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A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Cordyceps militaris, a Chinese traditional medicinal mushroom

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 24, pages 483–489 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Cordyceps militaris was purified and partially characterized for the first time, which was designated C. militaris fibrinolytic enzyme (CMase). This extracellular enzyme from C. militaris was isolated by ammonium sulphate fraction, and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity using gel filtration chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 27.3 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were pH 6.0 and 25 °C, respectively. In the presence of metal ions such as Mg2+ and Fe2+ ions the activity of the enzyme increased, whereas EDTA and Cu2+ ion inhibited the enzyme activity. Interestingly the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the enzyme is extremely similar to those of the trypsin proteinases from insects, and has no significant homology with those of the fibrinolytic enzyme from other medicinal mushroom. In conclusion, C. militaris produces a strong fibrinolytic enzyme CMase and may be considered as a new source for thrombolytic agents.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Dr. Huaan Yang, Agriculture Department of Western Australia, Australia, for careful and critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No: 2006AA10Z343) and Key Scientific Project of Jiangsu Province, China (No: BE2006325).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210095, P.R. China

    Li Cui, Ming Sheng Dong, Xiao Hong Chen, Mei Jiang & Xin Lv

  2. School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Guijun Yan

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  1. Li Cui
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  2. Ming Sheng Dong
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  3. Xiao Hong Chen
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Correspondence to Ming Sheng Dong.

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Cui, L., Dong, M.S., Chen, X.H. et al. A novel fibrinolytic enzyme from Cordyceps militaris, a Chinese traditional medicinal mushroom. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 483–489 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9497-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9497-1

Keywords

  • Cordyceps militaris
  • CMase
  • Entomogenous fungus
  • Fibrinolytic activity
  • Medicinal mushroom