The activity of the extracellular lectins of Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing [Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler] and the formation of a pigmented mycelial film by this fungus upon submerged cultivation in a synthetic medium were found to depend on the presence of some amino acids (particularly, asparagine) and Ca2+ and Mn2+ ions in the medium. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the different character of the interaction of amino acids with the aforementioned ions is due to differences in the hydrophobicity of the amino acids rather than to differences in the electron structure of the amino acid zwitterions.