Diversity in the carotenoid profiles and the expression of genes related to carotenoid accumulation among citrus genotypes

Carotenoids are not only important to the plants themselves but also are beneficial to human health. Since citrus fruit is a good source of carotenoids for the human diet, it is important to study carotenoid profiles and the accumulation mechanism in citrus fruit. Thus, in the present paper, we describe the diversity in the carotenoid profiles of fruit among citrus genotypes. In regard to carotenoids, such as β-cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene, and β-citraurin, the relationship between the carotenoid profile and the expression of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes is discussed. Finally, recent results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of carotenoid contents and expression levels of carotenoid-biosynthetic genes in citrus fruit are shown.     

Antiallergic tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate,suppresses FcepsilonRI expression in human basophilic KU812 cells

We previously found that the O-methylated derivative of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)-gallate (EGCG' '3Me), has potent antiallergic activity. The high-affinity IgE receptor, FcepsilonRI, is found at high levels on basophils and mast cells and plays a key role in a series of acute and chronic human allergic reactions. To understand the mechanism of action for the antiallergic EGCG' '3Me, the effect of EGCG' '3Me on the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI in human basophilic KU812 cells was examined. Flow cytometric analysis showed that EGCG' '3Me was able to decrease the cell surface expression of FcepsilonRI. Moreover, immunoblot analysis revealed that total cellular expression of the FcepsilonRI alpha chain decreased upon treatment with EGCG' '3Me. FcepsilonRI is a tetrameric structure comprising one alpha chain, one beta chain, and two gamma chains. The level of mRNA production of each subunit in KU812 cells was investigated. EGCG' '3Me reduced FcepsilonRI alpha and gamma mRNA levels. The cross-linkage of FcepsilonRI causes the activation of basophils, which leads to the secretion of inflammatory mediators including histamine. EGCG' '3Me treatment inhibited the FcepsilonRI cross-linking-induced histamine release. These results suggested that EGCG' '3Me can negatively regulate basophil activation through the suppression of FcepsilonRI expression.     

Dynamic behavior of tea catechins interacting with lipid membranes as determined by NMR spectroscopy

Interaction between tea catechins, such as epicatechin gallate (ECg) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), and isotropic bicelle model lipid membranes was investigated by solution NMR techniques. (1)H NMR measurements provided signals from the B-ring and the galloyl moiety in ECg and EGCg that were obviously shifted, and whose proton T1 relaxation times were shortened upon interaction of the catechins with the bicelles. These results indicate that the B-ring and the galloyl moiety play an important role in this interaction. Nuclear Overhauser effect spectrometry experiments demonstrated that the B-ring and the galloyl moiety are located near the gamma-H in the phospholipid trimethylammonium group. On the basis of these findings, we propose that ECg and EGCg interact with the surface of lipid membranes via the choline moiety.     

Dietary apigenin suppresses IgE and inflammatory cytokines production in C57BL/6N mice

Flavonoids ubiquitously exist in plants, vegetables, fruits, and teas. We evaluated the effect of dietary apigenin, one of the well-known flavonoids, on the immune system in C57BL/6N mice. Mice were fed experimental diets containing apigenin for 2 weeks. After the experimental period, there was no significant difference in body and organ weights between the control and the apigenin group. The total immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels in mice fed apigenin were significantly suppressed, whereas levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA were not affected. We also examined the effect of the apigenin diet on cytokine expression in mice sera using a cytokine array. The production of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I (sTNFRI) in mice sera was down-regulated by the apigenin diet. These results suggest that a diet containing apigenin can reduce serum IgE and inflammatory cytokines such as RANTES and sTNFRI in mice.     

Response of differentiated and degenerated spikelets to top-dressing,shading and day/night temperature treatments in rice cultivars with large panicles

The presence of large panicles enables to reach a sufficient number of surviving spikelets per unit area for further increase of rice yield. However, the response of differentiated and degenerated spikelets to environmental factors in terms of number in cultivars with large panicles has not been elucidated. By applying top-dressing at different rates and frequencies, shading, and day/night temperature treatments in pot experiments, we observed the response of the main stem in two cultivars with large panicles: Yangdao 4 (Chinese indica) and Akenohoshi (Japanese japonica-indica hybrid). The results showed that top-dressing increased the number of differentiated spikelets per panicle and decreased the percentage of degenerated spikelets. Consequently, the number of surviving spikelets per panicle increased. Shading increased the percentage of degenerated spikelets, resulting in the decrease of the number of surviving spikelets per panicle. Higher day/night temperature treatments led to a higher percentage of degenerated spikelets. The treatments affected mainly the spikelets on the secondary branches, while the number of spikelets on the primary branches did not change appreciably, irrespective of the presence of differentiated, degenerated, and surviving spikelets. The influence on the number of surviving spikelets per panicle depended on the number of differentiated spikelets. Shading effect on the percentage of degenerated spikelets also depended on the number of differentiated spikelets per panicle. The decrease of the percentage of degenerated spikelets was associated with the increase of the shoot dry weight (SDW) at heading and the ratio of SDW-differentiated spikelets. The SDW and N absorption at heading affected more significantly the number of surviving spikelets compared to the ratio of surviving spikelets-SDW and surviving spikelets-N, respectively. The above results were similar in Akenohoshi and Yangdao 4. In Akenohoshi, the percentage of degenerated spikelets responded much more conspicuously to the change of SDW or the ratio of SDW -differentiated spikelets than that in Yangdao 4. So did the number of surviving spikelets to SDW and N absorption at heading. Akenohoshi showed a higher ratio of surviving spikelets-N than Yangdao 4. These differences may account for the fact that Akenohoshi showed a larger number of surviving spikelets per panicle than Yangdao 4, even at the same levels of SDW and N absorption.     

Nutrient availability and response of sago palm (Metroxylon sago Rottb.) to controlled release N fertilizer on coastal lowland peat in the tropics

Sago palms (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) growing on peat soils were found to grow more slowly and to show a lower production than palms growing on mineral soils. This difference was related to the physical and chemical constraints of peat soils, which include low bulk density, high acidity, and low N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and Cu levels. In coastal lowland peat soils, the distance from the sea has been found to be an important determinant of soil elemental composition. We predicted that a sufficient supply of N at the rosette stage would improve sago palm growth and that the availability of N in soil to which controlled release N fertilizer was applied might be higher than that in soil treated with soluble fertilizer. To investigate the changes in the nutrient composition of peat soils at various distances from the sea and the effect on sago palm growth, we studied sago palm areas in Indonesia and Malaysia. To observe the influence of N on the growth performance, we also conducted a fertilizer experiment on coastal lowland peat soil in Indonesia. Distance from the sea had no significant effect on the cation concentration in the soil solution (with the exception of Mg) or on the levels of soil-exchangeable cations. No significant differences were observed between the concentrations of exchangeable cations in surface peat soils and those in mature leaves. However, the concentrations of K, Na, and Ca in mature leaves increased significantly with their concentrations in the soil solution. This finding implies that the concentrations of cations in sago palm leaves depend directly on the concentrations of cations in the soil solution. No significant effect of N fertilizers on plant height and leaf formation was observed. N fertilizers applied twice a year did not affect appreciably the foliar concentration of N determined in December 1998 (5 months after the initial application) and December 1999. In June 2000, we detected a significantly higher concentration of N (p < 0.01) in young leaves of the palms treated with LP-100 or urea than in control leaves. However, no significant difference was detected between the LP-100 and urea treatments in the concentration of N in both mature and young leaves. This finding indicated that the concentration of N in sago palm leaves increased with the level of soil-applied N, regardless of whether N was applied as controlled release fertilizer or in the soluble form. We anticipate that a significant difference in the effects of these N fertilizers may occur during the next rainy season, when there should be a considerable loss of soluble N.     

Preimplantation development of embryos in labrador retrievers

Preimplantation development of canine embryos is not well understood. To understand the timing of preattachment embryogenesis relative to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, early embryonic development was examined in Labrador Retrievers after artificial insemination. The embryos migrated from the oviduct to the uterus beginning on day 11 after the LH surge. This transport must be completed within 24 h. By day 13 after the LH surge, all of the embryos had moved and were localized in the uterus. The embryos developed to the morula stage within 11-13 days and to the blastocyst stage within 14 days after the LH surge, respectively. These findings add to the current understanding concerning the physiology of preimplantation development and should help further develop assisted reproductive techniques in canine species, such as cryopreservation and subsequent embryo transfer.     

Effects of small intestinal ischemia and reperfusion on expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 messenger RNAs in the jejunum, liver, and lungs of dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of intestinal ischemia and reperfusion on the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 mRNAs in the jejunum, liver, and lungs of dogs. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult Beagles. PROCEDURES: In each dog, the cranial mesenteric artery was occluded for 0 (control group; n=4) or 60 (I-R group; 4) minutes, followed by reperfusion for 480 minutes; serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 activities and expression levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNAs in jejunal, hepatic, and lung tissues were measured before and at the end of the ischemic period and at intervals during reperfusion. For each variable, values were compared between the control and I-R groups at each time point. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, serum IL-6 activity increased significantly after 180 minutes of reperfusion in the I-R group; also, jejunal TNF-alpha mRNA expression increased significantly after 60 (peak) and 180 minutes of reperfusion. In the I-R group, expressions of IL-6 mRNA in the liver and TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNAs in the lungs increased significantly at 480 minutes of reperfusion, compared with the control group. Serum TNF-alpha activity, expression of IL-6 mRNA in the jejunum, and expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in the liver in the control and I-R groups did not differ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that the liver, lungs, and jejunum contributed to the production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 after intestinal ischemia and reperfusion in dogs, suggesting that intestinal ischemia and reperfusion induce a systemic proinflammatory cytokine response in dogs.     

Effects of zinc on tissue uptake and toxicity of lead in Sprague Dawley rat

Lead (Pb) exposure occurs together with other metals including zinc (Zn). This study investigated the impact of Zn on Pb tissue accumulation and Pb-induced toxicities. Animals (n=6 rats per group) were exposed to lead acetate (PbAc) or a combination of PbAc and zinc acetate (ZnAc) under the following groups: control (deionized water), low PbAc [12 mg/kg PbAc (3 mg PbAc/rat/day)], low PbAc–ZnAc [12 mg/kg PbAc (3 mg PbAc/rat/day) + 0.2 mg ZnAc/rat/48 hr], high PbAc [120 mg/kg (30 mg PbAc/rat/day)], and high PbAc–ZnAc [120 mg/kg (30 mg PbAc/rat/day) + 1 mg ZnAc/rat/48 hr] for 8 weeks. A significant reduction in body weight gain was observed in the high PbAc group relative to the control group. Muscles and testes both had reduced and increased Pb uptake in low PbAc–ZnAc and high PbAc–ZnAc groups compared to PbAc only groups, respectively. Bone Pb levels in the high PbAc–ZnAc group were lower than the high PbAc group. Zinc co-administration attenuated Pb-induced inhibition of delta aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase enzyme and enhanced catalase enzyme activity at a high level of exposure. Moreover, ZnAc seems to have minimized the effects of Pb-induced mRNA dysregulation in antioxidant and antiapoptotic enzymes encoding genes. Heme oxygenase-1 was downregulated in the kidney and brain in the low PbAc group. Liver glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase-1 were downregulated in the high PbAc group. These findings suggest that zinc co-administration with lead may partially mitigate against Pb-induced toxicities.