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New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence
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New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Genomics, Genetics and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 11561

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cassius V. Stevani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: bioluminescence; biotechnology; chemiluminescence; fungi; microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The history of fungal bioluminescence begins with Aristotle in the 4th century BC. For almost two millennia, this incredible phenomenon remained little studied in the literature. Only at the end of the 1950s, with pioneering work conducted by McElroy, Airth and Foerster, the interest in the field increased, leading to proof of the involvement of enzymes in light emission between 2009 and 2012, and that this process is shared by all bioluminescent fungi. Some years later, between 2015 and 2018, luciferin, the biochemical mechanism of light emission, and all genes involved in the so-called caffeic acid cycle were described. Despite the recent advances in the studies on fungal bioluminescence, the full comprehension and application of fungal bioluminescence is still in its infancy. Much is yet to be accomplished regarding the discovery of new species, including the evolution of this treat within euagarics, enzymology, bioluminescence mechanisms, molecular biology and biotechnological applications. At present, the fungal bioluminescent system is the only eukaryotic genetically encodable one, enabling the transformation of non-bioluminescent fungi and even plants into bioluminescent organisms. Biotechnological applications are also limitless; fungal bioluminescence can be used to develop analytical tools for the most diverse purposes, ranging from rapid bioassays used for monitoring the environment to the use of the luciferase luz gene as a probe in molecular biology. Given the recent developments in this field, the purpose of the current Special Issue is to highlight the thrilling advances in the study of fungal bioluminescence.

Prof. Dr. Cassius V. Stevani 
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biotechnological advances in fungal bioluminescence
  • fungal luciferin, luciferase and their derivatives
  • filogeny, evolution and taxonomy of bioluminescent fungi
  • mechanistic aspects of fungal bioluminescence

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 18120 KiB  
Article
Eoscyphella luciurceolata gen. and sp. nov. (Agaricomycetes) Shed Light on Cyphellopsidaceae with a New Lineage of Bioluminescent Fungi
by Alexandre G. S. Silva-Filho, Andgelo Mombert, Cristiano C. Nascimento, Bianca B. Nóbrega, Douglas M. M. Soares, Ana G. S. Martins, Adão H. R. Domingos, Isaias Santos, Olavo H. P. Della-Torre, Brian A. Perry, Dennis E. Desjardin, Cassius V. Stevani and Nelson Menolli, Jr.
J. Fungi 2023, 9(10), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9101004 - 12 Oct 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1574 | Correction
Abstract
During nocturnal field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, an unexpected bioluminescent fungus with reduced form was found. Based on morphological data, the taxon was first identified as belonging to the cyphelloid genus Maireina, but in our phylogenetic analyses, Maireina was recovered [...] Read more.
During nocturnal field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, an unexpected bioluminescent fungus with reduced form was found. Based on morphological data, the taxon was first identified as belonging to the cyphelloid genus Maireina, but in our phylogenetic analyses, Maireina was recovered and confirmed as a paraphyletic group related to genera Merismodes and Cyphellopsis. Maireina filipendula, Ma. monacha, and Ma. subsphaerospora are herein transferred to Merismodes. Based upon morphological and molecular characters, the bioluminescent cyphelloid taxon is described as the new genus Eoscyphella, characterized by a vasiform to urceolate basidiomata, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, being pigmented, weakly to densely encrusted external hyphae, regularly bi-spored basidia, unclamped hyphae, and an absence of both conspicuous long external hairs and hymenial cystidia. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA support the proposal of the new genus and confirm its position in Cyphellopsidaceae. Eoscyphella luciurceolata represents a new lineage of bioluminescent basidiomycetes with reduced forms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence)
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22 pages, 66394 KiB  
Article
New Species of Bioluminescent Mycena Sect. Calodontes (Agaricales, Mycenaceae) from Mexico
by Alonso Cortés-Pérez, Laura Guzmán-Dávalos, Virginia Ramírez-Cruz, Alma Rosa Villalobos-Arámbula, Eduardo Ruiz-Sanchez and Florencia Ramírez-Guillén
J. Fungi 2023, 9(9), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9090902 - 01 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
Mycena section Calodontes is macromorphologically distinguished by the collybioid or mycenoid basidiome, which is pink, purple, or violet, and, rarely, reddish-brown or yellowish. It is further characterized by the presence of oxalate crystals in the basal mycelium. The section comprises approximately 40 taxa, [...] Read more.
Mycena section Calodontes is macromorphologically distinguished by the collybioid or mycenoid basidiome, which is pink, purple, or violet, and, rarely, reddish-brown or yellowish. It is further characterized by the presence of oxalate crystals in the basal mycelium. The section comprises approximately 40 taxa, of which only five species and one variety exhibit bioluminescence. As part of an extensive study on Mycena sect. Calodontes in Mexico, specimens belonging to this section were collected and subjected to morphological analysis. Sequences from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, RNA polymerase II large subunit Rpb1 (rpb1), and translation elongation factor-1α (Tef-1α) were generated to infer the relationships within Mycena sect. Calodontes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The phylogenetic evidence, along with the macro- and micromorphological features, supported the recognition of five new bioluminescent species within Mycena sect. Calodontes. Detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions, line-drawing illustrations, and light and dark photographs of the new species are provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence)
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12 pages, 11519 KiB  
Article
Chemistry in Fungal Bioluminescence: Theoretical Studies on Biosynthesis of Luciferin from Caffeic Acid and Regeneration of Caffeic Acid from Oxidized Luciferin
by Xiayu Liu, Mingyu Wang and Yajun Liu
J. Fungi 2023, 9(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9030369 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1986
Abstract
Fungal bioluminescence is widely distributed in the terrestrial environment. At a specific stage of growth, luminescent fungi shine green light at the fruiting body or mycelium. From the viewpoint of chemistry, fungal bioluminescence involves an in vivo cycle of caffeic acid. The complete [...] Read more.
Fungal bioluminescence is widely distributed in the terrestrial environment. At a specific stage of growth, luminescent fungi shine green light at the fruiting body or mycelium. From the viewpoint of chemistry, fungal bioluminescence involves an in vivo cycle of caffeic acid. The complete cycle is composed of three stages: biosynthesis of luciferin from caffeic acid, luminescence process from luciferin to oxidized luciferin, and regeneration of caffeic acid from oxidized luciferin. Experimental studies roughly proposed this cycle but not the detailed reaction process and mechanism. Our previous theoretical study clearly described the mechanism of the middle stage. The present article attempts to describe the reaction processes and mechanisms of the other two stages by theoretical calculations. A complete theoretical study on the chemistry in the entire process of fungal bioluminescence is helpful to deeply understand fungal bioluminescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence)
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Review

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27 pages, 10270 KiB  
Review
The Luminous Fungi of Japan
by Yuichi Oba and Kentaro Hosaka
J. Fungi 2023, 9(6), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9060615 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4922
Abstract
Luminous fungi have long attracted public attention in Japan, from old folklore and fiction to current tourism, children’s toys, games, and picture books. At present, 25 species of luminous fungi have been discovered in Japan, which correspond to approximately one-fourth of the globally [...] Read more.
Luminous fungi have long attracted public attention in Japan, from old folklore and fiction to current tourism, children’s toys, games, and picture books. At present, 25 species of luminous fungi have been discovered in Japan, which correspond to approximately one-fourth of the globally recognized species. This species richness is arguably due to the abundant presence of mycophiles looking to find new mushroom species and a tradition of night-time activities, such as firefly watching, in Japan. Bioluminescence, a field of bioscience focused on luminous organisms, has long been studied by many Japanese researchers, including the biochemistry and chemistry of luminous fungi. A Japanese Nobel Prize winner, Osamu Shimomura (1928–2018), primarily focused on the bioluminescence system of luminous fungi in the latter part of his life, and total elucidation of the mechanism was finally accomplished by an international research team with representatives from Russia, Brazil, and Japan in 2018. In this review, we focused on multiple aspects related to luminous fungi of Japan, including myth, taxonomy, and modern sciences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence)
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Other

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2 pages, 1064 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Silva-Filho et al. Eoscyphella luciurceolata gen. and sp. nov. (Agaricomycetes) Shed Light on Cyphellopsidaceae with a New Lineage of Bioluminescent Fungi. J. Fungi 2023, 9, 1004
by Alexandre G. S. Silva-Filho, Andgelo Mombert, Cristiano C. Nascimento, Bianca B. Nóbrega, Douglas M. M. Soares, Ana G. S. Martins, Adão H. R. Domingos, Isaias Santos, Olavo H. P. Della-Torre, Brian A. Perry, Dennis E. Desjardin, Cassius V. Stevani and Nelson Menolli, Jr.
J. Fungi 2023, 9(12), 1189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9121189 - 13 Dec 2023
Viewed by 662
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Fungal Bioluminescence)
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