title: A novel endophytic Huperzine A-producing fungus, Shiraia sp. Slf14, isolated from Huperzia serrata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize and identify a novel Huperzine A (HupA)-producing fungal strain Slf14 isolated from Huperzia serrata (Thunb. ex Murray) Trev. in China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The isolation, identification and characterization of a novel endophytic fungus producing HupA specifically and consistently from the leaves of H. serrata were investigated. The fungus was identified as Shiraia sp. Slf14 by molecular and morphological methods. The HupA produced by this endophytic fungus was shown to be identical to authentic HupA analysed by thin layer chromatographic, High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), LC-MS, (1) H NMR and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity in vitro. The amount of HupA produced by Shiraia sp. Slf14 was quantified to be 327.8 μg l(-1) by HPLC, which was far higher than that of the reported endophytic fungi, Acremonium sp., Blastomyces sp. and Botrytis sp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The production of HupA by endophyte Shiraia sp. Slf14 is an enigmatic observation. It would be interesting to further study the HupA production and regulation by the cultured endophyte in H. serrata and in axenic cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the current accumulation of HupA by the endophyte is not very high, it could provide a promising alterative approach for large-scale production of HupA. However, further strain improvement and the fermentation process optimization are required to result in the consistent and dependable production.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Subtropic Plant Resources of Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China. zhudu12@163.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D032501:Huperzia / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A