Identification of betalains from petioles of differently colored Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. cicla [L.] Alef. Cv. Bright Lights) by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The betalain pattern of differently colored Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. cicla [L.] Alef. cv. Bright Lights) was investigated for the first time. Nineteen betaxanthins and nine betacyanins were identified by RP-HPLC and positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry, co-injection experiments with semisynthetic reference compounds, and standards derived from authentic plant material, respectively. Histamine-betaxanthin and alanine-betaxanthin were found to be novel betaxanthins, which to the best of our knowledge have not been reported as natural compounds until now. Furthermore, tyramine-betaxanthin (miraxanthin III) and 3-methoxytyramine-betaxanthin, which to date were known only from families other than the Chenopodiaceae, were detected for the first time in colored Swiss chard. The betacyanin pattern of purple petioles was composed of betanin, isobetanin, betanidin, and isobetanidin. Although phyllocactin was present in only trace amounts, further acylated structures such as betanidin-monoferuloyl-5-O-beta-diglucoside and lampranthin II, accompanied by their corresponding C(15)-epimers, were identified. In addition, quantification of betalains and CIE LCh degrees measurements were performed with the colored extracts to correlate the visual appearance with the respective pigment patterns. Besides the novel phytochemical findings, the present study is useful for the evaluation of betalainic Swiss chard as a potential coloring foodstuff.     

Intestinal metabolism of two A-type procyanidins using the pig cecum model: detailed structure elucidation of unknown catabolites with Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS)

Procyanidins, as important secondary plant metabolites in fruits, berries, and beverages such as cacao and tea, are supposed to have positive health impacts, although their bioavailability is yet not clear. One important aspect for bioavailability is intestinal metabolism. The investigation of the microbial catabolism of A-type procyanidins is of great importance due to their more complex structure in comparison to B-type procyanidins. A-type procyanidins exhibit an additional ether linkage between the flavan-3-ol monomers. In this study two A-type procyanidins, procyanidin A2 and cinnamtannin B1, were incubated in the pig cecum model to mimic the degradation caused by the microbiota. Both A-type procyanidins were degraded by the microbiota. Procyanidin A2 as a dimer was degraded by about 80% and cinnamtannin B1 as a trimer by about 40% within 8 h of incubation. Hydroxylated phenolic compounds were quantified as degradation products. In addition, two yet unknown catabolites were identified, and the structures were elucidated by Fourier transform mass spectrometry.     

Studies on the aroma of five fresh tomato cultivars and the precursors of cis- and trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenals and methional

Three tasty (BR-139, FA-624, and FA-612) and two less tasty (R-144 and R-175) fresh greenhouse tomato cultivars, which significantly differ in their flavor profiles, were screened for potent odorants using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). On the basis of AEDA results, 19 volatiles were selected for quantification in those 5 cultivars using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compounds such as 1-penten-3-one, ( E, E)- and ( E, Z)-2,4-decadienal, and 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2 H)-furanone (Furaneol) had higher odor units in the more preferred cultivars, whereas methional, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, or 2-isobutylthiazole had higher odor units in the less preferred cultivars. Simulation of the odor of the selected tomato cultivars by preparation of aroma models and comparison with the corresponding real samples confirmed that all important fresh tomato odorants were identified, that their concentrations were determined correctly in all five cultivars, and that differences in concentration, especially of the compounds mentioned above, make it possible to distinguish between them and are responsible for the differential preference. To help elucidate formation pathways of key odorants, labeled precursors were added to tomatoes. Biogenesis of cis- and trans-4,5-epoxy-( E)-2-decenals from linoleic acid and methional from methionine was confirmed.     

Insect resistance in potatoes: sources,evolutionary relationships,morphological and chemical defenses,and ecogeographical associations

Summary The past 25 years, 1686 potato accessions, representing 100 species in the genus Solanum L., subgenus Potatoe, section Petota, were evaluated for field resistance to one or more of the following insect pests: green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer); potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas); Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say); potato flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris (Harris); and potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris). Accessions highly resistant to green peach aphid were identified within 36 species, to potato aphid within 24 species, to Colorado potato beetle within 10 species, to potato flea beetle within 25 species, and to potato leafhopper within 39 species. Resistance levels were characteristic within Solanum species. Insect resistance appears to be a primitive trait in wild potatoes. Susceptibility was most common in the primitive and cultivated Tuberosa. Insect resistance was also characteristic of the most advanced species. The glycoalkaloid tomatine was associated with field resistance to Colorado potato beetle and potato leafhopper. Other glycoalkaloids were not associated with field resistance at the species level. Dense hairs were associated with resistance to green peach aphid, potato flea beetle, and potato leafhopper. Glandular trichomes were associated with field resistance to Colorado potato beetle, potato flea beetle, and potato leafhopper. Significant correlations between insect score and altitude of original collection were observed in six of thirteen species. Species from hot and arid areas were associated with resistance to Colorado potato beetle, potato flea beetle, and potato leafhopper. Species from cool or moist areas tended to be resistant to potato aphid.Abbreviations EBN Endosperm Balance Number     

Early detection of Verticillium wilt resistance in a potato breeding program

Nine potato clones/cultivars selected for varying degrees of Verticillium wilt (VW) resistance based on degree of vascular colonization, were intercrossed and outcrossed to 13 uncharacterized clones. Based on growth characteristics of 3,535 seedling transplants and an assay quantifyingV. dahliae in potato vascular tissue, 404 clones were selected for further tests. The average number ofVerticillium dahliae colony forming units (CFU) expressed as Log₁₀(CFU + l)/0.1 ml of plant sap for the 404 clones was 2.3, and 1.3 and 3.7 for resistant Reddale and susceptible Kennebec checks, respectively. Thirty-five clones (8.66%) had CFU values equal to or less than Reddale suggesting that VW resistance is a readily transmitted trait.     

Noncanonical TGFβ signaling contributes to aortic aneurysm progression in Marfan syndrome mice

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling drives aneurysm progression in multiple disorders, including Marfan syndrome (MFS), and therapies that inhibit this signaling cascade are in clinical trials. TGFβ can stimulate multiple intracellular signaling pathways, but it is unclear which of these pathways drives aortic disease and, when inhibited, which result in disease amelioration. Here we show that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 and Smad2 are activated in a mouse model of MFS, and both are inhibited by therapies directed against TGFβ. Whereas selective inhibition of ERK1/2 activation ameliorated aortic growth, Smad4 deficiency exacerbated aortic disease and caused premature death in MFS mice. Smad4-deficient MFS mice uniquely showed activation of Jun N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK1), and a JNK antagonist ameliorated aortic growth in MFS mice that lacked or retained full Smad4 expression. Thus, noncanonical (Smad-independent) TGFβ signaling is a prominent driver of aortic disease in MFS mice, and inhibition of the ERK1/2 or JNK1 pathways is a potential therapeutic strategy for the disease.     

A method to calculate—for computer-simulated infections—the threshold value, R0, that predicts whether or not the infection will spread

Computer-simulation models of infections can easily incorporate heterogeneity among animals (important for the effect of control measures) by allocating animals to various classes. These classes are termed ‘states’ and the change from one state to another, during a unit of time, is termed a ‘transition’. Hence, most computer models are state-transition models. Using a fairly universal representation state-transition models, we derived an analytic expression (a formula) for the basic reproduction ratio of infection (R₀), i.e. the number of cases caused by one typical infectious animal. When R₀>1, the infection can spread; when R₀<1, the infection will disappear. Therefore, a strategy for controlling an infective agent is effective when, and only when, the ratio for that strategy is less than one.

Using the reproduction-ratio formula derived in this paper (instead of interpreting results from a large number of simulations) has several advantages for veterinary researchers. The structure of the formula allows investigators to understand how certain parameters (e.g. infection, demographic or control-strategy parameters), if changed, will influence the ratio. Moreover, the ratio can be calculated directly and quickly, hence whether an infection will spread or disappear can be determined quickly. In addition, because certain parameters present in the original model disappear in the formula for the ratio, they can be eliminated as influencing the effectiveness of the control strategy. Finally, the value of R₀ can be interpolated for parameter values (e.g. rates of infection, contact rates, replacement rates and herd sizes) other than those evaluated originally.