A novel glycoprotein from mushroom Hypsizygus marmoreus (Peck) Bigelow with growth inhibitory effect against human leukemic U937 cells.

This study was to isolate the anti-leukaemic component from edible mushroom Hypsizygus marmoreus (Peck) Bigelow. Crude protein was extracted from the basidioma, and then purified with DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B ion exchange chromatography followed by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. A protein which exerted high growth inhibitory effect on human leukaemic U937 cells and sufficient toxicological safety on normal human white blood cells was isolated and named HM-3A. Electrophoresis showed HM-3A approximately 52kDa in size. N-terminal analysis found the amino acid sequence ATTQWKTSAA and confirmed HM-3A a novel protein. High-performance anion-exchange column chromatography revealed HM-3A a glycoprotein with galactose as the major monosaccharide. Haemagglutination assay proved it non-lectin. We suggest that HM-3A is worth further investigation for antitumour use.