Chinese "mushroom of immortality" genome mapped

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/06/chines...

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Jun 26, 2012

Chinese "mushroom of immortality" genome mapped

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By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY Updated 2012-06-26 6:04 PM

A medical mushroom has joined the modern age, added to the ranks of gene-mapped organisms. Used in Chinese medicine for centuries, the Lingzhi "mushroom of immortality" or Ganoderma lucidum, has "antitumour, antihypertensive, antiviral and immunomodulatory," properties, notes the Nature Communications Professor Shlin Chen CAPTION study led by Shilin Chen of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. Some 400 medically-active compounds are made by the mushroom, the study authors note.
"As one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicines, G. lucidum has a long track record of safe use, and many pharmaceutical compounds have been found in this medicinal macrofungus" says the study. "However, the understanding of the basic biology of G. lucidum is still very limited."

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Visit Science Fair for your daily dose of scientific news, from dinosaurs to distant galaxies. Science Fair is written by science reporters Dan Vergano and Elizabeth Weise and weather reporter Doyle Rice. Their subjects are often controversial -- and always fascinating -- be they stem-cell research, slime mold, or underground slush on Mars. More about the team

So, they decided to map its genes, producing a first genome of the mushroom. Overall, the Lingzhi (or reishi) mushroom possesses more than 12,600 genes packed into 13 chromosomes, the researchers report. Several hundred involve medically-useful compounds called Triterpenoids that may be effective in treating tumors. The genome reveals steps used to create them, the study authors find, useful for labs. The mushrooms live on rotting trees, and many of its other genes are involved in decaying wood, making their associated proteins and enzymes potentially useful for biofuels applications. "The genome sequence will make it possible to realize the full

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Chinese "mushroom of immortality" genome mapped

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/06/chines...

potential of G. lucidum as a source of pharmacologically active compounds and industrial enzymes," the study concludes.
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2/13/2013 11:43 AM

Chinese "mushroom of immortality" genome mapped

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/06/chines...

6 comments Erica Padmore

Add a comment

Wow, this is great. Just more documentation on our awesome Organo Gold coffee with Ganoderma. Read for yourself. www.ptmintl.organogold.com Reply 2 Like June 28, 2012 at 12:36pm

Noizee Clare One Chick Ear Assaulter at Noizee I have found the best Chinese mushroom products. They are grown & harvested with 21st Century Chinese technology for super potency...and they are treated and processed very carefully in sterile conditions for maximum effect...people are getting miracle results from taking them....much stronger than any home made tea or normal capsule that is available. For more info go here myalphay.com/clare. Reply 1 Like July 10, 2012 at 10:17pm Noizee Clare One Chick Ear Assaulter at Noizee wrong link.....try www.myalphay.com/elementalmushrooms Reply Like July 14, 2012 at 12:11am Michael Wong Vancouver, British Columbia For the laymen, most of our "modern" day medicine are extracts from herbs and plants... through documentations from ancient trials... Reply 1 Like June 28, 2012 at 12:12pm Top Commenter

Rafael Quinones

Looks like the Chinese have been smoking the "mushroom of immortality". I put about as much confidence if in Chinese government findings as I do the Mayan Calender or a palm reader. Mushroom of immortality...gimme a f*cking break! Reply 1 Like June 26, 2012 at 3:13pm Brandon Bell Wow lol sucks to be you Reply 7 Like June 26, 2012 at 6:21pm Top Commenter CCSA at PG&E

Richard VoteforRonpaul Reyes Reply

Nature has hidden secret we still need to find. 1 Like June 27, 2012 at 11:03am Top Commenter

Rafael Quinones

Good luck on your journey to find nature's secrets. I'll just continue to deal with reality. Reply Like June 28, 2012 at 3:35pm View 1 more Ryan Doheny University of Southern California Very interesting! Reply 1 Like June 28, 2012 at 12:33pm

SchoolandUniversity.com Thinking About Education & Not Getting the Solution? Just fill out the Form & you'll get a call from our Education Advisor within 6Hrs. http://www.schoolanduniversity.com Reply Like July 1, 2012 at 10:06pm
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