Fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) are a type of functional compound (other compounds include

polysaccharides Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long-chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wat ...

and

triterpenoids Triterpenes are a class of terpenes composed of six isoprene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of three terpene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squalene, the pre ...

) found in various species of

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

. FIPs are part of the

immunoglobulin An antibody (Ab) or immunoglobulin (Ig) is a large, Y-shaped protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily which is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize antigens such as pathogenic bacteria, bacteria and viruses, includin ...

(ig) family, which are structurally similar to human antibodies, and can interact with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), causing these cells to secrete different types of hormones and regulate cellular activity.

History

The first FIP was discovered in 1989 by Japanese scientist Kohsuke Kino et al. from the water extract of the mycelium of

Ganoderma lucidum ''Ganoderma lucidum'', commonly known as the reishi, varnished conk, lacquered bracket, or ling chih, is a red-colored species of '' Ganoderma'' with a limited distribution in Europe and parts of China, where it grows on decaying hardwood trees. ...

, and was named Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8). From then on, researchers have identified numerous structurally similar proteins from various types of fungi that also share a high degree of genetic similarity as well as physiological activities, and thus coined the term fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP).

Members of the FIP family

Currently known FIPs are listed below: * LZ-8 from G. lucidum * LZ-9 from G. lucidum * FIP-gts from G. tsugae * FIP-gsi (NCBI DNA Accession number AY987805; Protein Accession number AAX98241) from G. sinensis * GMI (FIP-gmi) (NCBI GI Accession number 310942694; Protein Data Bank Accession number 3KCW_A) from G. microsporum * FIP-tve (NCBI DNA Accession number XM_008037967; Protein Accession number XP_008036158) from

Trametes versicolor ''Trametes versicolor''also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor''is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Owing to its shape being similar to that of a wild turkey's tail feathers, ''T. versicolor ...

* FIP-pcp from Poria cocos * FIP-fve (NCBI DNA Accession number GU388420; Protein Accession number ADB24832) from

Flammulina velutipes ''Flammulina velutipes'', the velvet foot, velvet stem, velvet shank or wild enoki, is a species of gilled mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae. The species occurs in Europe and North America. Taxonomy The species was originally described f ...

* FIP-vvo from

Volvariella volvacea ''Volvariella volvacea'' (also known as paddy straw mushroom or straw mushroom) is a species of edible mushroom cultivated throughout East and Southeast Asia and used extensively in Asian cuisine. They are often available fresh in regions they ar ...

* FIP-aca from Antrodia camphorate * FIP-lrh from Lignosus rhinocerotis

References

{{reflist, 30em Immunoglobulin superfamily Fungal proteins