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Bacterial canker was first observed on the kiwifruit cv. 'Hort16A (Actinidia chinensis)' in Jeju Province, Korea, in spring 2006. Die back or blight on young canes, often with red-rusty exudation on canes or trunks, and dark brown irregular spots surrounded with yellowish halos on leaves are the typical symptoms. These symptoms closely resemble those caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae on the kiwifruit cv. 'Hayward (Actinidia deliciosa)'. A sudden outbreak and rapid spread of the bacterial canker resulted in the death of severely infected vines and eradication of completely devastated orchards of the kiwifruit cv. 'Hort16A'. Contaminated pruning shears and climatic conditions appear to have been responsible for the sudden outbreak and rapid spread of the epidemics on the kiwifruit cv. 'Hort16A' vines. The causal bacterium was isolated from diseased vines of the kiwifruit cv. 'Hort16A' and identified as P. syringae pv. actinidiae, which is the same bacterial pathogen responsible for cankers on the kiwifruit cv. 'Hayward' by morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical, molecular and pathogenicity analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous use of synthetic fungicides has led to explosive emergence of fungicide-resistant microbes. Therefore, there are urgent needs for environmentally friendly antimicrobial agents with novel modes of action. This study investigated endolichenic fungi (ELF) as a source of antimicrobial compounds against various plant pathogens. We utilized an One Strain MAny Compounds (OSMAC) approach to enhance the chemical diversity of fourteen ELF. This involved cultivation of ELF in four growth media and subsequently assessing antimicrobial activities of culture extracts. Nearly half of the culture extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against a Gram-positive bacterium, but showed minimal activity against Gram-negative bacteria tested. Notably, culture extracts from two ELF, Chaetomium globosum and Nodulisporium sp., demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against plant pathogenic fungi. LC-MS/MS-based metabolome profiling confirmed the presence of known bioactive compounds like cyclic dipeptides and chaetoglobosins. These findings highlight the effectiveness of combining OSMAC and metabolomics for identifying antimicrobial agents for agricultural use.

Amorphous IGZO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) are standard backplane electronics to power active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) televisions due to their high carrier mobility and negligible low leakage characteristics. Despite their advantages, limitations in color depth arise from a steep subthreshold swing (SS) (≤ 0.1 V/decade), necessitating costly external compensation for IGZO transistors. For mid-size mobile applications such as OLED tablets and notebooks, it is important to ensure controllable SS value (≥ 0.3 V/decade). In this study, a conversion mechanism during plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) is proposed as a feasible route to control the SS. When a pulse of a diethylzinc (DEZn) precursor is exposed to the M 2 O 3 (M = In or Ga) surface layer, partial conversion of the underlying M 2 O 3 to ZnO is predicted on the basis of density function theory calculations. Notably, significant distinctions between In-Ga-Zn (Case I) and In-Zn-Ga (Case II) films are observed: Case II exhibits a lower growth rate and larger Ga/In ratio. Case II TFTs with a-IGZO (subcycle ratio of In:Ga:Zn = 3:1:1) show reasonable SS values (313 mV decade -1 ) and high mobility (µ FE ) of 29.3 cm2 Vs -1 (Case I: 84 mV decade -1 and 33.4 cm 2 Vs -1 ). The rationale for Case II's reasonable SS values is discussed, attributing it to the plausible formation of In-Zn defects, supported by technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Lichens, traditionally considered as a simple partnership primarily between mycobiont and photobiont, are, in reality, complex holobionts comprised of a multitude of microorganisms. Lichen mycobiome represents fungal community residing within lichen thalli. While it is acknowledged that factors like the host lichen species and environmental conditions influence the structure of the lichen mycobiome, the existing research remains insufficient. To investigate which factor, host genus or location, has a greater impact on the lichen mycobiome, we conducted a comparative analysis of mycobiomes within Parmelia and Peltigera collected from both Turkey and South Korea, using high-throughput sequencing based on internal transcribed spacer region amplification., Results: Overall, the lichen mycobiome was dominated by Capnodiales (Dothideomycetes), regardless of host or location. At the order level, the taxonomic composition was not significantly different according to lichen genus host or geographical distance. Hierarchical clustering of the top 100 abundant ASVs did not clearly indicate whether the lichen mycobiome was more influenced by host genus or location. Analyses of community similarity and partitioning variables revealed that the structure of the lichen mycobiome is more significantly influenced by location than by host genus. When analyzing the core mycobiome by host genus, the Peltigera mycobiome contained more ASV members than the Parmelia mycobiome. These two core mycobiomes also share common fungal strains, including basidiomycete yeast. Additionally, we used chi-squared tests to identify host genus-specialists and location-specialists., Conclusions: By comparing lichen mycobiomes of the same genera across different countries, our study advances our comprehension of these microbial communities. Our study elucidates that, although host species play a contributory role, geographic distance exerts a more pronounced impact on the structure of lichen mycobiome. We have made foundational contributions to understanding the lichen mycobiome occupying ecologically crucial niches. We anticipate that broader global-scale investigations into the fungal community structures will provide more detailed insights into fungal residents within lichens., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As the downscaling of conventional dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) has reached its limits, 3D DRAM has been proposed as a next-generation DRAM cell architecture. However, incorporating silicon into 3D DRAM technology faces various challenges in securing cost-effective high cell transistor performance. Therefore, many researchers are exploring the application of next-generation semiconductor materials, such as transition oxide semiconductors (OSs) and metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), to address these challenges and to realize 3D DRAM. This study provides an overview of the proposed structures for 3D DRAM, compares the characteristics of OSs and TMDs, and discusses the feasibility of employing the OSs and TMDs as the channel material for 3D DRAM. Furthermore, we review recent progress in 3D DRAM using the OSs, discussing their potential to overcome challenges in silicon-based approaches.

Drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) is one of the most critical obstacles degrading the reliability of integrated circuits based on miniaturized transistors. Here, the effect of a crystallographic structure change in InGaO [indium gallium oxide (IGO)] thin-films on the DIBL was investigated. Preferentially oriented IGO (po-IGO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) have outstanding device performances with a field-effect mobility of 81.9 ± 1.3 cm 2 /(V s), a threshold voltage ( V TH ) of 0.07 ± 0.03 V, a subthreshold swing of 127 ± 2.0 mV/dec, and a current modulation ratio of (2.9 ± 0.2) × 10 11 . They also exhibit highly reliable electrical characteristics with a negligible V TH shift of +0.09 (-0.14) V under +2 (-2) MV/cm and 60 °C for 3600 s. More importantly, they reveal strong immunity to the DIBL of 17.5 ± 1.2 mV/V, while random polycrystalline In 2 O 3 (rp-In 2 O 3 ) and IGO (rp-IGO) TFTs show DIBL values of 197 ± 5.3 and 46.4 ± 1.2 mV/V, respectively. This is quite interesting because the rp- and po-IGO thin-films have the same cation composition ratio (In/Ga = 8:2). Given that the lateral diffusion of oxygen vacancies from the source/drain junction to the channel region via grain boundaries can reduce the effective length ( L eff ) of the oxide channel, this improved immunity could be attributed to suppressed lateral diffusion by preferential growth. In practice, the po-IGO TFTs have a longer L eff than the rp-In 2 O 3 and -IGO TFTs even with the same patterned length. The effect of the crystallographic-structure-dependent L eff variation on the DIBL was corroborated by technological computer-aided design simulation. This work suggests that the atomic-layer-deposited po-IGO thin-film can be a promising candidate for next-generation electronic devices composed of the miniaturized oxide transistors.

A depside derivative, named pericodepside ( 2 ), along with the known depside proatranorin III ( 1 ), was isolated from the solid cultivation of an Ascochyta rabiei strain that heterologously expresses atr1 and atr2 that are involved in the biosynthesis of atranorin in a fruticose lichen, Stereocaulon alpinum . The structure of 2 was determined by 1D and 2D NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The structure of 2 consisted of a depside-pericosine conjugate, with the depside moiety being identical to that found in 1 , suggesting that 1 acted as an intermediate during the formation of 2 through the esterification process. Pericodepside ( 2 ) strongly suppressed cell invasion and proliferation by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the transcriptional activities of β-catenin, STAT, and NF-κB in U87 (glioma cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), and PC3 (prostate cancer) cell lines., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

An endophytic fungus, Phoma sp. NG-25, produces a set of structurally related polyketides including cercosporamide, phomodione, and usnic acid, among which, cercosporamide has been reported to have strong antifungal and anticancer activities. In this study, Phoma sp. NG-25 was grown in seven growth media to determine the optimal culture condition conducive for cercosporamide production. Cercosporamide production peaked on the eighteenth day of incubation in beef peptone dextrose (BPD) broth media. The cercosporamide titer reached to an average of 77.5 µg/mL in BPD. Paper disk diffusion assay revealed that culture filtrate containing cercosporamide as a major constituent inhibited the growth of taxonomically diverse plant pathogens, including ascomycetous, basidiomycetous, and oomycete fungi. Cercosporamide exhibited strong antifungal activities against two pepper anthracnose pathogens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. scovillei with EC 50 values of 3.8 and 7.0 µg/mL, respectively. This study suggests the potential application of cercosporamide as an effective antifungal agent in controlling anthracnose in pepper., (2024, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

A recently bioinformatic analysis of genomic sequences of fungi indicated that fungi are able to produce more secondary metabolites than expected. Despite their potency, many biosynthetic pathways are silent in the absence of specific culture conditions or chemical cues. To access cryptic metabolism, 108 fungal strains isolated from various sites were cultured with or without Streptomyces sp. 13F051 which mainly produces trichostatin analogues, followed by comparison of metabolic profiles using LC-MS. Among the 108 fungal strains, 14 produced secondary metabolites that were not recognized or were scarcely produced in mono-cultivation. Of these two fungal strains, Myrmecridium schulzeri 15F098 and Scleroconidioma sphagnicola 15S058 produced four new compounds (1-4) along with a known compound (5), demonstrating that all four compounds were produced by physical interaction with Streptomyces sp. 13F051. Bioactivity evaluation indicated that compounds 3-5 impede migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Background: Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, which are key ecological bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes. The endolichenic fungi (ELF) living inside lichen thalli, are an important but understudied component of playing crucial ecological roles such as nutrient cycling and protection against environmental stressors. Therefore ELF community investigation is vital for fostering sustainable ecosystems and leveraging their ecological benefits. Deciphering the intricate relationships between ELF and their lichen hosts, alongside the influence of environmental factors on these communities, presents a significant challenge in pinpointing the underlying drivers of community structure and diversity., Results: Our research demonstrated that locational factors were the main drivers of the ELF community structure, rather than host haplotype. Several climatic factors affected the diversity of the ELF community and contributed to the prevalence of different types of fungal residents within the ELF community. A decrease in isothermality was associated with a greater prevalence of pathotrophic and saprotrophic fungi within the ELF community, resulting in an overall increase in community diversity. By conducting a structural equation modeling analysis, we identified a robust link between climatic variables, fungal trophic mode abundance, and the species diversity of the ELF community., Conclusion: This study's discoveries emphasize the significance of examining climate-related factors when investigating ELF's structure and function. The connection between fungi and climate is intricate and complex, and can be influenced by various other factors. Investigating the potential for ELF to adapt to changing climatic conditions, as well as the potential effects of changes in ELF communities on lichen function, would be valuable research areas. We anticipate that our research results will establish a basis for numerous future ELF research projects and have a significant impact on the field., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Lichens play crucial roles in the ecosystems, contributing to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and being used in biomonitoring efforts to assess the sustainability of ecosystems including air quality. Previous studies on heavy metal accumulation in lichens have mostly relied on manipulated environments, such as transplanted lichens, leaving us with a dearth of research on how lichens physiologically respond to heavy metal exposure in their natural habitats. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated lichens from two of South Korea's geographically distant regions, Gangwon Province and Jeju Island, and examined whether difference in ambient heavy metal concentrations could be detected through physiological variables, including chlorophyll damage, lipid oxidation, and protein content. The physiological variables of lichens in response to heavy metals differed according to the collection area: Arsenic exerted a significant impact on chlorophyll degradation and protein content. The degree of fatty acid oxidation in lichens was associated with increased Cu concentrations. Our research highlights the value of lichens as a bioindicator, as we found that even small variations in ambient heavy metal concentrations can be detected in natural lichens. Furthermore, our study sheds light on which physiology variables that can be used as indicators of specific heavy metals, underscoring the potential of lichens for future ecology studies., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.)

Indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ) is a transparent wide-bandgap semiconductor suitable for use in the back-end-of-line-compatible channel layers of heterogeneous monolithic three-dimensional (M3D) devices. The structural, chemical, and electrical properties of In 2 O 3 films deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) were examined using two different liquid-based precursors: (3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-dimethyl indium (DADI) and ( N , N -dimethylbutylamine)trimethylindium (DATI). DATI-derived In 2 O 3 films had higher growth per cycle (GPC), superior crystallinity, and low defect density compared with DADI-derived In 2 O 3 films. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the structure of DATI can exhibit less steric hindrance compared with that of DADI, explaining the superior physical and electrical properties of the DATI-derived In 2 O 3 film. DATI-derived In 2 O 3 field-effect transistors (FETs) exhibited unprecedented performance, showcasing a high field-effect mobility of 115.8 cm 2 /(V s), a threshold voltage of -0.12 V, and a low subthreshold gate swing value of <70 mV/decade. These results were achieved by employing a 10-nm-thick HfO 2 gate dielectric layer with an effective oxide thickness of 3.9 nm. Both DADI and DATI-derived In 2 O 3 FET devices exhibited remarkable stability under bias stress conditions due to a high-quality In 2 O 3 channel layer, good gate dielectric/channel interface matching, and a suitable passivation layer. These findings underscore the potential of ALD In 2 O 3 films as promising materials for upper-layer channels in the next generation of M3D devices.

Background: Lichens represent not only the mutualism of fungal and photosynthetic partners but also are composed of microbial consortium harboring diverse fungi known as endolichenic fungi. While endolichenic fungi are known to exert a remarkable influence on lichen ecology through their crucial roles in nutrient cycling, bioprospecting and biodiversity, the enigmatic community structures of these fungal inhabitants remain shrouded in mystery, awaiting further exploration and discovery. To address knowledge gap, we conducted metabarcoding on two lichens using 18S gene amplification, Dirinara applanta and Parmotrema tinctorum, and compared their microbial communities to those found in the pine bark to which the lichens were attached. Our hypothesis was that the endolichenic communities would exhibit distinct diversity patterns, community structures, network structures, and specialist composition compared to the surrounding epiphytic community., Results: Our investigation has shed light on the clear demarcation between the endolichenic and epiphytic fungal communities, as they exhibit markedly different characteristics that set them apart from each other. This research demonstrated that the endolichenic communities are less diverse as compared to the epiphytic communities. Through community similarity analysis, we observed that two endolichenic communities are more similar to each other in terms of community composition than with the adjacent epiphytic communities. Moreover, we unveiled a striking contrast in the network structures between the endolichenic and epiphytic communities, as the former displayed a more modular and less nested features that is evocative of a potent host-filtration mechanism., Conclusions: Through our investigation, we have discovered that lichens harbor less intricate and interconnected fungal communities compared to the neighboring epiphytic environment. These observations provide valuable insights into the metagenomic architecture of lichens and offer a tantalizing glimpse into the unique mycobiome., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

As Si has faced physical limits on further scaling down, novel semiconducting materials such as 2D transition metal dichalcogenides and oxide semiconductors (OSs) have gained tremendous attention to continue the ever-demanding downscaling represented by Moore's law. Among them, OS is considered to be the most promising alternative material because it has intriguing features such as modest mobility, extremely low off-current, great uniformity, and low-temperature processibility with conventional complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible methods. In practice, OS has successfully replaced hydrogenated amorphous Si in high-end liquid crystal display devices and has now become a standard backplane electronic for organic light-emitting diode displays despite the short time since their invention in 2004. For OS to be implemented in next-generation electronics such as back-end-of-line transistor applications in monolithic 3D integration beyond the display applications, however, there is still much room for further study, such as high mobility, immune short-channel effects, low electrical contact properties, etc. This study reviews the brief history of OS and recent progress in device applications from a material science and device physics point of view. Simultaneously, remaining challenges and opportunities in OS for use in next-generation electronics are discussed., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Daldipyrenones A-C ( 1 - 3 ), three unprecedented caged xanthone [6,6,6,6,6] polyketides featuring a spiro-azaphilone unit, were discovered from an endolichenic fungus, Daldinia pyrenaica 047188. The structures of 1 - 3 were determined by using spectroscopic analysis and chemical derivatization. Daldipyrenones are likely derived by combining a chromane biosynthesis intermediate, 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl)but-2-en-2-one, and a spiro-azaphilone, pestafolide A, via radical coupling or Michael addition to form a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring. Genome sequencing of the strain revealed two separate biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for forming two biosynthetic intermediates, suggesting a proposed biosynthetic pathway. Daldipyrenone A ( 1 ) exhibited significant antimelanogenic activity with lower EC 50 's than positive controls and moderate adiponectin-secretion promoting activity.

Feature-based molecular networking analysis suggested the presence of naphthol tetramers in Daldinia childae 047219, the same species but a different strain from one used previously for the discovery of naphthol trimers promoting adiponectin synthesis. The new tetramers were composed of 5-methoxy-4-naphthol, each of which was connected to one another in various positions. Targeted isolation afforded six previously unreported naphthol tetramers ( 1 - 6 ) together with 13 known polyketides ( 7 - 19 ) including naphthol monomers, dimers, and trimers. Structures of the isolated compounds were established by using NMR and mass spectroscopic analysis. Nodulisporin A ( 13 ), nodulisporin B ( 14 ), and 1,1',3',3″-ternaphthalene-5,5',5″-trimethoxy-4,4',4″-triol ( 16 ) demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities against NO production, but the new compounds were less active.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rates worldwide. The disease is caused by environmental pollutants, smoking, and many other factors. Recent treatments include immunotherapeutics, which have shown some success; however, the search for new therapeutics is ongoing. Endolichenic fungi produce a whale of a lot of secondary metabolites, the therapeutic effects of which are being evaluated. Here, we used a crude extract and subfractions of the endolichenic fungus, Phoma sp. (EL006848), isolated from the Pseudevernia furfuracea . It was identified the fatty acid components, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and oleic acid, exist in subfractions E1 and E2. In addition, EL006848 and its fatty acids fractions suppressed benzo[ a ]pyrene (an AhR ligand)- induced expression of PD-L1 to inhibit the activity of multiple immune checkpoints. E2 subfraction, which had a higher fatty acid content than E1, downregulated expression of AhR/ARNT and several human transcription factors related to ESR1. Moreover, E2 showed a strong inhibitory effect on STAT3 expression and mild effect on NF-kB activity. These results suggest that fatty acids extracted from an endolichenic fungus can exert strong immunotherapeutic effects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

In this paper, In 0.22 Zn δ Sn 0.78- δ O 1.89- δ (δ = 0.55) films with a single spinel phase are successfully grown at the low temperature of 300 °C through careful cation composition design and a catalytic chemical reaction. Thin-film transistors (TFTs) with amorphous In 0 .22 Zn δ Sn 0.78- δ O 1.89- δ (δ = 0.55) channel layers have a reasonable mobility of 41.0 cm 2 V -1 s -1 due to the synergic intercalation of In and Sn ions. In contrast, TFTs with polycrystalline spinel In 0 .22 Zn δ Sn 0.78- δ O 1.89- δ (δ = 0.55) channel layers, achieved through a metal-induced crystallization at 300 °C, exhibit a remarkably high field-effect mobility of ≈83.2 cm 2 V -1 s -1 and excellent stability against external gate bias stress, which is attributed to the uniform formation of the highly ordered spinel phase. The relationships between cation composition, microstructure, and performance for the In 2 O 3 -ZnO-SnO 2 ternary component system are investigated rigorously to attain in-depth understanding of the roles of various crystalline phases, including spinel Zn 2- y Sn 1- y In 2 y O 4 (y = 0.45), bixbyite In 2-2 x Zn x In x O 4 (x = 0.4), rutile SnO 2 , and a homologous compound of compound (ZnO) k (In 2 O 3 ) (k = 5). This work concludes that the cubic spinel phase of Zn 2- y Sn 1- y In 2 y O 4 (y = 0.45) film is a strong contender as a substitute for semiconducting polysilicon as a backplane channel ingredient for mobile active-matrix organic light-emitting diode displays., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Lichens are known to produce many novel bioactive metabolites. To date, approximately 1,000 secondary metabolites have been discovered, which are predominantly produced by the lichen mycobionts. However, despite the extensive studies on production of lichen secondary metabolites, little is known about the responsible biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, we identified a putative BGC that is implicated in production of a red pigment, cristazarin (a naphthazarin derivative), in Cladonia metacorallifera. Previously, cristazarin was shown to be specifically induced in growth media containing fructose as a sole carbon source. Thus, we performed transcriptome analysis of C. metacorallifera growing on different carbon sources including fructose to identify the BGC for cristazarin. Among 39 polyketide synthase (PKS) genes found in the genome of C. metacorallifera, a non-reducing PKS (coined crz7) was highly expressed in growth media containing either fructose or glucose. The borders of a cristazarin gene cluster were delimited by co-expression patterns of neighboring genes of the crz7. BGCs highly conserved to the cristazarin BGC were also found in C. borealis and C. macilenta, indicating that these related species also have metabolic potentials to produce cristazarin. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Crz7 is sister to fungal PKSs that biosynthesize an acetylated tetrahydoxynaphthalene as a precursor of melanin pigment. Based on the phylogenetic placement of the Crz7 and putative functions of its neighboring genes, we proposed a plausible biosynthetic route for cristazarin. In this study, we identified a lichen-specific BGC that is likely involved in the biosynthesis of a naphthazarin derivative, cristazarin, and confirmed that transcriptome profiling under inducing and non-inducing conditions is an effective strategy for linking metabolites of interest to biosynthetic genes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Paguirigan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

An atomic-layer-deposited oxide nanolaminate (NL) structure with 3 dyads where a single dyad consists of a 2-nm-thick confinement layer (CL) (In 0.84 Ga 0.16 O or In 0.75 Zn 0.25 O), and a barrier layer (BL) (Ga 2 O 3 ) was designed to obtain superior electrical performance in thin-film transistors (TFTs). Within the oxide NL structure, multiple-channel formation was demonstrated by a pile-up of free charge carriers near CL/BL heterointerfaces in the form of the so-called quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (q2DEG), which leads to an outstanding carrier mobility (μ FE ) with band-like transport, steep gate swing ( SS ), and positive threshold voltage ( V TH ) behavior. Furthermore, reduced trap densities in oxide NL compared to those of conventional oxide single-layer TFTs ensures excellent stabilities. The optimized device with the In 0.75 Zn 0.25 O/Ga 2 O 3 NL TFT showed remarkable electrical performance: μ FE of 77.1 ± 0.67 cm 2 /(V s), V TH of 0.70 ± 0.25 V, SS of 100 ± 10 mV/dec, and I ON/OFF of 8.9 × 10 9 with a low operation voltage range of ≤2 V and excellent stabilities (Δ V TH of +0.27, -0.55, and +0.04 V for PBTS, NBIS, and CCS, respectively). Based on in-depth analyses, the enhanced electrical performance is attributed to the presence of q2DEG formed at carefully engineered CL/BL heterointerfaces. Technological computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation was performed theoretically to confirm the formation of multiple channels in an oxide NL structure where the formation of a q2DEG was verified in the vicinity of CL/BL heterointerfaces. These results clearly demonstrate that introducing a heterojunction or NL structure concept into this atomic layer deposition (ALD)-derived oxide semiconductor system is a very effective strategy to boost the carrier-transporting properties and improve the photobias stability in the resulting TFTs.

Endolichenic fungi (ELF) produce specialized metabolites that have various medicinal properties. Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis efficaciously suppresses many types of cancer. This study aimed to discover novel antiangiogenic agents from specialized metabolite extracts of ELF strains isolated from Korean lichens. The EtOAc extracts of 51 ELF strains were subjected to a screening pipeline consisting of cell viability, scratch wound healing, and Transwell migration assays. The EtOAc extract of Arthrinium sp. EL000127 showed the most potent inhibitory activity against the chemotactic migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Targeted isolation on the major LC-MS peaks exhibited a previously known phthalide, 3- O -methylcyclopolic acid ( 1 ), and two unknown analogues of 1 , 3- O -phenylethylcyclopolic acid ( 2 ) and 3- O - p -hydroxyphenylethylcyclopolic acid ( 3 ). The structures were characterized by MS and NMR analyses. All the isolates were acquired and applied to bioassays as racemates due to spontaneous racemization. Among the isolates, compound 3 effectively inhibits HUVEC motility by suppressing mRNA expressions of genes regulating epithelial cell survival and motility, which suggested that compound 3 is a potent antiangiogenic agent suitable for further exploration as a potential novel therapeutic against cancers., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Endolichenic fungi are host organisms that live on lichens and produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites. Colorectal cancer stem cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into cancer cells, which makes cancers difficult to eradicate. New alternative therapeutics are needed to inhibit the growth of tumor stem cells. This study examined the ability of an extract of Jackrogersella sp. EL001672 (derived from the lichen Cetraria sp.) and the isolated compound 1'-O-methyl-averantin to inhibit development of cancer stemness. The endolichenic fungus Jackrogersella sp. EL001672 (KACC 83021BP), derived from Cetraria sp., was grown in culture medium. The culture broth was extracted with acetone to obtain a crude extract. Column chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC were used to isolate an active compound. The anticancer activity of the extract and the isolated compound was evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting, and in cell viability, spheroid formation, and reporter assays. The acetone extract of EL001672 did not affect cell viability. However, 1'-O-methyl-averantin showed cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines at 50 μg/mL and 25 μg/mL. Both the crude extract and 1'-O-methyl-averantin suppressed spheroid formation in CRC cell lines, and downregulated expression of stemness markers ALDH1, CD44, CD133, Lgr-5, Msi-1, and EphB1. To further characterize the mechanism underlying anti-stemness activity, we examined sonic Hedgehog and Notch signaling. The results showed that the crude extract and the 1'-O-methyl-averantin inhibited Gli1, Gli2, SMO, Bmi-1, Notch-1, Hes-1, and the CSL complex. Consequently, an acetone extract and 1'-O-methyl-averantin isolated from EL001672 suppresses colorectal cancer stemness by regulating the sonic Hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Since the floristic study of lichens at the Barton and Weaver Peninsulas of King George Island in 2006, there have been intense investigations of the lichen flora of the two peninsulas as well as that of Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island in Maxwell Bay, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctic. In this study, a total of 104 species belonging to 53 genera, are identified from investigations of lichens that were collected in austral summer seasons from 2008 to 2016. Phenotypic and molecular analyses were incorporated for taxonomic identification. In particular, 31 species are found to be endemic to the Antarctic and 22 species are newly recorded to the Maxwell Bay region. Lepra dactylina, Stereocaulon caespitosum, and Wahlenbergiella striatula are newly recorded in the Antarctic, and the previously reported taxon Cladonia furcata is excluded from the formerly recorded list due to misidentification. We also provide ecological and geographical information about lichen associations and habitat preferences., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Atraric acid (AA) is a phenolic compound isolated from Stereocaulon japonicum that has demonstrated anti-androgen properties and was used to design an alternative formulation for the treatment of alopecia. This new topical formulation was designed using a solvent mixture system composed of ethanol as a volatile vehicle, oleic acid as a permeation enhancer, and water for skin hydration. The ideal topical AA formulation (AA-TF#15) exhibited an 8.77-fold higher human skin flux and a 570% increase in dermal drug deposition, compared to 1% ( w / w ) AA in ethanol. In addition, compared to other formulations, AA-TF#15 (1% [ w / w ] AA) activated keratinocytes and human dermal papilla cell proliferation at a concentration of 50 µM AA, which is equivalent to 50 µM minoxidil. Moreover, AA-TF#15 treatment produced a significant increase in hair regrowth by 58.0% and 41.9% compared to the 1% ( w / w ) minoxidil and oral finasteride (1 mg/kg)-treated mice. In addition, AA-TF#15 showed a higher expression level of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, β-catenin, cyclin D1, and pyruvate kinase M2 proteins in the skin of AA-TF#15-treated mice compared to that of those treated with minoxidil and oral finasteride. These findings suggest AA-TF#15 is an effective formulation for the treatment of scalp androgenic alopecia.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly type of cancer in the world and continuous investigations are required to discover novel therapeutics for CRC. Induction of apoptosis is one of the promising strategies to inhibit cancers. Here, we have identified a novel compound, Libertellenone T ( B ), isolated from crude extracts of the endolichenic fungus from Pseudoplectania sp. (EL000327) and investigated the mechanism of action. CRC cells treated by B were subjected to apoptosis detection assays, immunofluorescence imaging, and molecular analyses such as immunoblotting and QRT-PCR. Our findings revealed that B induced CRC cell death via multiple mechanisms including G2/M phase arrest caused by microtubule stabilization and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Further studies revealed that B induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) attributed to activating the JNK signaling pathway by which apoptosis and autophagy was induced in Caco2 cells. Moreover, B exhibited good synergistic effects when combined with the well-known anticancer drug, 5-FU, and another cytotoxic novel compound D, which was isolated from the same crude extract of EL000327. Overall, Libertellenone T induces G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy via activating the ROS/JNK pathway in CRC. Thus, B may be a potential anticancer therapeutic against CRC that is suitable for clinical applications.

Adiponectin-synthesis-promoting compounds possess therapeutic potential to treat diverse metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. Phenotypic screening to find adiponectin-synthesis-promoting compounds was performed using the adipogenesis model of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The extract of the endolichenic fungus Daldinia childiae 047215 significantly promoted adiponectin production. Bioactivity-guided isolation led to 13 active polyketides ( 1 - 13 ), which include naphthol monomers, dimers, and trimers. To the best of our knowledge, trimers of naphthol ( 1 - 4 ) have not been previously isolated as either natural or synthetic products. The novel naphthol trimer 3,1',3',3″-ternaphthalene-5,5',5″-trimethoxy-4,4',4″-triol ( 2 ) and a dimer, nodulisporin A ( 12 ), exhibited concentration-dependent adiponectin-synthesis-promoting activity (EC 50 30.8 and 15.2 μM, respectively). Compounds 2 and 12 bound to all three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes, PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARδ. In addition, compound 2 transactivated retinoid X receptor α, whereas 12 did not. Naphthol oligomers 2 and 12 represent novel pan-PPAR modulators and are potential pharmacophores for designing new therapeutic agents against hypoadiponectinemia-associated metabolic diseases.

In this paper, the feasibility of an indium-gallium oxide (In 2(1-x) Ga 2 x O y ) film through combinatorial atomic layer deposition (ALD) as an alternative channel material for back-end-of-line (BEOL) compatible transistor applications is studied. The microstructure of random polycrystalline In 2 O y with a bixbyite structure was converted to the amorphous phase of In 2(1- x ) Ga 2 x O y film under thermal annealing at 400 °C when the fraction of Ga is ≥29 at. %. In contrast, the enhancement in the orientation of the (222) face and subsequent grain size was observed for the In 1.60 Ga 0.40 O y film with the intermediate Ga fraction of 20 at. %. The suitability as a channel layer was tested on the 10-nm-thick HfO 2 gate oxide where the natural length was designed to meet the requirement of short channel devices with a smaller gate length (<100 nm). The In 1.60 Ga 0.40 O y thin-film transistors (TFTs) exhibited the high field-effect mobility (μ FE ) of 71.27 ± 0.98 cm 2 /(V s), low subthreshold gate swing (SS) of 74.4 mV/decade, threshold voltage ( V TH ) of -0.3 V, and I ON/OFF ratio of >10 8 , which would be applicable to the logic devices such as peripheral circuit of heterogeneous DRAM. The in-depth origin for this promising performance was discussed in detail, based on physical, optical, and chemical analysis.

A new secondary metabolite, ulleungdolin ( 1 ), was isolated from the co-culture of an actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. 13F051, and a fungus, Leohumicola minima 15S071. Based on the NMR, UV, and MS data, it was deduced that the planar structure of 1 comprised an isoindolinone (IsoID) with an octanoic acid, a tripeptide, and a sugar. The tripeptide has the unprecedented amino acids norcoronamic acid, 3-hydroxy-glutamine, and 4-hydroxy-phenylglycine and is linked by a C-N bond with IsoID. The absolute configurations were determined by chemical derivatization, extensive spectroscopic methods, and electronic circular dichroism calculations and supported by bioinformatic analyses. Bioactivity evaluation studies indicated that 1 had an antimigration effect on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

A new species, Bacidiafuscopallida Lee & Heo and four new records, B.ekmaniana R. C. Harris, Ladd & Lendemer, B.friesiana (Hepp) Körb., B.heterochroa (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr. and B.suffusa (Fr.) A. Schneid., are described from South Korea. Bacidiafuscopallida differs from B.diffracta S. Ekman, the most similar species, by warted but non-granular thallus, paler and smaller apothecia without pruina, proper exciple without crystals, over 11-septate ascospores and smaller pycnidia and pycnoconidia. Bacidiaekmaniana is recorded new to Asia, B.heterochroa is reported new to northeastern Asia and B.friesiana and B.suffusa are new to Korea. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences strongly support the classification of the five species of Bacidia . A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 19 taxa in Bacidia of Korea., (Beeyoung Gun Lee, Jae-Seoun Hur.)

Background: Endolichenic fungi (ELF), which live the inside the lichen thallus, contain many secondary metabolites that show various biological activities. Recent studies show that lichen and ELF secondary metabolites have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. Purpose: Here, the effects of an ELF extract and its bioactive compounds were investigated on the H1975 cell line focusing on immune checkpoint marker inhibition. Methods: An ELF was isolated from the host lichen Bryoria fuscescens (Gyelnik) Brodo and D. Hawksw and identified the species as Nemania sp. EL006872. The fungus was cultured on agar medium and acetonic extracts were obtained. Secondary metabolites radianspenes C and D, and dahliane D, were isolated from the crude extract. The biological effects of both the crude extract and the isolated secondary metabolites were evaluated in cell viability, qRT-PCR assays, flow cytometry analysis and western blotting. Results: The cell viability assay revealed that extracts from Nemania sp. EL006872 and the isolated secondary compounds had low cytotoxicity. The crude extract, radianspenes C and D, and dahliane D, suppressed expression of mRNA encoding PD-L1 and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and surface expression of PD-L1 protein by cells exposed to benzo[a] pyrene. Radianspenes C and D, and dahliane D, reduced expression of AhR, PD-L1, ICOSL, and GITRL proteins by H1975 lung cancer cells, as well as exerting anti-proliferative effects. Conclusion: Radianspenes C and D, and dahliane D, bioactive compounds isolated from Nemania sp. EL006872 ELF, have the potential for use as immunotherapy and immunoncology treatments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Varlı, Pham, Kim, Taş, Gamage, Zhou, Pulat, Park, Sesal, Hur, Kang and Kim.)

Lichen-forming fungi are mutualistic symbionts of green algae or cyanobacteria. We report the comparative analysis of six genomes of lichen-forming fungi in classes Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes to identify genomic information related to their symbiotic lifestyle. The lichen-forming fungi exhibited genome reduction via the loss of dispensable genes encoding plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes, sugar transporters, and transcription factors. The loss of these genes reflects the symbiotic biology of lichens, such as the absence of pectin in the algal cell wall and obtaining specific sugars from photosynthetic partners. The lichens also gained many lineage- and species-specific genes, including those encoding small secreted proteins. These genes are primarily induced during the early stage of lichen symbiosis, indicating their significant roles in the establishment of lichen symbiosis.Our findings provide comprehensive genomic information for six lichen-forming fungi and novel insights into lichen biology and the evolution of symbiosis., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The new genus and species, Jejulea byssolomoides, is described from Jeju Island, Korea. This lichen is characterized by saxicolous, crustose, pale greenish-gray, partly finely filamentous, matt, smooth thallus, prominent convex brown to dark brown ascomata with a concolorous margin constricted at the dark brown base, 300-800 μm diameter, 200-250 μm high, without a distinct proper margin, adhering to the substratum ending in a minute byssoid white external part of cylindrical cells, fusiform 3-5 septate ascospores (17-23 × 4-5 μm). Phylogenetic analyses using ITS and mtSSU sequences place Jejulea in the Pilocarpaceae (Lecanorales). The new taxon is closely related to Byssoloma , a cosmopolitan group of foliicolous lichens, which is most diverse in the tropics. Like Byssoloma , Jejulea also forms a byssoid apothecial margin., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.)

Enodolichenic fungi (ELF) are considered a promising bio-resource since they produce a variety of novel secondary metabolites with bioactivities. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight containing UVA and UVB can cause acute and chronic skin diseases, and the demand for UV protectants in sunscreens has been increasing. Such situations evoke the strong interest of researchers in seeking effective UV protectants from natural products. In this study, we obtained partially purified 7-hydroxy-2-octenoic acid-ethyl ester (7E) from the secondary metabolites of ELF000548, which has UVA absorption activity. The antioxidant properties were performed by in vitro tests. The superoxide anion scavenging activity and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation of the 7E mixture were higher than ascorbic acid (ASA) and butyl hydroxyl anisole (BHA). Furthermore, the compound recovered the damage caused by UVB irradiation and inhibited melanin synthesis. Additionally, the 7E mixture exhibited no cytotoxicity toward the mouse melanoma cell lines, B16F1 and B16F10, except for the normal cell line, HaCaT. In general, these results are the first report about bioactivities of 7E, and those demonstrated that this compound might be a UV protectant to go further study., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Psoroglaena humidosilvae Lee is described as a new lichen species from a wetland forest in South Korea. The new species is distinct from P. stigonemoides (Orange) Henssen by little projections locally present on the thallus; smaller, paler, and globose perithecia; smaller asci; and smaller ascospores generally 3-septate. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), and nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU) sequences strongly support P. humidosilvae as a nonidentical species in the genus Psoroglaena . A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 22 species of Psoroglaena .

Lichen is a symbiotic mutualism of mycobiont and photobiont that harbors diverse organisms including endolichenic fungi (ELF). Despite the taxonomic and ecological significance of ELF, no comparative investigation of an ELF community involving isolation of a pure culture and high-throughput sequencing has been conducted. Thus, we analyzed the ELF community in Parmotrema tinctorum by culture and metabarcoding. Alpha diversity of the ELF community was notably greater in metabarcoding than in culture-based analysis. Taxonomic proportions of the ELF community estimated by metabarcoding and by culture analyses showed remarkable differences: Sordariomycetes was the most dominant fungal class in culture-based analysis, while Dothideomycetes was the most abundant in metabarcoding analysis. Thirty-seven operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were commonly observed by culture- and metabarcoding-based analyses but relative abundances differed: most of common OTUs were underrepresented in metabarcoding. The ELF community differed in lichen segments and thalli in metabarcoding analysis. Dissimilarity of ELF community intra lichen thallus increased with thallus segment distance; inter-thallus ELF community dissimilarity was significantly greater than intra-thallus ELF community dissimilarity. Finally, we tested how many fungal sequence reads would be needed to ELF diversity with relationship assays between numbers of lichen segments and saturation patterns of OTU richness and sample coverage. At least 6000 sequence reads per lichen thallus were sufficient for prediction of overall ELF community diversity and 50,000 reads per thallus were enough to observe rare taxa of ELF., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.)

Rinodinasalicis Lee & Hur and Rinodinazeorina Lee & Hur are described as new lichen-forming fungi from forested wetlands or a humid forest in South Korea. Rinodinasalicis is distinguishable from Rinodinaexcrescens Vain., the most similar species, by its olive-gray thallus with smaller areoles without having blastidia, contiguous apothecia, non-pruinose discs, paler disc color, wider ascospores in the Pachysporaria -type II, and the absence of secondary metabolites. Rinodinazeorina differs from Rinodinahypobadia Sheard by areolate and brownish thallus, non-pruinose apothecia, colorless and wider parathecium, narrower paraphyses with non-pigmented and unswollen tips, longer and narrower ascospores with angular to globose lumina, and the absence of pannarin. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences strongly support the two new species to be unique in the genus Rinodina . An updated key is provided to assist in the identification of all 63 taxa in Rinodina of the far eastern Asia., (Beeyoung Gun Lee, Jae-Seoun Hur.)

Plant pathogens pose major threats on agriculture and horticulture, causing significant economic loss worldwide. Due to the continuous and excessive use of synthetic pesticides, emergence of pesticide resistant pathogens has become more frequent. Thus, there is a growing needs for environmentally-friendly and selective antimicrobial agents with a novel mode of action, which may be used in combination with conventional pesticides to delay development of pesticide resistance. In this study, we evaluated the potentials of lichen substances as novel biopesticides against eight bacterial and twelve fungal plant pathogens that have historically caused significant phytopathological problems in South Korea. Eight lichen substances of diverse chemical origins were extracted from axenic culture or dried specimen, and further purified for comparative analysis of their antimicrobial properties. Usnic acid and vulpinic acid exhibited strong antibacterial activities against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. In addition, usnic acid and vulpinic acid were highly effective in the growth inhibition of fungal pathogens, such as Diaporthe eres, D. actinidiae, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Intriguingly, the growth of Rhizoctonia solani was specifically inhibited by lecanoric acid, indicating that lichen substances exhibit some degrees of selectivity to plant pathogens. These results suggested that lichen substance can be used as a selective biopesticide for controlling plant disease of agricultural and horticultural significance, minimizing possible emergence of pesticide resistant pathogens in fields.

Aspicilia humida Lee is described as a new lichen-forming fungus from a wetland forest, South Korea. The new species is distinguishable from Aspicilia aquatica (Fr.) Körb., the most similar species, by the absence of prothallus, black disk without green color in water, olive-brown epihymenium, shorter hymenium, hymenium I + yellowish blue-green, wider paraphysial tips without a vivid pigment, smaller asci, smaller ascospores, and the presence of stictic acid. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) sequences strongly support A. humida as a distinct species in the A. cinerea group. A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 28 aspicilioid species of Korea., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Korean Society of Mycology.)

Ultraviolet to infrared broadband spectral detection capability is a technological challenge for sensing materials being developed for high-performance photodetection. In this work, we stacked 9 nm-thick tellurium oxide (TeO x ) and 8 nm-thick InGaSnO (IGTO) into a heterostructure at a low temperature of 150 °C. The superior photoelectric characteristics we achieved benefit from the intrinsic optical absorption range (300-1500 nm) of the hexagonal tellurium (Te) phase in the TeO x film, and photoinduced electrons are driven effectively by band alignment at the TeO x /IGTO interface under illumination. A photosensor based on our optimized heterostructure exhibited a remarkable detectivity of 1.6 × 10 13 Jones, a responsivity of 84 A/W, and a photosensitivity of 1 × 10 5 , along with an external quantum efficiency of 222% upon illumination by blue light (450 nm). Simultaneously, modest detection properties (responsivity: ∼31 A/W, detectivity: ∼6 × 10 11 Jones) for infrared irradiation at 970 nm demonstrate that this heterostructure can be employed as a broadband phototransistor. Furthermore, its low-temperature processability suggests that our proposed concept might be used to design array optoelectronic devices for wide band detection with high sensitivity, flexibility, and stability.

Lecanoraparasymmicta Lee & Hur and Protoparmeliopsiscrystalliniformis Lee & Hur are described as new lichen species to science from the forested wetlands in southern South Korea. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) sequences strongly support the two lecanoroid species to be distinct in their genera. Lecanoraparasymmicta is included in the Lecanorasymmicta group. It is morphologically distinguished from Lecanorasymmicta (Ach.) Ach., its most similar species, by areolate-rimose thallus, blackish hypothallus, larger apothecia, absence of thalline excipulum from the beginning, narrower paraphyses, larger ascospores, smaller pycnoconidia, and the presence of placodiolic acid. The second new species Protoparmeliopsiscrystalliniformis is included in a clade with Protoparmeliopsisbipruinosa (Fink) S.Y. Kondr. and P.nashii (B.D. Ryan) S.Y. Kondr., differs from Protoparmeliopsisertzii Bungartz & Elix, its most morphologically similar species, by whitish thallus, flat to concave and paler disc, longer ascospores, thallus K+ yellow reaction, presence of atranorin and rhizocarpic acid, and the substrate preference to sandstone or basalt. A key is provided to assist in the identification of Protoparmeliopsis species in Korea., (Beeyoung Gun Lee, Jae-Seoun Hur.)

Pyrenodesmiarugosa Lee & Hur and Huriellaaeruginosa Lee & Hur are described as new lichen-forming fungi from a calcareous mountain of South Korea. Pyrenodesmiarugosa is distinguishable from Pyrenodesmiamicromontana (Frolov, Wilk & Vondrák) Hafellner & Türk, the most similar species, by thicker thallus, rugose areoles, larger apothecia, shorter hymenium, shorter hypothecium and narrower tip cells of paraphyses. Huriellaaeruginosa , the second new species, differs from 'Squamulea' chelonia Bungartz & Søchting by dark greenish-grey to grey thallus without pruina, gold to yellow-brown epihymenium, larger ascospores and thallus K- and KC- reaction. Molecular analyses employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS), mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU) sequences strongly support the two caloplacoid species to be distinct in their genera. A surrogate key is provided to assist in the identification of all 20 taxa in Huriella and Squamulea ., (Beeyoung Gun Lee, Jae-Seoun Hur.)

Background: Physciosporin (PHY) is one of the potent anticancer lichen compound. Recently, PHY was shown to suppress colorectal cancer cell proliferation, motility, and tumorigenesis through novel mechanisms of action., Purpose: We investigated the effects of PHY on energy metabolism and tumorigenicity of the human breast cancer (BC) cells MCF-7 (estrogen and progesterone positive BC) and MDA-MB-231 (triple negative BC)., Methods: The anticancer effect of PHY on cell viability, motility, cancer metabolism and tumorigenicity was evaluated by MTT assay, migration assay, clonogenic assay, anchorage-independent colony formation assay, glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism analysis, qRT-PCR, flow cytometric analysis, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry in vitro; and by tumorigenicity study with orthotopic breast cancer xenograft model in vivo., Results: PHY markedly inhibited BC cell viability. Cell-cycle profiling and Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining showed that a toxic dosage of PHY triggered apoptosis in BC cell lines by regulating the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins and the activity of caspase pathway. At non-toxic concentrations, PHY potently decreased migration, proliferation, and tumorigenesis of BC cells in vitro. Metabolic studies revealed that PHY treatment significantly reduced the bioenergetic profile by decreasing respiration, ATP production, and glycolysis capacity. In addition, PHY significantly altered the levels of mitochondrial (PGC-1α) and glycolysis (GLUT1, HK2 and PKM2) markers, and downregulated transcriptional regulators involved in cancer cell metabolism, including β-catenin, c-Myc, HIF-1α, and NF-κB. An orthotopic implantation mouse model of BC confirmed that PHY treatment suppressed BC growth in vivo and target genes were consistently suppressed in tumor specimens., Conclusion: The findings from our in vitro as well as in vivo studies exhibit that PHY suppresses energy metabolism as well as tumorigenesis in BC. Especially, PHY represents a promising therapeutic effect against hormone-insensitive BC (triple negative) by targeting energy metabolism., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Lichens are a natural source of bioactive compounds. Cladonia metacorallifera var. reagens KoLRI002260 is a rare lichen known to produce phenolic compounds, such as rhodocladonic, thamnolic, and didymic acids. However, these metabolites have not been detected in isolated mycobionts. We investigated the effects of six carbon sources on metabolite biosynthesis in the C. metacorallifera mycobiont. Red pigments appeared only in Lilly and Barnett's media with fructose at 15 °C after 3 weeks of culture and decreased after 6 weeks. We purified these red pigments using preparative-scale high performance liquid chromatography and analyzed them via nuclear magnetic resonance. Results indicated that 1% fructose-induced cristazarin and 6-methylcristazarin production under light conditions. In total, 27 out of 30 putative polyketide synthase genes were differentially expressed after 3 weeks of culture, implying that these genes may be required for cristazarin production in C. metacorallifera. Moreover, the white collar genes Cmwc-1 and Cmwc-2 were highly upregulated at all times under light conditions, indicating a possible correlation between cristazarin production and gene expression. The cancer cell lines AGS, CT26, and B16F1 were sensitive to cristazarin, with IC 50 values of 18.2, 26.1, and 30.9 μg/mL, respectively, which highlights the value of cristazarin. Overall, our results suggest that 1% fructose under light conditions is required for cristazarin production by C. metacorallifera mycobionts, and cristazarin could be a good bioactive compound.

The depside and depsidone series compounds of polyketide origin accumulate in the cortical or medullary layers of lichen thalli. Despite the taxonomic and ecological significance of lichen chemistry and its pharmaceutical potentials, there has been no single piece of genetic evidence linking biosynthetic genes to lichen substances. Thus, we systematically analyzed lichen polyketide synthases (PKSs) for categorization and identification of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) involved in depside/depsidone production. Our in-depth analysis of the interspecies PKS diversity in the genus Cladonia and a related Antarctic lichen, Stereocaulon alpinum, identified 45 BGC families, linking lichen PKSs to 15 previously characterized PKSs in nonlichenized fungi. Among these, we identified highly syntenic BGCs found exclusively in lichens producing atranorin (a depside). Heterologous expression of the putative atranorin PKS gene (coined atr1 ) yielded 4- O -demethylbarbatic acid, found in many lichens as a precursor compound, indicating an intermolecular cross-linking activity of Atr1 for depside formation. Subsequent introductions of tailoring enzymes into the heterologous host yielded atranorin, one of the most common cortical substances of macrolichens. Phylogenetic analysis of fungal PKS revealed that the Atr1 is in a novel PKS clade that included two conserved lichen-specific PKS families likely involved in biosynthesis of depsides and depsidones. Here, we provide a comprehensive catalog of PKS families of the genus Cladonia and functionally characterize a biosynthetic gene cluster from lichens, establishing a cornerstone for studying the genetics and chemical evolution of diverse lichen substances. IMPORTANCE Lichens play significant roles in ecosystem function and comprise about 20% of all known fungi. Polyketide-derived natural products accumulate in the cortical and medullary layers of lichen thalli, some of which play key roles in protection from biotic and abiotic stresses (e.g., herbivore attacks and UV irradiation). To date, however, no single lichen product has been linked to respective biosynthetic genes with genetic evidence. Here, we identified a gene cluster family responsible for biosynthesis of atranorin, a cortical substance found in diverse lichen species, by categorizing lichen polyketide synthase and reconstructing the atranorin biosynthetic pathway in a heterologous host. This study will help elucidate lichen secondary metabolism, harnessing the lichen's chemical diversity, hitherto obscured due to limited genetic information on lichens.