New functions of mushrooms are being clarified in order to use them in the fields of functional foods, bio-energy, and bioremediation. In this report, we discuss possibilities for applying the functions of mushrooms. In forest ecosystems, basidiomycetes play an important role as decomposers in the carbon cycle. White-rot fungi have developed unique non-specific enzyme systems with the ability to attack not only lignin, but also a broad spectrum of environmental pollutants. The degradation pathway of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by white-rot fungi is proposed, and the possibility of bioremediation by white-rot fungi is discussed. Ethanol is the most used liquid biofuel alternative to fossil fuels. To reduce ethanol production costs, a single microorganism capable of hydrolyzing cellulose and fermenting glucose and xylose to ethanol is an attractive candidate. White-rot fungus Phlebia sp. MG-60 was identified as a good producer of ethanol from several cellulosic materials containing lignin. Ganoderma fungus (Ganodermataceae) is a multifunctional medicinal mushroom traditionally used to treat various diseases. Treatment with the fruit body of G. lingzhi or with its ethanol extracts has been shown to significantly inhibit testosterone-induced growth of the ventral prostate in rats. A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the G. lingzhi ethanol extract in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Positive statistical significances were observed between the experimental groups in the magnitude of change. Moreover, the ethanol extract prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

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The effect of soba-shochu distillery waste (SDW) as a nutritional additive in liquid medium used for the production of benzaldehyde (BAH) by Grifola gargal in comparison with yeast extract and polypeptone was investigated. When yeast extract and polypeptone in PGY medium (polypeptone, yeast extract, and glucose) were replaced by a diluted SDW solution, the mycelial weight and BAH production by G. gargal increased about 3 and 2 fold, respectively. However, the addition of 1% glucose to SDW was necessary for BAH production. In medium optimized for BAH production (SDW+1% glucose), the levels of ergothioneine (EGT) per mycelial dry weight were similar to those in PGY medium, but the total yield of EGT from a liquid batch culture increased about three fold because of the increased mycelial weight of G. gargal. Together, these results show that SDW can be used as a nutritional additive for increasing BAH and EGT production by liquid cultures of G. gargal.

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The purification and characterization of a neutral protease (PE-4) produced in mycelia during fruit-body formation in Hypsizygus marmoreus was carried out in the present study. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity using ammonium fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, hydrophobic exchange chromatography on Butyl-Toyopearl, and gel chromatography on Superdex 200. Protease activity was enhanced by Co^<2+>, in particular, and was strongly inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), aprotinin and Pefabloc SC, which are known serine protease inhibitors. Phosphoramidon did not inhibit the protease. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was identical with the serine protease from the fruit-body of H. marmoreus, hmsp. The same serine protease was present in both vegetative mycelia and the fruit-body in the growth stage. Protease activity activated in mycelia at fruit-body formation was inhibited by PMSF, EDTA, and phosphoramidon but not completely. These results also suggest that several neutral proteases besides PE-4 were present during kinkaki, which is removal of both the spawn and the uppermost layer of the medium, in the mature fruit-body in the mycelia.

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Mizunara (Quercus crispula) is typically not employed for sawdust-block cultivation of Shiitake (Lentinula edodes). Quercus crispula sawdust-block cultivation of L. edodes was examined using three varieties (HS73, HS607 and Hokken600) with different characteristics. Fruiting body yields of all of the varieties were higher when cultivated on Q. crispula sawdust blocks than on mixed blocks of Sudajii (Castanopsis sieboldii) and Konara (Q. serrate). In addition, on at least 70% of the Q. crispula sawdust blocks, all varieties kept flushing for more than 150 days. The results suggest that Q. crispula is suitable for use as a medium for Shiitake sawdust-block cultivation.

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