Inocybe and Clitocybe. It is a parasympathomimetic substance. It causes profound activation of the peripheral parasympathetic nervous system, which may result in convulsions and death. Muscarine mimics the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. 

They obtained the teonanactl plant from Mexicans whose trust they had won over enough to allow them to participate in a sacred mushroom ceremony. Roger Herr identified the teonanactl mushroom as Psilocybe Mexicana, and he asked Hofmann to do the biochemical analysis. Unable to establish a bioassay for the extracts he made from the mushrooms, Hofmann took the psilocin and psilocybin extracts himself and reported vivid subjective experiences that were similar to those of LSD. LSD, psilocin, and psilocybin were all similar to serotonin in their molecular structure. 

The many tyrosinases in nature differ in cofactor requirement, metal ion content, substrate specificity, molecular weight, and oligomeric structure. The diverse properties of the tyrosinases will not be discussed instead, the properties of a single enzyme, mushroom tyrosinase, will be outlined. 

The quaternary structure of tyrosinase differs depending on the species. The tyrosinase can be found in either latent or active form, and the activating conditions differ depending on the species. Tyrosinase from the mushroom Agaricus bisporus is a heterotetramer that is compound of two subunits of 43 kDa (H) and two subunits of 13 kDa (L), with a native molecular mass of 111 kDa, and contains four copper atoms [152, 153], The isolated subunits do not possess the enzymatic activity. Activation of the mushroom pro-tyrosinase can be effected by protease treatment [154] or by SDS [155], Mushroom has an isozyme of... 

The spherical self-assembly in aqueous solution originates from the mushroom shape of the molecule. Moreover, when hydrophobic molecules are present, the micelle includes them as guest molecules, acting as a molecular capsule. As selective adsorption of Pcs to cancer cells has been used as a tool for PDT, these micelles hold potential as drug delivery systems. 

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