Screening of Human CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 Inhibitors from Seaweed In Silico and In Vitro

Phenolic compounds and carotenoids are potential inhibitors of cytochrome P450s. Sixteen known compounds, phenolic compounds and carotenoids from seaweed were examined for potential inhibitory capacity against CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in silico and in vitro. Morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin inhibited the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in a dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values of morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin were 41.8, 22.5, and 30.3 μM for CYP1A2 and 86.6, 16.1, and 24.4 μM for CYP3A4, respectively. Siphonaxanthin and hesperidin did not show any significant effect on CYP1A2, but they slightly inhibited CYP3A4 activity at high concentrations. In silico modeling of CYP’s binding site revealed that the potential inhibitors bound in the cavity located above the distal surface of the heme prosthetic group through the 2a or 2f channel of CYPs. This study presents an approach for quickly predicting CYP inhibitory activity and shows the potential interactions of compounds and CYPs through in silico modeling.     

不同密肥条件下通粳981产量构成因子分析

[目的]探明不同生产条件下穗数、粒数、粒重对产量的影响。[方法]对通粳981在不同密度和肥料条件下形成的产量及其构成因子进行回归、相关和通径分析。[结果]穗数、粒数和粒重对产量均有极显著的增产效应,其增产效应从大到小依次为穗数、粒数、粒重,其中穗数对产量起主要作用;但在基本苗较多或施N量较大的情况下,穗数和粒数的增产作用都很重要。[结论]农业生产中可针对不同生产栽培条件,从产量构成因子中明确主攻目标,合理制定栽培技术措施,提高产量。     

Phenotypic indicators for cultured pearl size improvement in the black‐lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera): towards selection for the recipient growth performance

The black‐lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, is the most important farmed species in French Polynesia and the basis of the most valuable export industry. Mass production of black pearls relies on a surgical operation requiring tissue from a donor pearl oyster to be grafted, together with a nucleus made of shell, into the gonad of a recipient oyster. Improving pearl size through family selection remains one of the main challenges for future aquaculture development. This study analyses the relative contribution of donor and recipient oysters to pearl size. To this end, hatchery‐produced donor oysters of two batches, large and small (based on shell height), were used to supply grafts for recipients, which were then monitored individually for their growth performance by recording shell height, width, and thickness, and total live weight (flesh + shells) every 6 months (four biometric measurement times) over 20 months of culture. Pearls issued from the two batches of donors showed no significant differences in nacre weight or thickness. In contrast, recipient oyster shell height and total weight were increasingly positively correlated with these pearl size parameters over the culture period, becoming significant at 8 months post‐grafting. Potential therefore exists to use shell height and oyster weight as phenotypic indicators for selective breeding of recipient oysters with high growth performance to increase pearl size in P. margaritifera.     

Zinc biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.): Status and challenges

Zn deficiency is one of the leading health problems in children and women of developing countries. Different interventions could be used to overcome malnutrition, but biofortification is most impactful, convenient, sustainable and acceptable intervention. Maize is one of the major crops grown and consumed in the regions with prevalent Zn malnutrition; therefore, this is suitable target for Zn biofortification. Zn biofortification of maize could be achieved through agronomic and genetic approaches. Discussion of agronomic approaches with genetic approaches is prerequisite because soils in developing countries are deficit of Zn and availability of Zn in soils is mandatory for estimating the genetic responses of maize genotypes through genetic approaches. Seed priming, foliar and soil applications are agronomic tools for biofortification, but solo and combined applications of these treatments have different effects on Zn enrichment. Genetic approaches include the increase of Zn bioavailability or increase of kernel Zn concentration. Zn bioavailability could be increased by reducing the anti‐nutritional factors or by increasing the bioavailability enhancers. Kernel Zn concentration could be improved through hybridization and selections, whereas genetically engineered attempts for improving Zn uptake from soil, loading in xylem, remobilization in grains and sequestration in endosperm can further improve the kernel Zn concentration. Key challenges associated with dissemination of Zn biofortified maize are also under discussion in this draft. Current review emphasized all of above‐mentioned contents to provide roadmap for the development of Zn biofortified maize genotypes to curb the global Zn malnutrition.     

Inheritance and molecular mapping of restorer‐of‐fertility (Rf) gene in A2 hybrid system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Inheritance of fertility restorer gene in pigeonpea was studied using F₂ and BC₁F₁ populations derived from cross AL103A × IC245273. It was found to be controlled by single dominant gene. Out of 228 SSR primer pairs, 33 primer pairs showed parental polymorphism, while four primers were found polymorphic in bulk segregant analysis (BSA). These four primers viz., CcM 1615, CcM 0710, CcM 0765 and CcM 1522 were used for genotyping of F₂ population and were found to be placed at 3.1, 5.1, 28.1 and 45.8 cM, respectively. Two of them, CcM 1615 and CcM 0710, evinced clear and unambiguous bands for fertility restoration in F₂ population. The Rf gene was mapped on linkage group 6 between the SSR markers CcM 1615 and CcM 0710 with the distances of 3.1 and 5.1 cM, respectively. The accuracy of the CcM 1615 was validated in 18 restorers and six maintainer lines. The marker CcM 1615 amplified in majority of male restorer lines with a selection accuracy of 91.66%.     

Male sterility in soybean: Occurrence,molecular basis and utilization

In plants, male sterility (MS) is a specific breeding target trait. With the advancements in agriculture, utilization of heterosis breeding in hybrid production through MS lines has become the main breeding tool of various cross‐pollinated and even self‐pollinated crops. Soybean is an essential source of oil and protein; however, the low yield is a major factor limiting its development. Soybean MS mainly comprises cytoplasmic‐nuclear MS and nuclear/genic MS (NMS/GMS), which can effectively utilize heterosis to improve soybean yield. This review outlines the recent research progress on the development of new genetically MS lines, exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of MS, identification and cloning of MS and fertility restoration genes, and the application of MS lines. We further discussed and prospected the future developmental scenario direction of the soybean MS, based on the previous studies of other crops sterility system. Moreover, this review also provides comprehensive information for better application of MS to soybean breeding programme.     

籼稻背景下导入Wx~(in)等位基因改良稻米食味和理化品质

水稻Wx~b等位基因已广泛用于籼稻的品质改良,但携带该等位基因的一些籼稻米饭往往偏软,仍需进一步改良。为明确籼稻背景下导入Wxin等位基因对稻米食味品质和理化品质的效应,分别以携带Wxin的IR64和携带Wx~b的9311为供体,以携带Wxa的籼稻SIR3611 (3611)为受体,基于分子标记辅助选择,通过杂交和连续回交的方式构建了3611背景下携带Wxin和Wx~b的近等基因系。系统比较了不同近等基因系间的农艺性状以及稻米的食味和理化品质。结果表明,近等基因系与受体亲本3611的主要农艺性状基本接近,无显著差异。NIL(Wxin)稻米的表观直链淀粉含量较亲本3611极显著下降而胶稠度极显著增加。NIL(Wx~b)稻米表观直链淀粉含量最低且与之对应的胶稠度最高。近等基因系NIL(Wxin)和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的食味值较亲本极显著提高。NIL(Wx~(in))和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的GBSSI丰度与对应的表观直链淀粉含量具有明显的正相关。稻米粉的黏滞性谱、热糊化特性和晶体结构与直链淀粉含量显著相关性。本研究为在我国籼稻品种品质改良中有效利用Wxin等位基因提供了重要依据。     

Cultivation effects on soil texture and fertility in an arid desert region of northwestern China

In arid desert regions of northwestern China, reclamation and subsequent irrigated cultivation have become effective ways to prevent desertification, expand arable croplands, and develop sustainable agricultural production. Improvement in soil texture and fertility is crucial to high soil quality and stable crop yield. However, knowledge on the long-term effects of the conversion of desert lands into arable croplands is very limited. To address this problem, we conducted this study in an arid desert region of northwestern China to understand the changes in soil physical-chemical properties after 0, 2, 5, 10, 17, and 24 years of cultivation. Our results showed that silt and clay contents at the 17-year-old sites increased 17.5 and 152.3 folds, respectively, compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The soil aggregate size fraction and its stability exhibited an exponential growth trend with increasing cultivation ages, but no significant change was found for the proportion of soil macroaggregates (>5.00 mm) during the 17 years of cultivation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content at the 24-year-old sites was 6.86 g/kg and increased 8.8 folds compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The total (or available) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents showed significant increasing trends and reached higher values after 17 (or 24) years of cultivation. Changes in soil physical-chemical properties successively experienced slow, rapid, and stable development stages, but some key properties (such as soil aggregate stability and SOC) were still too low to meet the sustainable agricultural production. The results of this long-term study indicated that reasonable agricultural management, such as expanding no-tillage land area, returning straw to the fields, applying organic fertilizer, reducing chemical fertilizer application, and carrying out soil testing for formula fertilization, is urgently needed in arid desert regions.     

菜心重要农艺性状与SSR分子标记的关联分析

菜心是华南地区的主要蔬菜,利用分子标记辅助育种发掘出与重要农艺性状相关的分子,不仅可以加速优良品种的选育进程,还可以定向地优化目标性状,培育出高产优质的菜心品种。本研究选用148份来自宁夏银川和广东南沙田间种植的菜心种质材料,采集株高、株质量、薹高、薹质量和薹粗5个重要农艺性状的数据;利用SSR标记对其进行基因分型,开展农艺性状及SSR标记的关联性分析。结果表明,在供试的菜心材料中,147个SSR标记共检测到252个变异位点,引物多态信息含量(PIC)为0.0526~0.5222,平均值为0.3793;群体结构分析将供试的菜心品种分为2个类群;银川和南沙两地菜心品种在农艺性状和SSR标记的关联分析中发现,有6个位点与相同性状存在仍显著关联(P<0.01)。这些标记能为菜心的分子辅助选择育种提供参考。     

利用广亲和基因S5-n的功能标记鉴定特殊配组类型杂交种纯度研究

“粳不育系/广亲和恢复系”配组方式在浙江省得到了越来越多的应用。广亲和基因S5-n的功能标记可快速检测种子纯度。为验证水稻广亲和基因S5-n功能标记鉴定粳不育系/广亲和恢复系配组方式杂种一代的效果,我们分别将长粳1A和6个恢复系获得的F₁代进行大田统计和分子标记鉴定,结果显示,由于广亲和基因S5-n分子标记不能特异性检测出串粉形成的异形株,导致其鉴定结果较大田统计鉴定结果高1.0~2.0百分点。未来还需要进一步优化广亲和基因分子标记技术的特异性,进而提高分子检测的准确性,这将有助于杂交稻的安全生产。