Two new sesquiterpenoid aromatic esters, armillarin and armillaridin, have been isolated from the artificially cultured mycelium of Armillaria mellea (Vahi. ex Fr.) Quel. (Tricholometaceae). On the basis of spectral (UV, IR, 'H-NMR, '3C-NMR and MS) analysis and chemical degradation as well as X-ray crystallography, their structures were identified as (1) and (2), respectively.
Hydrophobins
are abundant amphipathic proteins produced by fungi.
They have been interacting with oils in natural environments for millions
of years; therefore, it is sensible to consider them as surfactants
and dispersants for cleaning oil spills. To better understand the
properties of these amphipathic proteins in seawater, a particular
hydrophobin known as cerato-ulmin (CU; mass 7627 g/mol) was studied.
CU is adept at forming strong membranes, as indicated by the capacity
to stabilize gas-filled bubbles and oil-filled droplets with cylindrical
and other nonspherical shapes. The limits of this unusual ability
were tested using a wide variety of solvent conditions, including
various salt solutions, alcohols, simple hydrocarbons (i.e., cyclohexane,
dodecane), acids, and bases. CU concentrations ranged from 20 to 200
μg/mL. The bubbles and other structures made by CU in the presence
of various gases span an enormous range of size, from nanometers to
millimeters. After larger objects float to the surface, smaller structures
remain, and these were found by light scattering to have a hydrodynamic
diameter of ∼200 nm.
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