漳州水仙花瓣和副冠类胡萝卜素成分分析及合成途径基因表达研究

采用高效液相色谱（HPLC）分析漳州水仙‘金盏银台’花瓣和副冠中主要类胡萝卜素成分。结果显示,黄色副冠的主要色素成分是叶黄素,含量为3.73×104 μg/g ,β-胡萝卜素的含量很低,仅2.7 μg/g;白色花瓣中各种类胡萝卜素的含量都极低。同时,采用RT-PCR方法分析类胡萝卜素合成途径结构基因PSY、PDS、ZDS、LYCE、LYCB、BCH在‘金盏银台’白色花瓣、黄色副冠,洋水仙‘粉红魅力’白色花瓣、红色花副冠,洋水仙‘嘹亮’黄色花瓣、橙黄色副冠中的表达情况。结果表明,花瓣与同一品种副冠间结构基因     

多花水仙WRKY转录因子的克隆与序列分析

以‘黄花水仙2号’和‘金盏银台’为材料,根据课题组已克隆出的多花水仙转录因子WRKY基因片段设计特异引物,通过RACE技术分别从2个水仙品种中克隆出2个不同的WRKY基因,命名为Nt WRKY40a和Nt WRKY40b,开放阅读框(ORF)长度分别为945和951个碱基。序列分析结果表明,两序列均含有WRKYGQK保守结构域;‘黄花水仙2号’与‘金盏银台’、拟南芥、葡萄、青蒿、小麦和粳稻的相似系数分别为:97.27%、45%、43%、47%、41%和43%。Real-time PCR分析结果表明:WRKY基因在花瓣和副冠开花过程中的表达量发生变化,说明其可能参与多花水仙花朵的衰老过程。     

多花水仙HDS基因cDNA全长克隆与序列分析

以‘黄花水仙2号’和‘金盏银台’为材料,水仙各自花瓣的cDNA为模板,采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆出2个HDS基因,分别命名为NtHDSY和NtHDSJ,测序结果表明,NtHDSY和NtHDSJ基因全长分别为2 592 bp和2 599 bp,2个基因均含有1个2 178 bp的开放阅读框（ORF）,编码745个氨基酸。同源性分析表明,黄花水仙2号与金盏银台、铁皮石斛、长春花、大豆、葡萄和苹果的相似系数分别为：97.77％、79.29％、75.29％、75.51％、75.02％和74.40％。Real-time PCR分析表明：NtHDS基因在花瓣和副冠内的表达量在开花过程的花蕾期与盛花期存在明显差异,推测该基因可能与多花水仙香气物质的合成有关。     

中国水仙NtPI基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RACE技术从中国水仙‘金盏银台’(Narcissus tazetta var.chinensis)花芽中获得1个与花器官发育有关的MADS-box基因,命名为NtPI(GenBank登录号:JQ326272).该基因全长804 bp,含有1个618 bp的开放阅读框,编码205个氨基酸,具有典型的MADS结构域和K结构域,与仙客来水仙(Narcissus cyclamineus)同源性最高,达98％.系统进化树显示,NtPI属于B类MADS-box基因家族的PI/GLO类基因.半定量RT-PCR分析表明,该基因在‘金盏银台’和‘玉玲珑’2种水仙花朵的各个部位均有表达,但表达的水平有所不同.在‘金盏银台’中,雄蕊和雌蕊的表达量大于花瓣和副冠,而在‘玉玲珑’花瓣和副冠中,表达丰度远远大于雄蕊和雌蕊.     

中国水仙NtSTK基因的克隆、序列和组织表达分析

MADS-box基因在植物花发育中发挥着重要的作用。为了研究D类MADS-box基因在中国水仙花发育中的功能,本实验采用RACE和RT-PCR技术从中国水仙‘金盏银台’中分离到1个MADS-box基因,命名为NtSTK。该基因含有1个705 bp的开放阅读框,编码234个氨基酸,并且该基因在3个不同类型的中国水仙中序列差异较小。系统进化树显示NtSTK属于D类MADS-box基因。荧光定量分析表明该基因在‘金盏银台’和‘玉玲珑’的雌蕊和子房中表达水平较高,在根和叶片中低水平表达,在花被和雄蕊及鳞茎中不表达。     

橄榄多酚类化合物组分分析

橄榄的苦涩味及药用成分都与多酚类物质密切相关。本试验利用高效液相色谱法测定橄榄果实中的多酚组分。结果表明:橄榄中主要的多酚物质为鞣花酸,其次是芦丁、没食子酸甲酯、金丝桃苷。不同地区、品种(株系)之间多酚组分含量不相同。‘马坑22号’和‘霞溪本’所含的鞣花酸含量最高,分别达2 484.633、2 214.457 mg/100 g;芦丁含量最高为‘檀头’和‘霞溪本’,分别为490.137、478.545 mg/100 g。     

荔枝花芽分化期间光合特性与碳氮物质变化

荔枝花芽分化分为诱导、发端和分化3个阶段。试验以早中熟品种‘妃子笑’和中熟品种‘桂味’为试材,对荔枝花芽分化不同物候阶段叶片净光合速率(Pn)、叶绿素指数(SPAD)、荧光参数和碳氮物质等生理指标的变化规律进行研究。结果表明：‘妃子笑’的成花进程早于‘桂味’品种,但2个品种在整个花芽分化期间的相关生理指标均呈相似变化趋势,Pn和SPAD在诱导期和抽穗期水平较低,“白点”期和花蕾期有所增加,而荧光参数恰好相反;荔枝成花期间,其可溶性总糖含量在“白点”期阶段水平最低,而淀粉和总氮含量呈相反趋势,在“白点”期达到最高值。可见,不同荔枝品种的光合特性与碳氮物质变化受其花芽分化的阶段性影响更大,而“白点”期是荔枝碳氮物质变化较为关键的转折点。     

中国水仙NtMYB1基因的克隆及表达分析

为研究调控花青素合成机制,利用RT-PCR和RACE技术从中国水仙‘金盏银台’（Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis‘Jinzhan Yintai’.）的花瓣和副冠中克隆得到一个MYB基因的cDNA序列,命名为NtMYB1,在GeneBank上登录号为KC763973。序列分析表明,NtMYB1基因全长842 bp,其中开放阅读框长681 bp,编码226个氨基酸,推测的蛋白分子量为25.2 ku,理论等电点为7.94。NtMYB1具有明显的R2R3-MYB结构域,且在R3结构域的下游含有一个相对保守的PDLNLDLSIG氨基酸基序。同源性分析表明,其编码的氨基酸序列与陆地棉、甜樱桃的MYB蛋白相似性分别达到65％和63％。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测NtMYB1基因在中国水仙花不同发育时期和部位的表达水平,分析结果表明,NMYB1基因在中国水仙成花不同时期均有表达,但表达量具有明显差异,其中NtMYB1基因在花蕾期的相对表达量约为花苞期的40倍,且其表达量在花瓣要高于副冠。推测NtMYB1可能参与调控花青素合成基因的转录沉默。     

桑椹成熟过程中酚类物质、总黄酮及花色苷含量的动态变化

以新选育的鲜食用果桑品种‘粤椹28’和全国种植面积较大的果桑品种‘粤椹大10’和‘塘10’为试材,研究不同发育时期桑椹果实中总酚类物质、总黄酮及花色苷的动态变化规律。结果表明:幼果期桑椹中含有较高含量的总酚类物质和总黄酮类物质,随着果实的成熟,合成速率逐渐减慢,全红期后又开始大量积累;花色苷从白熟期后开始合成,随着成熟度的增加,花色苷的合成速率加快,桑椹中的花色苷主要在全红期到紫黑期发育阶段合成,到紫黑期含量达到最大值;紫黑期‘粤椹28’桑椹中总酚类物质、总黄酮类物质及花色苷含量均高于‘粤椹大10’和‘塘10’。     

水仙鳞茎膨大期各器官可溶性糖的含量及分布

以第3年种植的水仙品种‘金盏银台’为材料,使用乙醇沉淀法制备可溶性糖测定溶液,利用蒽酮比色法测定其鳞茎膨大期不同组织和不同部位的可溶性糖含量。研究结果表明:水仙不同组织器官可溶性糖水平为:根叶中叶尖叶基主芽鳞片。水仙叶片形成的碳水化合物能够逆浓度梯度向下运输,以供给鳞片和内球进行营养积累。不同层叶片及鳞片的可溶性糖测定发现,最外层叶片及鳞片的可溶性糖水平较其它层要低,总体上呈现出由外及里的递增趋势,说明水仙不同层叶片及鳞片为整个鳞茎的营养供给是通过由外及里,由上到下一层层供给生长需求的。     

Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Various Nitrogen Fertilizers

Summary

The efficiency of N fertilizers is usually poor; often less than 50% of the applied N is taken up by the crop. This review focuses on various N fertilizers with respect to the significance of different N loss pathways, namely (i) ammonia volatilization, (ii) dinitrogen and nitrogen oxide emissions, and (iii) nitrate leaching. Further, the significance of biological N immobilization, ammonium fixation and, finally, the impact of nitrate vs. ammonium uptake on crop yield are also discussed. The reviewed literature shows that N fertilizers may differ markedly in their susceptibility to losses. There is, however, considerable scope to improve N efficiency of each N source by proper N management practices.     

Studies on natural repellents against potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller) in country stores

Summary The effects of the leaves of five plant species, one from each of the generaAmbrosia, Anemone, Eupatorium, Eucalyptus andLantana, on potato tuber moth were investigated under indigenous storage conditions at the Central Potato Research Station, Shillong (1800 m above sea level). Their action was compared with that of a biological insecticide (spores ofBacillus thuringiensis), a chemical insecticide (carbaryl), and an untreated control. The data collected after six months storage on tuber damage, sprout damage and the rotting indicated that the leaves ofLantana aculeata provided most protection to the tubers, reducing damage from over 70% in the check to below 5%, and sprout damage from over 45% to below 3%. Next best wasEucalyptus globulus followed byB. thuringiensis. They may be used on tubers stored for table use or for seed as they had no adverse effect on germination or on the yield of a subsequent crop.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of different accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. from Uruguay

Summary The in vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts from accessions ofSolanum commersonii Dun. collected in the south of Uruguay was investigated against five microorganisms including the pathogenRalstonia solanacearum. A total of 30 extracts corresponding to organic and aqueous extracts were studied. Interestingly, most of the positive results for growth inhibition were againstR. solanacearum. The extracts were also analyzed for the presence of glycoalkaloids and lectins. Six of the ten aqueous extracts showed lectin presence and a wide variation in the type and amounts of glycoalkaloids, was found. Results indicate that there is no clear relationship between the antimicrobial activity against the five microorganisms screened and the presence or amounts of lectins and glycoalkaloids, traditionally regarded as possible antimicrobial metabolites in theSolanum genus, which indicates the presence of as yet unidentified antimicrobial compounds.     

Novel food and non-food uses for sorghum and millets

Sorghum and millets have considerable potential in foods and beverages. As they are gluten-free they are suitable for coeliacs. Sorghum is also a potentially important source of nutraceuticals such antioxidant phenolics and cholesterol-lowering waxes. Cakes, cookies, pasta, a parboiled rice-like product and snack foods have been successfully produced from sorghum and, in some cases, millets. Wheat-free sorghum or millet bread remains the main challenge. Additives such as native and pre-gelatinised starches, hydrocolloids, fat, egg and rye pentosans improve bread quality. However, specific volumes are lower than those for wheat bread or gluten-free breads based on pure starches, and in many cases, breads tend to stale faster. Lager and stout beers with sorghum are brewed commercially. Sorghum's high-starch gelatinisation temperature and low beta-amylase activity remain problems with regard to complete substitution of barley malt with sorghum malt . The role of the sorghum endosperm matrix protein and cell wall components in limiting extract is a research focus. Brewing with millets is still at an experimental stage. Sorghum could be important for bioethanol and other bio-industrial products. Bioethanol research has focused on improving the economics of the process through cultivar selection, method development for low-quality grain and pre-processing to recover valuable by-products. Potential by-products such as the kafirin prolamin proteins and the pericarp wax have potential as bioplastic films and coatings for foods, primarily due to their hydrophobicity.     

Extreme resistance to infection by potato virus X in genotypes of wild tuber-bearingSolanum species

Summary Clones derived from thirty-one different accessions (nineteen of Argentine origin) belonging to eightSolanum species were screened for resistance to infection by potato virus X strain cp (PVX cp) by mechanical inoculation of plantlets that had been micropropagated in vitro. Estimates of PVX multiplication obtained by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and slot blot nucleic acid hybridization allowed the identification of resistant clones derived from five accessions belonging toS. commersonii S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum andS. tuberosum andigena. Resistant genotypes supported PVX concentrations 5 to 15 times smaller than did the susceptible control cultivar Spunta. Graft inoculation test confirmed the presence of extreme resistance similar to that conferred by the ‘immunity’ gene X¹ (also called RX_act).     

Cyanobacteria Secondary Metabolites as Biotechnological Ingredients in Natural Anti-Aging Cosmetics: Potential to Overcome Hyperpigmentation,Loss of Skin Density and UV Radiation-Deleterious Effects

The loss of density and elasticity, the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation are among the first noticeable signs of skin aging. Beyond UV radiation and oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) assume a preponderant role in the process, since their deregulation results in the degradation of most extracellular matrix components. In this survey, four cyanobacteria strains were explored for their capacity to produce secondary metabolites with biotechnological potential for use in anti-aging formulations. Leptolyngbya boryana LEGE 15486 and Cephalothrix lacustris LEGE 15493 from freshwater ecosystems, and Leptolyngbya cf. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 and Nodosilinea nodulosa LEGE 06104 from marine habitats were sequentially extracted with acetone and water, and extracts were analyzed for their toxicity in cell lines with key roles in the skin context (HaCAT, 3T3L1, and hCMEC). The non-toxic extracts were chemically characterized in terms of proteins, carotenoids, phenols, and chlorophyll a, and their anti-aging potential was explored through their ability to scavenge the physiological free radical superoxide anion radical (O₂^•−), to reduce the activity of the MMPs elastase and hyaluronidase, to inhibit tyrosinase and thus avoid melanin production, and to block UV-B radiation (sun protection factor, SPF). Leptolyngbya species stood out for anti-aging purposes: L. boryana LEGE 15486 presented a remarkable SPF of 19 (at 200 µg/mL), being among the best species regarding O₂^•− scavenging, (IC₅₀ = 99.50 µg/mL) and also being able to inhibit tyrosinase (IC₂₅ = 784 µg/mL), proving to be promising against UV-induced skin-aging; L. ectocarpi LEGE 11479 was more efficient in inhibiting MMPs (hyaluronidase, IC₅₀ = 863 µg/mL; elastase, IC₅₀ = 391 µg/mL), thus being the choice to retard dermal density loss. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data allowed the grouping of extracts into three groups, according to their chemical composition; the correlation of carotenoids and chlorophyll a with MMPs activity (p < 0.01), O₂^•− scavenging with phenolic compounds (p < 0.01), and phycocyanin and allophycocyanin with SPF, pointing to these compounds in particular as responsible for UV-B blockage. This original survey explores, for the first time, the biotechnological potential of these cyanobacteria strains in the field of skin aging, demonstrating the promising, innovative, and multifactorial nature of these microorganisms.     

Marine Pharmacology in 2009–2011: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial,Antidiabetic, Antifungal,Anti-Inflammatory,Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis,and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems,and other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action ?

The peer-reviewed marine pharmacology literature from 2009 to 2011 is presented in this review, following the format used in the 1998–2008 reviews of this series. The pharmacology of structurally-characterized compounds isolated from marine animals, algae, fungi and bacteria is discussed in a comprehensive manner. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral pharmacological activities were reported for 102 marine natural products. Additionally, 60 marine compounds were observed to affect the immune and nervous system as well as possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. Finally, 68 marine metabolites were shown to interact with a variety of receptors and molecular targets, and thus will probably contribute to multiple pharmacological classes upon further mechanism of action studies. Marine pharmacology during 2009–2011 remained a global enterprise, with researchers from 35 countries, and the United States, contributing to the preclinical pharmacology of 262 marine compounds which are part of the preclinical pharmaceutical pipeline. Continued pharmacological research with marine natural products will contribute to enhance the marine pharmaceutical clinical pipeline, which in 2013 consisted of 17 marine natural products, analogs or derivatives targeting a limited number of disease categories.     

Recent Modifications of Chitosan for Adsorption Applications: A Critical and Systematic Review

Chitosan is considered to be one of the most promising and applicable materials in adsorption applications. The existence of amino and hydroxyl groups in its molecules contributes to many possible adsorption interactions between chitosan and pollutants (dyes, metals, ions, phenols, pharmaceuticals/drugs, pesticides, herbicides, etc.). These functional groups can help in establishing positions for modification. Based on the learning from previously published works in literature, researchers have achieved a modification of chitosan with a number of different functional groups. This work summarizes the published works of the last three years (2012–2014) regarding the modification reactions of chitosans (grafting, cross-linking, etc.) and their application to adsorption of different environmental pollutants (in liquid-phase).