신령버섯균사체(Agaricus blazei mycelia: ABM)를 대두박이 함유된 액체배지에 배양하고, 이것을 자가분해($53^{circ}C$, pH 5.5, 120 rpm, 3 hr)하여 항암성이 강한 isoflavone-conjugated glycoprotein (Gluvone 이라 명명)을 분리하였다. Gluvone은 지금까지 알려진 당단백질과는 달리 분자량이 작고(9,400 Da), isoflavone이 결합되어 있다는 점이 다르다, Gluvone은 60% 탄수화물(glucose, fructose, ribose), 31% 단백질 및 2% isoflavone (daidzein, genistein)으로 구성되어 있었다. 이 Gluvone은 S-180 복수암세포, MCF-7 인체유선암세포에 대한 독성이 강하였고, S-180 세포로 유발한 mouse 복수암을 강하게 억제하였다.
Most beta-glucans obtained from various fruit bodies of mushrooms and mushroom mycelial cultures have high-molecular weight glycoproteins, conjugated with beta-glucans. We report that isoflavone-conjugated glycolproteins (designated as gluvone) were isolated and exhibited stronger anticarcinogenic activities. Agaricus blazei mycelia (ABM) was cultured in a liquid medium containing soybean flakes for 14 days. The liquid culture was autolyzed by incubating at $53^{circ}C$ (pH 5.5) for 3 h. A crude glycoprotein (CGP) fraction with a cytotoxic effect on a mouse ascite cancer cell line (S-180) and a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was isolated from the autolyzed ABM cultures by 80% ethanol treatment. Gluvone was isolated from the CGP with Sephadex G-75 column chromatography. It exhibited a stronger anticancer effect than CGP against the S-180 cell-induced female ICR mouse ascites carcinogenesis. Gluvone with 9,400 daltons was identified as a glycoprotein conjugated with isoflavone. According to HPLC and GC analysis, in conjunction with $^1H$-NMR spectral analysis, it contained 60% carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, and ribose), 31% protein, and 2% isoflavone (daidzein and genistein), which is a novel material. These results indicate that a strong anticarcinogenic gluvone was isolated from the autolyzed product of a submerged liquid culture of ABM, suggesting that autolysis could be a useful tool to produce antitumor agents.
