Meiotic synchrony in the genus Coprinus has permitted the sequential study of spindle pole body (SPB) behaviour through the meiotic process. The SPBs are monoglobular in the young basidia immediately after the last premeiotic mitosis. From 10 to 15 h before karyogamy until pachytene, spindle pole bodies are not found. They become conspicuous in diplotene and persist until the completion of meio...

A successful mating in the mushroom Coprinus cinereus brings together a compatible complement of pheromones and G-protein-coupled receptors encoded by multiallelic genes at the B mating-type locus. Rare B gene mutations lead to constitutive activation of B-regulated development without the need for mating. Here we characterize a mutation that arose in the B6 locus and show that it generates a m...

In this study the effects of an aqueous suspension of a commercial preparation of the mushroom Coprinus comatus on oxidative stress induced in rats by alloxane and carbon tetrachloride was examined. The effects were estimated from changes in the biochemical parameters (xanthine oxidase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity, reduced glutathione content, and extent of lipid peroxidation) ...

Arginine synthesis and urea formation via the ornithine cycle occurred in sporophore cap and stipe of Coprinus cinereus. Although urease was found at high activity in mycelium and stipe, it was not detectable in extracts of cap tissue, but arginine biosynthesis was specifically amplified during development of the cap as judged from metabolism of isotopically labelled substrates and increased en...

The aim of this work was to detect the presence of Basidiomycetes spores (basidiospores, teliospores, uredospores and aeciospores) in Mérida (SW Spain) and assess the influence of weather parameters. Air was sampled continuously with a volumetric seven-day Burkard spore trap for two years. Fungi spores were identified and counted at x1,000 microscope resolution. Daily and weekly meteorological ...

Mixtures of mycolytic enzymes from various sources release protoplasts from living fungal tissue under suitable conditions. Such enzyme mixtures obtained from Coprinus comatus (mycolase I), Physarum polycephalum (mycolase II) and Lycoperdon pyriforme (mycolase III) are of low toxicity in mammals when given parenterally and are able to cure experimental systemic fungal infections in mice when ad...

Optimal conditions, defined by the use of a known auxotrophic strain, are described for the mutagenesis of Coprinus Zagopus oidia by N-methyl-N’nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG), which is a very effective mutagen for bacteria and yeast. The oidia were best treated in phosphate buffer (PH 6.8) with a concentration of 15 pg. NTG/ml. for about 70 min. The yield of auxotrophs was considerably less tha...