Identification of characteristic aroma-active compounds from water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.)

Characteristic aroma components of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica DC.) were evaluated by aroma extract dilution analysis and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-olfactometry. Alpha-Terpinolene (plastic/cucumber-like) was the most intense aroma-active compound in water dropwort. Other potent aroma-active compounds included p-cymene (kerosene-like), alpha-terpinene (lemon), (E)-caryophyllene (woody), (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene (woody), hexanal (green), (Z)-3-hexenol (green), phenylacetaldehyde (honey), (E)-2-nonenal (cucumber), bornyl acetate (cooked vegetable), and gamma-terpinene (lemon). Of these, p-cymene was believed to be primarily responsible for the distinct kerosene-like aroma note of water dropwort. The aroma property of p-cymene was dependent on its concentration and was described as kerosene-like at relatively high concentrations but changed to citrus and green aroma notes at low concentrations.     

Multi-Step Competitive Sorption and Desorption of Chlorophenols in Surfactant Modified Montmorillonite

Single- and bi-solute sorption and desorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) in montmorillonite modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) were investigated using multi-step sorption and desorption procedure. Effect of pH on the multi-step sorption and desorption was investigated. As expected by the magnitude of octanol-water partition coefficient, K _ow , both sorption and desorption affinity of 2,4,5-TCP was higher than that of 2,4-DCP at pH 4.85 and 9.15. For both chlorophenols, the protonated speciation (at pH 4.85) exhibited a higher affinity in both sorption and desorption than the predominant deprotonated speciation (about 95% and 99% of 2,4-dichlorophenolate and 2,4,5-trichlophenolate anions at pH 9.15, respectively). Desorption of chlorinated phenols was strongly dependent on the current pH regardless of their speciation in the previous sorption stage. Freundlich model was used to analyze the single-solute sorption and desorption data. No appreciable desorption-resistant (or non-desorbing) fraction was observed in organoclays after several multi-step desorptions. This indicates that sorption of phenols in organoclay mainly occurs via partitioning into the core of the pseudo-organic medium, thereby causing desorption nearly reversible. In bisolute competitive systems, sorption (or desorption) affinity of both chlorophenols was reduced compared to that in its single-solute system due to the competition between the solutes. The ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) coupled to the single-solute Freundlich model successfully predicted bisolute multi-step competitive sorption and desorption equilibria.     

Major phenolics in apple and their contribution to the total antioxidant capacity

The contribution of each phytochemical to the total antioxidant capacity of apples was determined. Major phenolic phytochemicals of six apple cultivars were identified and quantified, and their contributions to total antioxidant activity of apples were determined using a 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay and expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC). Average concentrations of major phenolics and vitamin C in six apple cultivars were as follows (mg/100 g of fresh weight of apples): quercetin glycosides, 13.20; procyanidin B(2), 9.35; chlorogenic acid, 9.02; epicatechin, 8.65; phloretin glycosides, 5.59; vitamin C, 12.80. A highly linear relationship (r (2) > 0.97) was attained between concentrations and total antioxidant capacity of phenolics and vitamin C. Relative VCEAC values of these compounds were in the order quercetin (3.06) > epicatechin (2.67) > procyanidin B(2) (2.36) > phloretin (1.63) > vitamin C (1.00) > chlorogenic acid (0.97). Therefore, the estimated contribution of major phenolics and vitamin C to the total antioxidant capacity of 100 g of fresh apples is as follows: quercetin (40.39 VCEAC) > epicatechin (23.10) > procyanidin B(2) (22.07) > vitamin C (12.80) > phloretin (9.11) > chlorogenic acid (8.75). These results indicate that flavonoids such as quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B(2) rather than vitamin C contribute significantly to the total antioxidant activity of apples.     

Contribution of individual polyphenolics to total antioxidant capacity of plums

To study the effect of polyphenolics on antioxidant capacities of plums, the amounts of total phenolics, total flavonoids and individual phenolic compounds, and vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) of eleven plum cultivars was determined. There was a good linear relationship between the amount of total phenolics and total antioxidant capacity (r2 = 0.9887). The amount of total flavonoids and total antioxidant capacity also showed a good correlation (r2 = 0.9653). Although the summation of individual antioxidant capacity was lower than the total antioxidant capacity of plum samples, there was a positive correlation (r2 = 0.9299) of total antioxidant capacity of plum samples with the sum of the VCEACs calculated from individual phenolics. Chlorogenic acids and glycosides of cyanidin, peonidin, and quercetin were major phenolics among eleven plum cultivars. The antioxidant capacity of chlorogenic acids and anthocyanins showed higher correlation (r2) of 0.7751 and 0.6616 to total VCEAC, respectively, than that of quercetin glycosides (r2 = 0.0279). Chlorogenic acids were a major source of antioxidant activity in plums, and the consumption of one serving (100 g) of plums can provide antioxidants equivalent to 144.4-889.6 mg of vitamin C.     

A magnetic nanoprobe technology for detecting molecular interactions in live cells

Technologies to assess the molecular targets of biomolecules in living cells are lacking. We have developed a technology called magnetism-based interaction capture (MAGIC) that identifies molecular targets on the basis of induced movement of superparamagnetic nanoparticles inside living cells. Efficient intracellular uptake of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (coated with a small molecule of interest) was mediated by a transducible fusogenic peptide. These nanoprobes captured the small molecule's labeled target protein and were translocated in a direction specified by the magnetic field. Use of MAGIC in genome-wide expression screening identified multiple protein targets of a drug. MAGIC was also used to monitor signal-dependent modification and multiple interactions of proteins.     

Impaired respiratory and body temperature control upon acute serotonergic neuron inhibition

Physiological homeostasis is essential for organism survival. Highly responsive neuronal networks are involved, but their constituent neurons are just beginning to be resolved. To query brain serotonergic neurons in homeostasis, we used a neuronal silencing tool, mouse RC::FPDi (based on the synthetic G protein-coupled receptor Di), designed for cell type-specific, ligand-inducible, and reversible suppression of action potential firing. In mice harboring Di-expressing serotonergic neurons, administration of the ligand clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) by systemic injection attenuated the chemoreflex that normally increases respiration in response to tissue carbon dioxide (CO(2)) elevation and acidosis. At the cellular level, CNO suppressed firing rate increases evoked by CO(2) acidosis. Body thermoregulation at room temperature was also disrupted after CNO triggering of Di; core temperatures plummeted, then recovered. This work establishes that serotonergic neurons regulate life-sustaining respiratory and thermoregulatory networks, and demonstrates a noninvasive tool for mapping neuron function.     

Growth and photosynthetic characteristics of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum cv. Bluecrop) under various shade levels

Blueberry can readily be shaded as a bush type plant, maybe affecting its growth and photosynthesis. Growth and photosynthetic characteristics of ‘Bluecrop’ blueberry grown under various shade levels were investigated to understand acclimation under shade conditions and to determine the optimal light conditions for agricultural purpose. Shade decreased the number of shoots per shrub, but increased shoot length. However, shade did not affect the number of leaves on the main axis. With increasing shade level, leaf length, width and area increased, but leaf thickness decreased. However, there was no obvious tendency in leaf length/width ratio with increasing shade level. Shade leaves had less dense stomata than sun leaves, but stoma was bigger in shade leaves than in sun leaves. With increasing shade level, non-photochemical quenching in blueberry leaves increased and the values were higher at low photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) in shade leaves than in sun leaves, resulting in the decreases in quantum yield, electron transport rate and net CO₂ assimilation rate (A_n). The maximum A_n at 31, 60, 73 and 83% shade levels was 11.8, 11.0, 8.4 and 7.5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. Following the slight decrease up to 100 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD, stomatal conductance (g_s) linearly increased up to 600 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD and became saturated at all shade levels. The leaves of the shrubs grown under the 83% shade level had a significantly lower g_s as compared to the leaves of the shrubs grown under the 31, 60 and 73% shade levels. Transpiration rate (E) linearly increased up to 600 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD and was saturated at the 73 and 83% shade levels. However, E increased linearly at both 31 and 60% shade levels with increasing PPFD. The reproductive growth characteristics such as number of flowers, fruit set rate per flower bud and fruit yield also significantly decreased with increasing shade level. For agricultural purpose, therefore, shade level above approximately 60% of full sunlight must be avoided for optimal photosynthesis and growth of the ‘Bluecrop’ blueberry.     

Confirmation of hybrid origin in Arisaema (Araceae) using molecular markers

A population of hybrids between Arisaema triphyllum subsp. stewardsonii and A. dracontium was investigated using molecular markers to document the hybrid origin. Total genomic DNA was extracted from A. triphyllum, A. dracontium, and the hybrids, and subjected to sequence analysis of various regions of intergenic spacer and genes of chloroplast or intergenic spacer and genes of nuclear ribosome for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Clustering was performed using the unweighted pair group method with averages (UPGMA) tested by bootstrap (BS). Hybrid origin could not be easily confirmed in some regions. However, dendrograms constructed with a combined sequence analysis of A. triphyllum 26S ribosomal RNA gene [sequence identification (SI) 467] plus A. tortuosum phytochrome C-like (phyC) gene (SI 468) were very similar to dendrograms constructed from sequences of all regions. This suggests that selecting SI 467 and SI 468 would be practical to identify hybrid origins involving two parental species. Clustering of hybrids together with the female parent in most target regions suggests that, in Arisaema, cpDNA is considered maternally inherited.