基因工程在改善植物油营养价值中的应用

本文介绍了近年来应用基因工程技术对植物油的脂肪酸成分进行改造, 进而生产有益于健康的食用油所取得的进展。近10年来, 应用基因修饰的方法对植物油进行营养学方面的改良已经取得了很大的进展, 随着植物脂肪酸生物合成途径的日趋明确, 通过转基因技术可以让植物生产许多含有特殊脂肪酸成分且对人类健康有益的植物油。     

植物脂肪酸脱饱和酶特性及转基因研究进展

脂肪酸代谢是有机体的基本代谢之一。植物体内首先合成的是饱和脂肪酸,然后在脂肪酸脱饱和酶作用下形成不饱和脂肪酸。目前已经从很多植物中克隆到了脂肪酸合成相关的酶,并对其功能进行了鉴定。详细介绍了近年来应用基因工程技术对植物油中不饱和脂肪酸含量和组分进行改造所取得的进展,并对其在植物抗性育种中的应用进行了展望。     

脂肪酸脱饱和的应用进展

脂肪酸脱饱和是由脂肪酸脱饱和酶所催化的不饱和脂肪酸合成途径的关键步骤。脂肪酸脱饱和酶分为脂酰CoA脱饱和酶、脂酰ACP脱饱和酶和脂酰脂脱饱和酶等三类。近年来脂肪酸脱饱和遗传操作在植物抗寒育种、植物油基因工程、食品工程、微生物发酵工程和植物抗害育种等方面的应用研究均取得了相当进展。     

脂肪酸脱饱和的应用进展

脂肪酸脱饱和是由脂肪酸脱饱和酶所催化的不饱和脂肪酸合成途径的关键步骤。脂肪酸脱饱和酶分为脂酰CoA脱饱和酶、脂酰ACP脱饱和酶和脂酰脂脱饱和酶等三类。近年来脂肪酸脱饱和遗传操作在植物抗寒育种、植物油基因工程、食品工程、微生物发酵工程和植物抗害育种等方面的应用研究均取得了相当进展。     

植物脂肪酸合成基因工程动态

植物脂肪酸合成基因工程动态林定松,罗闰良（湖南省农业科学院,长沙４１０１２５）前言植物脂肪酸是植物油的主要成分,是一类十分重要的植物代谢产物,已广泛用作工业产品的原料。世界上生产的植物油,约三分之二食用,近三分之一用于非食用制品,如润滑剂、增塑剂、表...     

利用基因工程改良植物脂肪酸和提高植物含油量的研究进展

植物脂肪酸和三酰甘油具有重要生理功能以及巨大的食用和工业价值,其生物合成途径较为复杂。近年来,植物脂肪酸和三酰甘油合成代谢途径的研究取得了很大进展,在多种植物中克隆了脂肪酸和三酰甘油合成代谢途径中的关键酶基因,同时发现一些转录因子在调控植物脂肪酸含量和组成中具有重要作用,并在此基础上开展了利用基因工程改良植物脂肪酸和提高植物含油量的研究,取得了一定的进展。以下系统介绍了植物脂肪酸和三酰甘油合成代谢途径中的关键酶基因以及在调控植物脂肪酸含量和组成中具有重要作用的转录因子,综述了基因工程研究所取得的成果,并对其应用前景进行了展望。     

基因工程在能源植物改良中的应用

利用基因工程技术改良能源植物,对降低能源植物向生物燃料(生物乙醇、生物柴油)的转化成本、提高能源转化效率有着非常重要的意义。目前,基因工程技术已被广泛应用于提高植物总的生物产量、降低或改变植物木质素的含量与成分、在植物体中大量表达纤维素降解酶、提高油料植物的产油量以及改变植物油酯的组成成分等方面的研究。概述了利用基因工程技术在以上方面对能源植物进行改良已取得的进展,讨论了现存问题及未来的发展前景。     

低温胁迫对类囊体膜脂代谢的影响

类囊体膜主要由膜脂、膜蛋白及一些光合色素等成分组成,它是植物进行光合作用的场所.低温能通过影响类囊体膜的结构而影响植物的光合作用.简述了类囊体膜的组成和功能,以及低温胁迫下类囊体膜脂及其脂肪酸组成的变化.简要介绍了膜脂与光抑制的关系,以及利用分子生物学手段研究三烯脂肪酸与植物抗冷性关系的相关进展.     

改进植物油的遗传工程:潜力和局限

植物产生的油是一大类可再生的资源.全世界生产的植物油大约有6千万吨,价值2百亿美元以上.在美国,生产的全部植物油的三分之二是由人类和动物消耗的.其余的部分在工业部门有十分广泛的用途.一种油的脂肪酸组分决定着其物理和化学性质,也因而决定其用途.主要食用油有比较相似的脂肪酸组成,其中,具有1至3个双键的十八碳脂肪酸占优势.这样,对许多食用目的来说,各种主要油源是可以互换的,它们的消耗量和在市场上的竞争状况在很大程度上取决于其价格.     

植物脂肪酸的生物合成与基因工程

植物脂肪酸既具重要生理功能,又有巨大食用和工业价值。其生物合成途径较为复杂,涉及乙酰_CoA羧化酶、脂肪酸合成酶、脂肪酸去饱和酶和脂肪酸延长酶等一系列酶。近年来,对脂肪酸生物合成途径进行了大量研究,克隆出许多相关基因,初步阐明了脂肪酸合成规律,并在此基础上开展了利用基因工程技术调控脂肪酸合成研究,取得可喜进展。本文详细介绍了植物饱和脂肪酸、不饱和脂肪酸和超长链脂肪酸的生物合成与基因工程研究的新结果。     

Upstream and downstream strategies to economize biodiesel production

In recent years biodiesel has drawn considerable amount of attention as a clean and renewable fuel. Biodiesel is produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils and animal fat mainly through catalytic or non-catalytic transesterification method as well as supercritical method. However, as a consequence of disadvantages of these methods, the production cost increases dramatically. This article summarizes different biodiesel production methods with a focus on their advantages and disadvantages. The downstream and upstream strategies such as using waste cooking oils, application of non-edible plant oils, plant genetic engineering, using membrane separation technology for biodiesel production, separation and purification, application of crude glycerin as an energy supplement for ruminants, glycerin ultra-purification and their consequent roles in economizing the production process are fully discussed in this article.     

Plant essential oils synergize various pyrethroid insecticides and antagonize malathion in Aedes aegypti

Pyrethroid resistance is a significant threat to agricultural, urban and public health pest control activities. Because economic incentives for the production of novel active ingredients for the control of public health pests are lacking, this field is particularly affected by the potential failure of pyrethroid‐based insecticides brought about by increasing pyrethroid resistance. As a result, innovative approaches are desperately needed to overcome insecticide resistance, particularly in mosquitoes that transmit deadly and debilitating pathogens. Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of plant essential oils to enhance the efficacy of pyrethroids. The toxicity of pyrethroids combined with plant oils is significantly greater than the baseline toxicity of either oils or pyrethroids applied alone, which suggests there are synergistic interactions between components of these mixtures. The present study examined the potential of eight plant essential oils applied in one of two concentrations (1% and 5%) to enhance the toxicity of various pyrethroids (permethrin, natural pyrethrins, deltamethrin and β‐cyfluthrin). The various plant essential oils enhanced the pyrethroids to differing degrees. The levels of enhancement provided by combinations of plant essential oils and pyrethroids in comparison with pyrethroids alone were calculated and synergistic outcomes characterized. Numerous plant essential oils significantly synergized a variety of pyrethroids; type I pyrethroids were synergized to a greater degree than type II pyrethroids. Eight plant essential oils significantly enhanced 24‐h mortality rates provided by permethrin and six plant essential oils enhanced 24‐h mortality rates obtained with natural pyrethrins. By contrast, only three plant essential plants significantly enhanced the toxicity of deltamethrin and β‐cyfluthrin. Of the plant essential oils that enhanced the toxicity of these pyrethroids, some produced varying levels of synergism and antagonism. Geranium, patchouli and Texas cedarwood oils produced the highest levels of synergism, displaying co‐toxicity factors of > 100 in some combinations. To assess the levels of enhancement and synergism of other classes of insecticide, malathion was also applied in combination with the plant oils. Significant antagonism was provided by a majority of the plant essential oils applied in combination with this insecticide, which suggests that plant essential oils may act to inhibit the oxidative activation processes within exposed adult mosquitoes.     

植物单萜合酶研究进展

单萜广泛存在于植物树脂和挥发油中,在植物生长发育和进化过程中发挥着重要作用,且在医药和生态农业等方面有着重要应用.这类物质是由质体内的5-磷酸脱氧木酮糖(1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate,DXP)途径合成,单萜合酶(monoterpene synthases,mono-TPS)是单萜生物合成的关键酶,决定了单萜结构的多样性.综述了植物单萜合酶催化机理、系统发育与谱系分化、基因表达调控、基因克隆及代谢工程等方面的研究进展,探讨了其生态学研究意义和发展前景.     

栽培地区、采收季节和株龄对迷迭香精油成分和抑菌活性的影响

采用气相色谱-质谱联用的方法,研究了不同提取部位、栽培地区、采收季节和株龄对迷迭香精油提取率、成分和抑菌活性的影响。结果表明,在贵州栽培的迷迭香叶子中精油的主要成分为α-蒎烯（31.88%–39.09%）、1,8-桉叶素（8.82%–10.97%）和樟脑（7.63%–11.59%）;茎中精油的主要成分为龙脑（26.62%–39.05%）、樟脑（11.41%–15.27%）和α-蒎烯（7.23%–17.80%）;茎中精油的抑菌活性强于叶中精油。北京地区栽培的迷迭香,其叶子中精油的主要成分为樟脑（27.92%）和L-β-蒎烯（25.28%）,抑菌活性强;茎中精油和贵州栽培的成分和活性均相似。对于采收季节,夏季采收的迷迭香精油提取率高,抑菌活性强。而株龄对精油的成分和抑菌活性影响不大。该研究为我国引种迷迭香的合理配置栽培、采收、生产条件和高效开发利用其抑菌活性提供了科学的依据。     

Strategies for transgenic manipulation of monoterpene biosynthesis in plants

Monoterpenes, the C(10) isoprenoids, are a large family of natural products that are best known as constituents of the essential oils and defensive oleoresins of aromatic plants. In addition to ecological roles in pollinator attraction, allelopathy and plant defense, monoterpenes are used extensively in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The importance of these plant products has prompted the definition of many monoterpene biosynthetic pathways, the cloning of the relevant genes and the development of genetic transformation techniques for agronomically significant monoterpene-producing plants. Metabolic engineering of monoterpene biosynthesis in the model plant peppermint has resulted in yield increase and compositional improvement of the essential oil, and also provided strategies for manipulating flavor and fragrance production, and plant defense.     

Plant active components – a resource for antiparasitic agents?

Plant essential oils (and/or active components) can be used as alternatives or adjuncts to current antiparasitic therapies. Garlic oil has broad-spectrum activity against Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Giardia and Leishmania, and Cochlospermum planchonii and Croton cajucara oils specifically inhibit Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania amazonensis, respectively. Some plant oils have immunomodulatory effects that could modify host-parasite immunobiology, and the lipid solubility of plant oils might offer alternative, transcutaneous delivery routes. The emergence of parasites resistant to current chemotherapies highlights the importance of plant essential oils as novel antiparasitic agents.     

Current and Potential Biofuel Production from Plant Oils

Environmental concerns and depletion of fossil fuels along with government policies have led to the search for alternative fuels from various renewable and sustainable feedstocks. This review provides a critical overview of the chemical composition of common commercial plant oils, i.e., palm oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, castor oil, WCO, and CTO and their recent trends toward potential biofuel production. Plant oils with a high energy content are primarily composed of triglycerides (generally >?95%), accompanied by diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids. The heat content of plant oils is close to 90% for diesel fuels. The oxygen content is the most important difference in chemical composition between fossil oils and plant oils. Triglycerides can even be used directly in diesel engines. However, their high viscosity, low volatility, and poor cold flow properties can lead to engine problems. These problems require that plant oils need to be upgraded if they are to be used as a fuel in conventional diesel engines. Biodiesel, biooil, and renewable diesel are the three major biofuels obtained from plant oils. The main constraint associated with the production of biodiesel is the cost and sustainability of the feedstock. The renewable diesel obtained from crude tall oil is more sustainable than biofuels obtained from other feedstocks. The fuel properties of renewable diesel are similar to those of fossil fuels with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In this review, the chemical composition of common commercial plant oils, i.e., palm oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, castor oil, and tall oil, are presented. Both their major and minor components are discussed. Their compositions and fuel properties are compared to both fossil fuels and biofuels.     

Volatile constituents of Aristolochia argentina

The essential oils from leaves, aerial stems and underground organs of Aristolochia argentina Gris., a medicinal plant popularly known as "charrúa", were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Forty-three components were identified in the oils. All parts of the plant afforded volatile oils characterized by high levels of argentilactone (57-89%) and the presence of undecatriene isomers (0.3-4.0%), these latter compounds providing the essential oils and extracts with an intense particular odor. Terpenes account for the remaining portion of the essential oils (5-29%). Bicyclogermacrene predominates in the aerial parts of the plant, whereas ishwarane is the main terpene of the subterranean organs. Argentilactone, a suspected carcinogenic compound, was also identified in a medicinal commercial tincture of A. argentina.     

Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers from mixtures of plant oils and 3-hydroxyvalerate precursors

The combination of plant oils and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) precursors were evaluated for the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers containing 3HV monomers by Cupriavidus necator H16. Among various mixtures of plant oils and 3HV-precursors, the mixture of palm kernel oil and sodium propionate was suitable for the biosynthesis of high concentration of PHA (6.8gL(-1)) containing 7mol% of 3HV. The 3HV monomer composition can be regulated in the range of 0-23mol% by changing culture parameters such as the initial pH, and the nitrogen source and its concentration. PHA copolymers with high weight-average molecular weights (Mw) ranging from 1,400,000 to 3,100,000Da were successfully produced from mixtures of plant oils and 3HV-precursors. The mixture of plant oils and sodium propionate resulted in PHA copolymers with higher M(w) compared to the mixture of plant oils and sodium valerate. DSC analysis on the PHA containing 3HV monomers showed the presence of two distinct melting temperature (Tm), which indicated that the PHA synthesized might be a blend of P(3HB) and P(3HB-co-3HV). Sodium propionate appears to be the better precursor of 3HV than sodium valerate.