The chalcone flavokawain B induces G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human oral carcinoma HSC-3 cells through the intracellular ROS generation and downregulation of the Akt/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

Chalcones have been described to represent cancer chemopreventive food components that are rich in fruits and vegetables. In this study, we examined the anti-oral cancer effect of flavokawain B (FKB), a naturally occurring chalcone isolated from Alpinia pricei (shell gingers), and revealed its molecular mechanism of action. Treatment of human oral carcinoma (HSC-3) cells with FKB (1.25-10 μg/mL; 4.4-35.2 μM) inhibited cell viability and caused G(2)/M arrest through reductions in cyclin A/B1, Cdc2, and Cdc25C levels. Moreover, FKB treatment resulted in the induction of apoptosis, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, mitochondria dysfunction, cytochrome c and AIF release, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation, and Bcl-2/Bax dysregulation. Furthermore, increased Fas activity and procaspase-8, procaspase-4, and procaspase-12 cleavages were accompanied by death receptor and ER-stress, indicating the involvement of mitochondria, death-receptor, and ER-stress signaling pathways. FKB induces apoptosis through ROS generation as evidenced by the upregulation of oxidative-stress markers HO-1/Nrf2. This mechanism was further confirmed by the finding that the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly blocked ROS generation and consequently inhibited FKB-induced apoptosis. Moreover, FKB downregulated the phosphorylation of Akt and p38 MAPK, while their inhibitors LY294002 and SB203580, respectively, induced G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis. The profound reduction in cell number was observed in combination treatment with FKB and Akt/p38 MAPK inhibitors, indicating that the disruption of Akt and p38 MAPK cascades plays a functional role in FKB-induced G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis in HSC-3 cells.     

Growth stimulating effect on queen bee larvae of histone deacetylase inhibitors

Royal jelly (RJ) is a widely used natural food. It is also a major source of nutrition for queen bees and plays a key role in their development. RJ is secreted from the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of young adult worker bees. The regulation of gene expression in these two glands may influence the development of queen bees by affecting the content of RJ. This study investigated the epigenetic effects in these two glands in young adult worker bees treated with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), and NBM-HD-1, a novel compound synthesized in this laboratory. Western blot analyses indicated that the levels of acetyl-histone 3 and p21 protein expression in MCF-7 cells increased markedly after treatment with NBM-HD-1. The data proved that NBM-HD-1 was a novel and potent HDACi. Furthermore, a method of affecting epigenetic regulation of the mrjp family gene in the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of young adult worker bees was developed by feeding young adult worker bees HDACi. Epigenetic regulation produced several important biological effects. A marked change in the protein composition of the RJ secreted from these treated bees was found. Only the ratio of specific major royal jelly protein 3 (MRJP3) was significantly altered in the treated bees versus the untreated controls. Other MRJP family proteins did not change. This alteration in the ratio of royal jelly proteins resulted in a significant increase in the body size of queen bee larvae. The data seem to suggest that HDACis may play an important role in the epigenetic regulation of the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of young adult worker bees. They appear to change mrjp3 gene expression and alter the ratio of MRJP3 protein in RJ. This study presents the first evidence that HDACis are capable of regulating the ratio of MRJP3 proteins in RJ, which has the potential to change the body size of queen bees during their development.     

Sulforaphane potentiates the efficacy of imatinib against chronic leukemia cancer stem cells through enhanced abrogation of Wnt/β-catenin function

Sulforaphane (SFN) has been indicated for the prevention and suppression of tumorigenesis in solid tumors. Herein, we evaluated SFN's effects on imatinib (IM)-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSCs). CD34(+)/CD38(-) and CD34(+)/CD38(+) LSCs were isolated from KU812 cell line flowcytometrically. Isolated LSCs showed high expression of Oct4, CD133, β-catenin, and Sox2 and IM resistance. Differentially, CD34(+)/CD38(-) LSCs demonstrated higher BCR-ABL and β-catenin expression and imatinib (IM) resistance than CD34(+)/CD38(+) counterparts. IM and SFN combined treatment sensitized CD34(+)/CD38(-) LSCs and induced apoptosis, shown by increased caspase 3, PARP, and Bax while decreased Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, the combined treatment reduced BCR-ABL and β-catenin and MDR-1 protein expression. Mechanistically, IM and SFN combined treatment resensitized LSCs by inducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, β-catenin-silenced LSCs exhibited reduced glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) expression and intracellular GSH level, which led to increased sensitivity toward IM and SFN. We demonstrated that IM and SFN combined treatment effectively eliminated CD34(+)/CD38(-) LSCs. Since SFN has been shown well tolerated in both animals and human, this regimen could be considered for clinical trials.     

Protective Effect of Deferricoprogen Isolated from Monascus purpureus NTU 568 on Citrinin-Induced Apoptosis in HEK-293 Cells

Monascus species have traditionally been used in Asian food, with rice as their fermentation substrate. Red mold rice (RMR) contains citrinin, a nephrotoxic agent capable of exerting oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis. We investigated the components in RMR that could minimize the adverse effects of citrinin. Combining chemical separations and bioactivity assays, we identified an antioxidative component called deferricoprogen (DFC) in the fermented rice of Monascus purpureus NTU 568. The DFC structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectra analysis. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging activity of DFC was similar to that of vitamin E. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometric analysis showed the effect of DFC and citrinin on cell viability and cell cycle. DFC was found to be protective against the cytotoxicity and cell death induced by citrinin on human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells. DFC also demonstrated anti-apoptotic property in preventing citrinin-induced apoptosis.     

植物诱抗剂AHO联合茎尖培养脱除马铃薯S病毒和马铃薯Y病毒

研究了植物诱抗剂3-丙酮基-3-羟基羟吲哚(3-acetonyl-3-hydroxyoxindole, AHO)联合茎尖培养从试管苗中脱除马铃薯S病毒(PVS)?马铃薯Y病毒(PVY)的方法和效率?取PVS侵染的‘定薯3号’和‘定薯4号’以及PVY侵染的‘靖薯3号’和‘靖薯4号’的壮芽, 茎尖剥离后培养至4~5个叶片, 用100 mg/L植物诱抗剂 AHO水剂喷施试管苗, 每隔2 d喷施一次, 共3次, 末次喷施2 d后取茎尖剥离培养, 获得再生试管苗?用电子显微镜负染色?ELISA?荧光定量RT-PCR检测再生试管苗的带病毒情况?结果显示, AHO对4个品种的马铃薯试管苗生长无影响, 用AHO处理后再茎尖剥离培养, 脱毒率均高于未处理的对照; 检测结果还显示AHO处理的马铃薯再生苗的带毒量也低于未处理的对照, 且随处理次数增加带毒量下降?研究结果表明, 利用植物诱抗剂AHO联合茎尖剥离培养方法可以提高脱除PVS?PVY的效率, 获得无病毒核心苗?     

菠萝采摘机械化的发展探索

本论文介绍了现今国内外农业果园采摘技术,分析了菠萝采摘技术研究发展的优势与不足。通过总结国外水果采摘的研究成果,分析了各种果园机械的优势特点及其发展现状,对菠萝产业机械化进行分析。针对菠萝地机械化作业在国内外尚处于发展起步期的现状,以及现今菠萝机械化存在的问题,本论文指出了菠萝机械化进程的研究方向和未来的发展趋势。     

不同产量水平的玉米田土壤无机氮时空分布与环境效应分析

采用大田试验方法,研究了肥力和管理水平不同,最终产量水平差异也较大的低产田、常规田和高产田整个玉米生长季0-100 cm土壤剖面硝态氮的时空分布特征.结果表明,3个处理由于管理措施和土壤基础地力的差异,土壤水分的时空分布存在明显不同,且由于高产田有机肥以及较高氮肥量的投入,在玉米各个关键生育期0-100 cm土体中的硝态氮累积总量显著高于常规田和低产田.而常规田与低产田相比较,前者0-100 cm土体硝态氮的累积总量可以达到后者的1～3倍.对环境效应的分析结果表明,较高的氮肥投入对于高密度种植条件下实现玉米高产是必要的,但同时也增加了环境污染的风险.     

Production of antibodies for selective detection of malachite green and the related triphenylmethane dyes in fish and fishpond water

This study provides a practical method for production of the antibodies against malachite green (MG) and its primary metabolite leucomalachite green (LMG). Two ELISA kits are constructed with the MG and LMG antibodies for detection of the residual MG and LMG in fish muscle and fishpond water. The detection limit is established at the level of 0.05 microg/L for both MG and LMG. Our ELISA kits show the advantages of good specificity, high sensitivity, and convenience in rapid screening of MG and LMG residues. The sample of fishpond water, without extraction or prior preparation, is directly assayed by the ELISA kit. More then 80 fish samples can be simultaneously tested in a kit. The toxic crystal violet and its metabolite leucocrystal violet of illegal use in aquaculture are detected by our prepared MG and LMG antibodies, whereas the antibodies do not cross-react with common antibiotics, sulfonamides, and benzene derivatives.     

Uneven distribution of two potyviruses (feathery mottle virus and sweet potato latent virus) in sweet potato plants and its implication on virus indexing of meristem derived plants

Abstract

The distribution of two sweet potato potyviruses, FMV and SPLV, was assessed in three plants infected with both viruses and in one plant infected with FMV only. All leaves, the top and basal sections of the main stem, and branch sections were tested by ELISA. Both symptomless leaves and leaves showing symptoms including purple rings, chlorotic spots, mottle or discoloration were found to contain the viruses. However, neither could be detected in every leaf or stem piece. SPLV was found in a lower proportion of leaf and stem samples than FMV. This indicates that the two viruses are either very unevenly distributed within sweet potato plants or that the virus concentration in some parts is below the detectable level. Testing of each leaf is recommended for reliable virus indexing of small, meristem‐derived sweet potato plantlets, if the ELISA method is used. Additional indexing of all ELISA‐negative materials by grafting to susceptible indicator plants is nevertheless still necessary.     

Winter cover cropping influence on nitrogen mineralization,presidedress soil nitrate test,and corn yields

The mineralization and availability of cover crop N to the succeeding crop are critical components in the management of soil N to reduce N leaching. The effects of several leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops on soil N availability, N mineralization potential, and corn (Zea mays L.) yield were examined. The cover crops had variable effects on soil N availability and corn yield and N uptake. Because of the rapid mineralization of the cover crops following incorporation, the inorganic N levels in the soil sampled in mid-May 1992 (4 weeks after incorporation of cover crops), rather than the potentially mineralizable N, rate constants, initial potential mineralization rate, or cumulative N mineralized over 14 weeks, correlated well with N concentrations, C:N ratios, or the N added in the cover crops. However, the inclusion of potentially mineralizable N with inorganic N in a multiple regression improved the variability in the corn yield and the N uptake accounted for. Since extensive mineralization had occurred before the 21 May sampling, the potentially mineralizable N was affected more by the soil organic N and C than by the N concentrations of the cover crops. The presidedress NO₃ ^--N test levels were well predicted by the inorganic and potentially mineralizable N (R ²=0.89, P<0.01), although the test levels were better in predicting corn yield and N uptake. If the available soil N test needs to be made earlier than recommended by the presidedress NO₃ ^--N test, both inorganic and potentially mineralizable N are needed to better predict the corn yield and N uptake in the soils.