Manganese affects the production of laccase in the basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora.

The authors have previously identified and characterized lcs, a gene encoding laccase in the white-rot basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. In this work, the effect of Mn2+ in the production of extracellular laccase in liquid cultures of this fungus has been assessed. It was observed that at low (0-10 microM) concentrations of Mn2+, high titers of lcs-mRNA were obtained, whereas at high (160-194 microM) concentrations of this metal ion, transcripts levels decreased markedly. This phenomenon was observed at different days of growth. On the other hand, Cu2+ or Ag+, but not Zn2+ or Cd2+, led to an accumulation of lcs transcripts only in cultures grown in the absence of Mn2+. A dramatic increase in lcs transcript levels was also obtained with syringic acid, a lignin-related aromatic compound. This effect was more pronounced in cultures lacking Mn2+. In the course of these studies it was observed that Mn2+ stimulates mycelium growth. Thus, although extracellular laccase activity appeared higher in cultures containing 160 or 194 microM Mn2+, i.e. when lcs transcripts were lower, a correlation between lcs-mRNA levels and enzymatic activity was observed when values of the latter were corrected by the amount of mycelium present in the cultures.

Characterization of the antifungal activity on Botrytis cinerea of the natural diterpenoids kaurenoic acid and 3beta-hydroxy-kaurenoic acid.

The antifungal activity on Botrytis cinerea of the diterpenoids 3beta-hydroxy-kaurenoic acid and kaurenoic acid, obtained from the resinous exudates of Pseudognaphalium vira vira, was determined. 3beta-Hydroxy-kaurenoic acid reduced the mycelial growth of B. cinerea in solid and liquid media. Additionally, the damage produced by the fungus on the surface of tomato leaves in the presence of the diterpenoids was evaluated. A higher protective effect was observed in the presence of the hydroxylated diterpene. On the other hand, the effect of the diterpenoids on the production of enzymes that participate in the plant infection by B. cinerea was analyzed. p-Nitrophenylbutyrate esterase production was induced by both diterpenoids, whereas laccase production was only induced by the hydroxylated diterpene. In the study of the mechanism of action of these compounds, it was determined that 3beta-hydroxy-kaurenoic acid would produce permeabilization of the cell membrane of B. cinerea.