Human gene expression as a tool to determine horticultural maturity in a bioactive plant (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench)

A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. Plants of selected development stages were also assayed for total polysaccharides and compared for their immune-modulating effects on the THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line by means of a gene expression study. Although the concentration of cichoric acid did not change significantly during the course of the study, stage 1 (advanced vegetative) had the highest concentration of total polysaccharides and exhibited the most potent induction activity on immune-modulating cytokines such as interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These findings suggest that the use of gene expression may be an effective tool not only to standardize botanical extracts but also to optimize harvest time.     

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic dehydrogenation of substituted cyclohexanones to phenols

Aromatic molecules are key constituents of many pharmaceuticals, electronic materials, and commodity plastics. The utility of these molecules directly reflects the identity and pattern of substituents on the aromatic ring. Here, we report a palladium(II) catalyst system, incorporating an unconventional ortho-dimethylaminopyridine ligand, for the conversion of substituted cyclohexanones to the corresponding phenols. The reaction proceeds via successive dehydrogenation of two saturated carbon-carbon bonds of the six-membered ring and uses molecular oxygen as the hydrogen acceptor. This reactivity demonstrates a versatile and efficient strategy for the synthesis of substituted aromatic molecules with fundamentally different selectivity constraints from the numerous known synthetic methods that rely on substitution of a preexisting aromatic ring.     

耐盐性Imt1基因表达载体的构建及其在酵母中的高效表达

 将Imt1（Inositol O-methyltransferase，肌醇甲基转移酶）构建成酵母表达载体pBD#-3，在酵母双突变体gpd#+（-）(glycerol 3-phosphate-dehydrogenase,3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶)中高效表达，使gpd#+（-）突变株对氯化钠的耐性由2.5%提高到5.0%。生化分析表明，在每mg干酵母细胞内积累高达2.2nmol的Ononitol(芒柄醇)含量。Western blot分析证明了Imt1基因的表达。这一研究为植物耐盐基因工程开辟了一条新途径。     

An assay to estimate tannins added to postmortem Turkey meat

A method for quantification of tannins in wine was adapted to determine tannins added to turkey meat. Standard curves containing varying amounts of GSE [0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 5.0%, (w/w)] as a source of tannins were developed. The R(2) value of the mean standard curve was 0.9992. The overall percent recovery of GSE in meat was determined to be 54.78%. Results showed that estimation of GSE in four out of five of the spiked samples was less than or equal to 10%. It is unclear as to why spiked samples at 0.048 mg of GSE were always underestimated (25.0%). Overall, the method seems applicable for estimation of tannins in poultry meat and is probably applicable to estimation of tannins in other meat products.     

A cortical region consisting entirely of face-selective cells

Face perception is a skill crucial to primates. In both humans and macaque monkeys, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals a system of cortical regions that show increased blood flow when the subject views images of faces, compared with images of objects. However, the stimulus selectivity of single neurons within these fMRI-identified regions has not been studied. We used fMRI to identify and target the largest face-selective region in two macaques for single-unit recording. Almost all (97%) of the visually responsive neurons in this region were strongly face selective, indicating that a dedicated cortical area exists to support face processing in the macaque.     

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate uptake by marine phytoplankton

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) accounts for most of the organic sulfur fluxes from primary to secondary producers in marine microbial food webs. Incubations of natural communities and axenic cultures with radio-labeled DMSP showed that dominant phytoplankton groups of the ocean, the unicellular cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus and diatoms, as well as heterotrophic bacteria take up and assimilate DMSP sulfur, thus diverting a proportion of plankton-produced organic sulfur from emission into the atmosphere.     

Clinical leptospirosis in three cats (2001-2009)

Based on previous research, cats were thought to have been resistant to the development of clinical signs following infection with Leptospira spp. This case report presents three confirmed, naturally infected clinical cases of feline leptospirosis. The cases presented were all indoor/outdoor cats that were known to hunt. They were also all presented at different stages of renal insufficiency; however, they did not show any liver involvement. The authors suggest that there may be a longer incubation period in cats than dogs and recommend further research in the form of a large, clinical study.     

Nitrogen pools and turnover in arable soils under different durations of organic farming: II: Source‐and‐sink function of the soil microbial biomass or competition with growing plants?

The following parameters were measured on seven field plots at 3 sites which had been under organic farming for different periods of time: mineral nitrogen (N _min) contents, in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N _net), soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), and nitrogen (N _mic) contents, and extractable organic N contents. The measurements were conducted every three weeks from spring 1995/1996 to autumn 1997. The objective was to test whether, under organic farming: 1) temporal fluctuations of N_mic contents over the course of the year are indicative for a source‐and‐sink function for plant‐available N of the soil microbial biomass, and 2) temporal variations in N_mic content can be related with in situ N_net or plant N uptake. N_min contents gradually increased after ploughing in autumn until late winter. During intensive plant growth in spring, values rapidly declined. In situ N_net fluctuated only moderately and reached high values during intensive plant growth (May—July) as well as after soil cultivation in autumn. The C_mic and N_mic contents generally were low in winter, increased in spring and reached maxima in late spring or summer. In spring, the increase in C_mic contents preceded the increase in N_mic contents, resulting in elevated C_mic:N_mic ratios until shooting of winter wheat. This corresponds to an uptake of available soil nitrogen by the plants at the expense of soil micro‐organisms. The subsequent increase in N_mic contents, coinciding with high plant N uptake rates, indicates an enhanced, plant‐induced N mobilization at that time. Possible mobilization mechanisms are discussed. Soil microbial biomass exerted a source‐and‐sink function for extractable organic N on some of the field plots. Estimates of in situ N_net measurements were neither correlated significantly with soil microbial biomass N, N_mic flux, N_mic turnover, nor with plant N uptake. Lower N_mic turnover rates on 41 years versus 3 years organically managed fields indicate a stabilizing effect of organic farming on soil microflora.     

Novel septoria speckled leaf blotch resistance loci in a barley doubled-haploid population

The genetics of resistance to Septoria speckled leaf blotch (SSLB), caused by Septoria passerinii, was studied in the Leger × CIho9831 barley doubled-haploid population. The 140 lines in the population segregated as 102 resistant and 38 susceptible, approximating a 3:1 ratio. A recombination map was developed using diversity arrays technology and other molecular markers. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis demonstrated that resistance is primarily conferred either by having the CIho9831 allele at a QTL on 6HS or by having the CIho9831 allele at both of two QTLs on 3H and 2HL. In addition, ≈1/16 of the lines were resistant for unidentified reasons. This model predicts a resistant/susceptible ratio of 11:5, which fits the phenotypic observations. Minor QTLs were detected on 2HS and 1H. DNA sequences of linked markers suggest that the 6HS, 3H, and 2HS QTLs are part of resistance gene clusters and that the 6HS and 3H QTLs share homology. The 6HS QTL is identical to or closely linked to the SSLB resistance locus Rsp4 and the 1H QTL to the Rsp2 or Rsp3 locus. The 3H and 2HS QTLs are unique and offer new opportunities for pyramiding resistance genes through marker-assisted breeding for resistance to S. passerinii.     

Pathogenicity determinants in smut fungi revealed by genome comparison

Biotrophic pathogens, such as the related maize pathogenic fungi Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum, establish an intimate relationship with their hosts by secreting protein effectors. Because secreted effectors interacting with plant proteins should rapidly evolve, we identified variable genomic regions by sequencing the genome of S. reilianum and comparing it with the U. maydis genome. We detected 43 regions of low sequence conservation in otherwise well-conserved syntenic genomes. These regions primarily encode secreted effectors and include previously identified virulence clusters. By deletion analysis in U. maydis, we demonstrate a role in virulence for four previously unknown diversity regions. This highlights the power of comparative genomics of closely related species for identification of virulence determinants.