A NEW FUNGAL IMMUNOMODULATORY PROTEIN, FIP-FVE ISOLATED FROM THE EDIBLE MUSHROOM, FLAMMULINA VELUTIPES AND ITS COMPLETE AMINO-ACID-SEQUENCE

A new fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP-fve) has been isolated and purified from the edible golden needle mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) . The apparent molecular mass of FIP-fve determined by SDS/PAGE agrees well with the value of 12704 Da calculated from its amino acid compos ition and sequence. The complete amino acid sequence of FIP-fve was el ucidated by protein sequencing techniques. FIP-fve consists of 114 ami no acid residues with an acetylated amino end, and lacks methionine, h alf-cystine and histidine residues. FIP-fve was able to hemagglutinate human red blood cells. The immunomodulatory activity of FIP-fve was d emonstrated by its stimulatory activity toward human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and its suppression of systemic anaphylaxis reactions and local swelling of mouse footpads. FIP-fve was found to enhance the tr anscriptional expression of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma.