Sequestration of copper ions by the extracellular mucilaginous material (ECMM) of two wood rotting basidiomycetes

IRG/WP 04-10533

D Vesentini, D J Dickinson, R J Murphy

The radial growth rate of colonies originating from either whole or ECMM-free inocula of Coriolus versicolor was investigated. The presence of ECMM allowed colonies to maintain higher growth rates than those form ECMM-free inocula up to 2 mM CuSO4 in the medium. The ECMM of C. versicolor and G. trabeum was able to reduce the diffusion of copper ions in solution. The ‘raw’ ECMM of both fungi had a greater ability to reduce the diffusion of copper ions than ECMM which had been subject to dialysis to remove soluble, low molecular weight components. The ‘insoluble’ fraction of ECMM for both species was more effective than the ‘soluble’ fraction at reducing the diffusion of copper ions. It is concluded that ECMM confers some protection to hyphae against the toxic effects of copper ions on growth in vivo and that this due to the binding of copper ions to both the polysaccharide and to low molecular weight components of the ECMM


Keywords: Coriolus versicolor; Gloeophyllum trabeum; extracellular mucilaginous material (ECMM); Cu2+ ions, diffusion

Conference: 04-06-06/10 Ljubljana, Slovenia


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