Statistical Optimization of Culture Conditions for Protein Production by a Newly Isolated Morchella fluvialis.

Morchella fungi are considered a good source of protein. The ITS region was used to identify Morchella isolated in the northern region of Iran. The isolated fungus was very similar to Morchella fluvialis. M. fluvialis was first isolated in Iran. Dried biomass of M. fluvialis contained 9% lipids and 50% polysaccharides. Fatty acid profiles of lipids of M. fluvialis are mainly made up of linoleic acid (C18:2) (62%), followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) (12%). Testosterone (TS) was also detected (0.732 ng/dry weight biomass (DWB)) in the hormone profile of this new isolated species. Then, various protein and carbon sources as variable factors were applied to identify the key substrates, which stimulated protein production using the one-factor-at-a-time method. Key substrates (glucose and soybean) were statistically analyzed to determine the optimum content of the protein and DWB accumulation using response surface methods. The highest protein content (38% DWB) was obtained in the medium containing 80 g/l glucose and 40 g/l soybean powder. Total nutritionally indispensable amino acids and conditionally indispensable amino acids constitute 55.7% crude protein. That is to say, these adequate quantities of essential amino acids in the protein of M. fluvialis make it a good and promising source of essential amino acids for human diet.

1. Introduction

Morchella are edible fungi belonging to the class Ascomycetes and are closely related to simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales. Ridges with pit frameworks of fungi cap creating a honeycomb structure were frequently considered to recognize these distinguished fungi. These precious and delicious fungi were discovered in China, India, Turkey, the Himalayas, and Pakistan. For years, the number of species was the subject of taxonomic controversy, while current phylogenetic trees indicated that seventy species of Morchella have been recognized all over the world. Various research studies have been conducted on phylogeny, biogeography, taxonomy, and nomenclature of this genus to identify new species all over the world. In spite of the fact that the primary trait of Morchella species is the high continental endemism and provincialism [1, 2], transcontinental species were also discovered [3-6]. In addition, the inconsistent ecological potential of Morchella species produced symbiotic, endophytic, and saprotrophic abilities [7-11]. Morchellaceae family has featured a wide diversity of bioactive components with curative properties [12]. High protein content along with unique flavor and medicinal properties [13] is the main observable characteristic to consider this species as a famous edible mushroom [14]. These fungi were found to have antiviral, antioxidative, and anticancer properties [15-17]. Submerge fermentation is advantageous due to cost-effectiveness, low temperature requirement, effective contamination control, and shorter fermentation time. With these promising factors, submerge fermentation is frequently used to enhance the vital components of Morchella [14, 18, 19]. That is to say, various research studies on Morchella were conducted in submerge fermentation (SMF) to produce vital components such as antioxidants and polysaccharides [14, 20, 21]; SMF has rarely been applied to optimize protein production. After the fungi were isolated, they were identified with the PCR method, and fatty acid profiles, hormone profile, total protein content, and polysaccharide content of the isolated fungi were analyzed. SMF was used to produce proteins; the protein content was optimized using the one-factor-at-a-time method and RSM. Finally, the amino acid profile of Morchella was analyzed at the optimal condition, which had the highest protein content.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Fungi Culture

The mushroom was found at the lower elevations of mountainous areas in the northern region of Iran, Gorgan, Golestan Province. The fungus fruit was split using a sterilized surgical blade, and then a patch of the fruit body which had the least connection with its surrounding was removed and put in an enriched PDA medium containing mineral elements.

2.2. Molecular Identification

To identify the fungal species, the sample was first incubated in a seed culture medium. Then, DNA was extracted using a DNA extraction kit (K721, Thermo, USA). Quantity and quality of the extracted DNA were determined by using a spectrophotometer and agarose gel, respectively. The ITS region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) was amplified with the universal primers ITS1F (5′-GCATATCAATAAGCGGAGGAAAAG-3′) [22] and ITS4 (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′) [23], with an initial denaturation for 5 min at 94°C and then 30 cycles consisting of denaturation at 94°C for 30 sec, annealing at 55°C for 30 sec, and extension at 72°C for 1 min, and a final extension at 72°C for 5 min was applied. Sterilized distilled water was used as a negative control. PCR products were electrophoresed in a 1.2% (w/v) agarose gel. In order to assure the accurate identification, the elongation factor EF1-α gene using 1577F (5′-CARGAYGTBTACAAGATYGGTGGG-3′), 1567RintB (5′-ACHGTRCCRATACCACCRAT-3′), and 2212R (5′-CCRAACRGCRACRGTYYGTCTCAT-3′) primers [1, 24] was also served. PCR conditions were identical to previously mentioned method, with the exception of slight fall in annealing temperature at 62°C. Sequencing was done by Takapouzist Company (http://www.takapouzist.com). Blast searching of ITS sequences was done, and the sequences were aligned using Mega 6.0 software. The clustering method UPGMA was used to draw the phylogeny with the aid of the Mega 6.0. 1000 bootstrap replicates. The consensus tree was also drawn by Mega 6.0.

2.3. Seed and Fermentation Media

Isolated fungus was incubated in an enriched PDA medium containing 10 grams per liter glucose and 2 grams per liter soybean powder at 25°C for 10 days. Seed media were used in the fermentation media containing various carbon and protein sources along with KH2PO4 (3 g/L), MgSO4·7H2O (0.5 g/L), ZnSO4·7H2O (0.3 g/L), FeSO4·7H2O (0.2 g/L), and KNO3 (0.25 g/L) as mineral elements. The temperature of 20°C for five days at 180 rpm and pH 6 were constant factors.

2.4. Analytical Methods

To extract polysaccharides, mashed dry mycelia were immerged into hot water (1 : 20, W/V ratio) at 60°C for 3 h. The polysaccharides were analyzed by the method of phenol-sulfuric acid [25]. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography (Unicam 4600, England) with a flame ionization detector (FID) [26]. Amino acids were analyzed and determined by ion-exchange chromatography with postcolumn derivatization with ninhydrin. Amino acids were oxidized with performic acid, which was neutralized with Na metabisulfite. Amino acids were liberated from the protein by hydrolysis with 6 N HCl for 24 hr at 110°C and quantified with the internal standard by measuring the absorption of reaction products with ninhydrin at 570 nm [27, 28]. Freeze-dried biomass of the fresh fungi tissue was used to extract hormones, and a completely robotized immunochemical analyzer Cobas e 411 was used to recognize the quantity and quantity of fungi hormone profiles.

3. Results

The low growth rate and particularly a thick mycelium structure were the main characteristics of Morchella that were used to differentiate them from other fungal contaminations. EF1-α and ITS region genes were used for microbial species identification, and the results indicated that the isolated fungus had the highest similarity (99%) to M. fluvialis (Figure 1). Sequences of the ITS region of the isolated fungi were registered in the NCBI database with the accession number MK011022; this new isolate of M. fluvialis has been first introduced from Iran.

Figure 1

Phylogenetic consensus tree based on EF1-α gene sequences calculated by the UPGMA method. Isolates of Morchella obtained in this study are “unknown.” Numbers on nodes indicate bootstraps (n = 1000).

3.1. Fatty Acid Profiles and Polysaccharide Content of M. fluvialis Fruit

Linoleic acid (C18:2) was predominant (62%) in M. fluvialis lipid, followed by palmitic acid (C16:0) (12%) (Figure 2). Polysaccharide content of this fungus was 50% DWB, which is 20% lower than that of the M. esculenta species [29].

Figure 2

Fatty acid profiles of M. fluvialis' lipid.

3.2. Hormone Analysis of M. fluvialis Tissue

The chemical productions of testosterone (TS) was chemically synthesized from androst‐4‐ene‐3,17‐dione (AD) [30]. Some varieties of microorganisms including yeasts [31-34] and filamentous fungi [35] were able to enzymatically convert AD to TS. Among various microbial resources of TS production, fungal species are able to produce a wide variety of enzymes which engender high quantity of sterane skeleton [35]. Table 1 indicates that the fruit of this fungus was potentially a good source of various hormones. TS was observed in M. fluvialis hormone profile, so this species could be used as a good and reliable source of this vital component.

Table 1

Hormone profile of M. fluvialis tissue.

Test	Result
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)	6 nG/DWB
Estrogen (E2 111)	62.88 pg/DWB
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)	96 mIu/DWB
Luteinizing hormone (LH)	4.40 mIu/DWB
Prolactin (PRL)	0.312 ng/DWB
Progesterone (PROG)	0.68 ng/DWB
Testosterone (TS)	0.732 ng/DWB

3.3. Investigating the Effects of Various Substrates on DWB and Protein Content of M. fluvialis Using the “One-Factor-At-A-Time” Method

3.3.1. Nitrogen Sources

Various protein sources were used as variable factors. The highest DWB content was obtained in the medium containing soybean protein, while the lowest amount of DWB was obtained in the medium that had the inorganic nitrogen sources like ammonium nitrate and urea (Figure 3). Various researchers revealed the fact that the protein source had a significant effect on DWB accumulation in fungal species [36, 37]. Soybean protein had greater impact on DWB than the yeast extract media (Figure 4). The results were in agreement with those of Park et al. [36], who reported that soy protein was ranked as an appropriate medium for secondary metabolic productions. Park et al. [36] reported that gradual consumption of the low-soluble soybean powder protein was the main factor, which stimulated secondary metabolic productions.

Figure 3

Effect of various protein sources on DWB.

Figure 4

Effect of various protein sources on M. fluvialis' protein.

3.3.2. Carbon Sources

Carbon sources as variable factors were examined, and in each medium, 20 g/l soybean as the best protein resource inducing more protein production was added. The starch substrate supported the highest DWB accumulation. Zhang et al. [38] reported that Morchella esculenta was the good source of enzymes, which in optimal conditions could assimilate starch by reducing it from 64.5% to 23.5%. The least amount of DWB was observed in the medium containing glucose (Figure 5). However, the high amount of protein accumulation was observed in this medium. It could be concluded that glucose substrate stimulated M. fluvialis to produce high content of protein instead of DWB accumulation (Figures 5 and 6). The results of the one-factor-at-a-time method revealed that the soybean protein and glucose substrate were of vital importance to induce M. fluvialis for the highest protein production.

Figure 5

Effect of various carbon sources on DWB.

Figure 6

Effect of various carbon sources on M. fluvialis' protein.

3.4. Optimization by RSM

Optimization is regarded as a scientific trend to attain a mathematical model for predicting the correlation between responses and independent variable factors. The statistical method RSM has less experimentation than a complete factorial design [39]. The face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) of the RSM served to determine the appropriate quantity of the each aforementioned factor and analyze their interactions on protein and DWB accumulation. A wide range of these two key factors (glucose and soybean powder) was applied according to the previous studies to investigate the effect of each of the factors and their interactions on the quantity of the responses.

The central composite design of the response surface method is provided in Table 2. The results indicated that the soybean protein had a great impact on the DWB and protein accumulation than glucose. Thus, with a slight increase in the protein content, biomass sharply increased (runs 6 and 9). Any increase in glucose content at a given constant level of soybean also produced a rise in DWB and protein content of DWB (runs 2 and 9). The results obtained by FCCCD were then surveyed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the results were applied to fit a second-order polynomial equation. As shown in (Tables 3 and 4) the linear effects of soybean powder and glucose on the amount of the DWB and protein were significant (P < 0.01). The interactions of glucose and soybean powder were not significant for both responses (P > 0.01). The quadrant effect of the carbon source on the quantity of protein production was significant (P < 0.05) (Table 4). The numerical value of the coefficient of determination (R2) for both protein and DWB was 0.98, indicating the degree of matching the data in the regression model. It could be concluded that the regression models were able to well calculate and predict the correlations between culture conditions (glucose and soybean powder) and responses (protein and DWB content). Also, the lack of fit of the final model was nonsignificant, which indicated a good fit of the model.

Table 2

Results of FCCCD using two variables showing observed responses.

	Glucose (g/L)	Soybean (g/L)	Protein	DWB
1	31.71	30	20	1.21
2	40	20	15	0.8
3	60	30	31.5	1.836
4	60	15.85	21	0.6
5	88.28	30	31.36	1.673
6	80	40	35	2.104
7	60	30	30.86	1.8
8	40	40	30.67	1.732
9	80	20	24	1.1
10	60	44.14	38.36	2.312

Table 3

Results of amino acid analysis/total contents after hydrolysis of M. fluvialis' protein.

Parameter	Content (% as is)	Content (%)∗	Content (% in CP)
Methionine	0.381	0.363	1.212
Cystine	0.447	0.425	1.422
Methionine + cystine	0.828	0.788	2.634
Lysine	0.973	0.926	3.096
Threonine	1.273	1.211	4.05
Arginine	1.257	1.196	3.999
Isoleucine	1.304	1.241	4.149
Leucine	1.979	1.883	6.297
Valine	1.512	1.439	4.811
Histidine	0.576	0.548	1.833
Phenylalanine	1.499	1.426	4.769
Glycine	1.344	1.279	4.276
Serine	1.302	1.239	4.143
Proline	1.477	1.405	4.699
Alanine	1.502	1.429	4.779
Aspartic acid	2.92	2.778	9.29
Glutamic acid	3.908	3.718	12.434
NH3	0.666	0.634	2.119
Total including NH3	24.32	23.139	77.378

DMS: values standardized to a dry matter of 8%; CP = crude protein, based on Dumas combustion method (CP factor = 6.25).

Table 4

ANOVA parameters of the models fitted for DWB (B) and protein (P) response.

Source	Sum of squares (B)	Sum of squares (P)	df (B)	df (P)	Mean square (B)	Mean square (P)	F value (B)	F value (P)	P value, Prob > F (B)	P value, Prob > F (P)
Model	2.821581	486.3946	5	5	0.564316	97.27892	73.91291	61.99206	0.0005	0.0007
A-glucose	0.220043	108.0117	1	1	0.220043	108.0117	28.82082	68.83163	0.0058	0.0012
B-soybean	2.373077	327.9456	1	1	2.373077	327.9456	310.8205	208.9869	<0.0001	0.0001
AB	0.001296	5.452225	1	1	0.001296	5.452225	0.169747	3.47449	0.7015	0.1358
A2	0.168411	44.73219	1	1	0.168411	44.73219	22.05817	28.50608	0.0093	0.0059
B2	0.155929	5.817902	1	1	0.155929	5.817902	20.42325	3.707522	0.0107	0.1265
Residual	0.03054	6.276863	4	4	0.007635	1.569216
Lack of fit	0.029892	6.072063	3	3	0.009964	2.024021	15.37629	9.882915	0.1848	0.2287
Pure error	0.000648	0.2048	1	1	0.000648	0.2048
Core total	2.85212	492.6715	9	9

The fitted equation of DWB (Y1) and protein production content (Y2) over the level of glucose and soybean powder was indicated as follows:

Figure 7 shows the effect of glucose and soybean powder on the quantities of DWB. The results showed that an increase in glucose and soybean powder stimulated DWB production. The highest amount of DWB was obtained at the high quantity of glucose (60–70 g/l) and soybean powder (40 g/l). Jin et al. [37] reported that the protein substrate had a positive effect on DWB production [37]. Figure 8 shows the effect of different levels of glucose and soybean powder on protein accumulation. Increase in soybean powder (40 g/l) and glucose content (68 g/l) produced a high accumulation of protein in DWB. Research conducted by Reihani and Khosravi-Darani [40] showed that the nitrogen source had a significant effect on protein production in single-cell protein fungi. The optimal predicted values for variable factors were 68 g/l glucose and 40 g/l soybean powder to produce the highest amount of the protein (36.9%) content in DWB.

Figure 7

Response surface curve for DWB production by M. fluvialis.

Figure 8

Response surface curve for protein production by M. fluvialis.

3.4.1. Verification of Optimal Conditions

In order to verify the model, the optimum values of the DWB and protein productions predicted by RSM were experimentally verified. RSM predicted that the appropriate culture condition of the protein production was 68 grams per liter of glucose and 40 grams per liter of soybean powder, and an appropriate culture condition for DWB production was 69.58 and 40 g/l glucose and soybean powder, respectively. After 5 days of fermentation, the actual protein content in the mentioned media was 38% and the DWB content was 2.2%. With comparison of these two predicted values, the error rate was 2% and 1% for protein and DWB production, respectively. Anupama and Ravindra [41] indicated that the best proportion for the maximum protein production was 1.38 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen; the ratio was 1.75/1 in the present study.

3.5. Amino Acid Analysis

M. fluvialis' crude protein (CP) and amino acid profile of proteins at the optimal conditions after five days of fermentation was analyzed. The CP content standardized to 88% was 37.90. Amino acid analysis standardized to 88% dry weight matter indicated that the predominant amino acid was glutamic acid (12.434%) and aspartic acid (9.29%). Importantly, nutritionally indispensable amino acids like phenylalanine (4.769), leucine (6.297%), valine (4.811), threonine (4.05%), lysine (3.096%), methionine + cystine (2.634%), histidine (1.833), and methionine (1.212%) comprised 28.7% of the total protein, and conditionally indispensable amino acids like glycine (4.276%), proline (4.699%), arginine (3.999%), and cystine (1.422%) comprised 14.4% of the total protein (Table 3).

4. Discussion

The phylogenetic tree revealed that the isolated fungus was M. fluvialis belonging to Morchellaceae family, which was first reported and disassembled by Clowez et al. [42]. This fungus is similar to M. esculenta [42] which was first isolated in Spain. In spite of the similarity between M. fluvialis and M. esculenta, research studies have rarely been done on protein production using this fungus. Various research studies indicated M. esculenta had a high potential for protein production [43]. In line with the present research, LeDuy et al. [44] showed that the amount of protein in this fungus reached 32.7% of the DWB. The digestibility of the edible fungi protein ranged between 72% and 84%, which has been the main feature of this edible fungi species [45]. Substrate components, fermentation conditions, and the fungal species were among vital factors impacting the amino acid profile of protein and quantity of protein [46]. Roy and Samajpati [47] reported that the amount of protein in M. esculenta and M. deliciosa was 34.7% and 29.16%, respectively. The crude protein of the fungus was lower than that of the meat, while it was higher than that of most of the food, including milk [48]. The protein content of M. esculenta was typically between 19% and 35% compared with rice (7.3%), wheat (12.7%), corn (9.4%), and soybeans (38.1%) [49, 50]. Protein accumulation reached 39% of DWB at optimal conditions, which constituted a significant proportion of M. fluvialis. In edible fungi, lipid content is generally lower than carbohydrate and protein content [51]. Research has shown that lipids obtained from edible fungi have more structural unsaturated fatty acids [29], with linoleic acid, a structural fatty acid [52], being predominant. Yilmaz et al. [53] reported that unsaturated fatty acids are predominant in edible fungi. Heleno et al. [29] reported that the unsaturated fatty acids were higher in M. esculenta species than saturated fatty acids. Linoleic, oleic, and palmitic were the predominant fatty acids in the lipid content of M. esculenta. In comparison with research studies done, fatty acids of M. fluvialis had high similarity to M. esculenta. Furthermore, linoleic acid was the predominant fatty acid in both fungi.

Hasan [54] and Fernández Cabezón et al. [55] reported that various fungi species like Aspergillus flavus, A. ochraceus, Gibberella zeae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium funiculosum, and P. rubrum were capable of producing high amount of hormones. Many research studies indicated that gut microflora had a great role in estrogen and phytoestrogen production [56-58]. This research indicated that the fresh tissue of M. fluvialis was a good source of TS. Verma et al. [59] reported that edible fungi had the high quantity of essential amino acids with higher similarity to meat protein. In 1976, Hayes and Haddad [51] reported that the essential amino acids explored in fungi species were of vital importance to use as dietary supplements. At optimal conditions, the DWB of M. fluvialis was made up of 38% protein. Considering the 77.38% of the total protein including NH3, the total nutritionally indispensable amino acids and conditionally indispensable amino acids comprised 43.1% crude protein, which make M. fluvialis as a good source of essential amino acids.

5. Conclusion

The appropriate amount of hormones, polysaccharides, and valuable proteins was the main feature of this new isolated fungus. Phylogenetic tree revealed that this species was M. fluvialis which was first isolated in Iran. The protein content of M. fluvialis was 36% DWB. The nutritionally indispensable amino acids and conditionally indispensable amino acids made up 28.7% and 14.4% of the total protein, respectively, making this fungus a vital source of essential amino acids.