Effect of cysteine,glutamate and glycine supplementation to in vitro fertilization medium during bovine early embryo development

Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant synthesized from three constitutive amino acids (CAA): cysteine (Cys), glycine (Gly) and glutamate (Glu). Glutathione plays an important role in oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryo development. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Cys (0.6 mM), Gly (0.6 mM) and Glu (0.9 mM) supplementation during in vitro fertilization (IVF) of cattle oocytes. In a Pilot Experiment, de novo synthesis of GSH in bovine zygote was evaluated using a modified TALP medium prepared without MEM-essential and MEM-non-essential amino acids (mTALP): mTALP + CAA (constitutive amino acids); mTALP + CAA+5 mMBSO (buthionine sulfoximide); mTALP + Cys + Gly; mTALP + Cys + Glu and mTALP + Gly + Glu. This evidence led us to investigate the impact of CAA supplementation to TALP medium (with essential and non-essential amino acids) on zygote viability, lipid peroxidation, total intracellular GSH content (include reduced and oxidized form; GSH-GSSG), pronuclear formation in zygotes and subsequent embryo development. IVF media contained a) TALP; b) TALP + Cys + Gly + Glu (TALP + CAA); c) TALP + Cys + Gly; d) TALP + Cys + Glu; e) TALP + Gly + Glu, were used. Total GSH-GSSG concentration was increased in TALP, TALP + CAA, and TALP + Cys + Gly. The viability of zygote was similar among treatments. Lipid peroxidation was increased in zygote fertilized with TALP + Cys + Gly; TALP + Cys + Glu; TALP + Gly + Glu and TALP + CAA. The percentage of penetrated oocytes decreased in TALP + CAA and TALP + Cys + Gly. The cleavage rate was lower in TALP + CAA and TALP + Gly + Glu. The percentage of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage was lower in TALP + Cys + Glu and TALP + CAA. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the synthesis of GSH during IVF. However, Cys, Gly and Glu supplementation to TALP medium had negative effects on embryonic development.     

Root uptake, transport, and metabolism of externally applied glutathione in Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings

The most abundant thiol in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Saxa) is the tripeptide homoglutathione (hGSH) rather than glutathione (GSH). At the whole-plant level the GSH content is less than 0.5% of the hGSH content. In the present study GSH was supplied to the roots of bean seedlings to test whether GSH can be taken up by roots and transported to the shoot. Therefore, 12-day-old plants were exposed to 1 mmol/L GSH for 4, 8 and 24 h prior to harvest. In response to this GSH exposure, elevated GSH contents were found in all tissues. After 4 h the GSH content increased in the roots from 1 +/- 1 to 22 +/- 2 nmol GSH g(-1) fresh weight (FW), in the leaves from 2 +/- 1 to 9 +/- 4 nmol GSH g(-1) FW, and in the apex from 30 +/- 5 to 75 +/- 4 nmol GSH g(-1) FW. These data indicate that GSH is taken up by bean roots and is transported to above above-ground parts of the plants. Roots exposed to GSH for 24 h contained 2-fold higher cysteine (Cys) and hGSH contents than the controls. Apparently, GSH taken up by the roots is not only loaded into the xylem but also partially degraded and used for hGSH synthesis.     

Cysteine, gamma-Glutamylcysteine, and Glutathione Levels in Maize Seedlings : Distribution and Translocation in Normal and Cadmium-Exposed Plants

The levels of cysteine (Cys), γ-glutamylcysteine (γEC), and glutathione (GSH) were measured in the endosperms, scutella, roots, and shoots of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. GSH was the major thiol in roots, shoots, and scutella, Cys predominated in endosperms. The endosperm, scutellum, and functional phloem translocation were required for maintenance of GSH pools in roots and shoots of 6-day-old seedlings. Exposure of roots to 3 micromolar Cd, besides causing a decline in GSH, caused an accumulation of γEC, as if the activity of GSH synthetase was reduced in vivo. [³⁵S]Cys injected into endosperms of seedlings was partly metabolized to [³⁵S]sulfate. The scutella absorbed both [³⁵S]sulfate and [³⁵S]Cys and transformed 68 to 87% of the radioactivity into [³⁵S]GSH. [³⁵S]GSH was translocated to roots and shoots in proportion to the tissue fresh weight. Taken together, the data supported the hypothesis that Cys from the endosperm is absorbed by the scutellum and used to synthesize GSH for transfer through the phloem to the root and shoot. The estimated flux of GSH to the roots was 35 to 60 nanomoles per gram per hour, which totally accounted for the small gain in GSH in roots between days 6 and 7. For Cd-treated roots the GSH influx was similar, yet the GSH pool did not recover to control levels within 24 hours. The estimated flux of GSH to the entire shoot was like that to the roots; however, it was low (11-13 nanomoles per gram per hour) to the first leaf and high (76-135 nanomoles per gram per hour) to the second and younger leaves.     

Regulation of sulfate uptake and xylem loading of poplar roots (Populus tremula x P. alba)

Sulfate transport processes and its regulation were studied in roots of poplar trees (Populus tremula x P. alba). From the exponential increase in sulfate uptake with temperature an activation energy (E_a) of 9.0±0.8 kJ mol^–1 was calculated. In the concentration range 0.005–10 mM sulfate uptake showed biphasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K_m of 3.2±3.4 M and a V_max of 49±11 nmol SO₄^2– g^–1 FW h^–1 for the high-affinity uptake system (phase 1) and a K_m of 1.33±0.41 mM and a V_max of 255±25 nmol SO₄^2– g^–1 FW h^–1 for the low-affinity system (phase 2). Xylem loading decreased linearly with temperature and remained unchanged within the sulfate concentration range studied. Regulation of sulfate uptake and xylem loading by O-acetyl serine (OAS), Cys, reduced glutathione (GSH), Met and S-methylmethionine (SMM) were tested by perfusion into the xylem sap with the pressure probe and by addition to the incubation medium. When added directly to the transport medium, Cys and GSH repressed, and OAS stimulated sulfate uptake; xylem loading was stimulated by Cys, repressed by GSH and only slightly affected by OAS. When perfused into the xylem, none of the compounds tested affected sulfate uptake of excised roots, but xylem loading was stimulated by SMM and OAS and repressed by Met. Apparently, the site of application strongly determined the effect of regulatory compounds of sulfate transport processes.     

Compound amino acids added in media improved Solanum nigrum L. phytoremediating CD-PAHS contaminated soil

Cd hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L. was a promising plant used to simultaneously remediate Cd-PAHs combined pollution soil through its extra accumulation capacity and rhizosphere degradation. This article compared the strengthening remediation role of cysteine (Cys), glycine (Gly) and glutamic acid (Glu) with EDTA and TW80. The results showed that the addition of 0.03 mmol L^?1 Cys, Gly, and Glu didn't significantly impact (p < 0.05) shoot biomass of S. nigrum, but obviously increased Cd concentration. Therefore, Cd capacity (µg pot^?1) in shoots of S. nigrum was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 37.7% compared to the control without reagent added. At the meantime, the PAHs degradation ratio in rhizoshpere was increased by 34.5%. Basically, the improving role of Cys, Gly, and Glu was higher than EDTA and TW80. The main reasons of enhanced the accumulation of S. nigrum to Cd might lie in the addition of Cys, Gly, and Glu which reduced pH and increased extractable Cd concentration in rhizosphere and phytochelatines (PCs) concentration in leaves. As for the degradation of PAHs in rhizosphere, increased microorganism number might be play important role.     

Metabolic requirements associated with GSH synthesis during in vitro maturation of cattle oocytes

Glutathione (GSH) concentration increases in bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM). The constitutive amino acids involved in GSH synthesis are glycine (Gly), glutamate (Glu) and cysteine (Cys). The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the availability of glucose, Cys, Gly and Glu on GSH synthesis during IVM. The effect of the amino acid serine (Ser) on intracellular reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) content in both oocytes and cumulus cells was also studied. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) of cattle obtained from ovaries collected from an abattoir were matured in synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium containing 8 mg/ml bovine serum albumin-fatty acid-free (BSA-FAF), 10 microg/ml LH, 1 microg/ml porcine FSH (pFSH) and 1 microg/ml 17 beta-estradiol (17beta-E2). GSH/GSSG content was measured using a double-beam spectrophotometer. The COC were cultured in SOF supplemented with 1.5mM or 5.6mM glucose (Exp. 1); with or without Cys+Glu+Gly (Exp. 2); with the omission of one constitutive GSH amino acid (Exp. 3); with 0.6mM Cys or Cys+Ser (Exp. 4). The developmental capacity of oocytes matured in IVM medium supplemented with Cys and the cell number per blastocyst were determined (Exp. 5). The results reported here indicate (1) no differences in the intracellular GSH/GSSG content at any glucose concentrations. Also, cumulus cell number per COC did not differ either before or after IVM (Exp. 1). (2) Glutathione content in oocytes matured in SOF alone were significantly different from oocytes incubated with SOF supplemented with Cys+Glu+Gly (Exp. 2). (3) Addition of Cys to maturation medium, either with or without Gly and Glu supplementation resulted in an increase of GSH/GSSG content. However, when Cys was omitted from the IVM medium intracellular GSH in oocytes or cumulus cells was less but not significantly altered compared to SOF alone (Exp. 3). (4) Glutathione content in both oocytes and cumulus cells was significantly reduced by incubation with 5mM Ser (Exp.4). (5) There was a significant increase in cleavage and blastocyst rates when Cys was added to maturation medium. In contrast, the cleavage, morula and blastocyst rates were significantly different when 5mM Ser was added to maturation media. There was also a significant difference in mean cell number per blastocyst, obtained from oocytes matured with 5mM Ser (Exp. 5). This study provides evidence that optimal embryo development in vitro is partially dependent on the presence of precursor amino acids for intracellular GSH production. Moreover, the availability of Cys might be a critical factor for GSH synthesis during IVM in cattle oocytes. Greater Ser concentration in IVM medium altered "normal" intracellular GSH in both oocytes and cumulus cells with negative consequences for subsequent developmental capacity.     

Efficient production of glutathione in Saccharomyces cerevisiae via a synthetic isozyme system

Glutathione, a tripeptide consisting of cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine, has multiple beneficial effects on human health. Previous studies have focused on producing glutathione in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by overexpressing γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) and glutathione synthetase (GSH2), which are the rate-limiting enzymes involved in the glutathione biosynthetic pathway. However, the production yield and titer of glutathione remain low due to the feedback inhibition on GSH1. To overcome this limitation, a synthetic isozyme system consisting of a novel bifunctional enzyme (GshF) from Gram-positive bacteria possessing both GSH1 and GSH2 activities, in addition to GSH1/GSH2, was introduced into S. cerevisiae, as GshF is insensitive to feedback inhibition. Given the HSP60 chaperonin system mismatch between bacteria and S. cerevisiae, co-expression of Group-I HSP60 chaperonins (GroEL and GroES) from Escherichia coli was required for functional expression of GshF. Among various strains constructed in this study, the SKSC222 strain capable of synthesizing glutathione with the synthetic isozyme system produced 240 mg L^-1 glutathione with glutathione content and yield of 4.3% and 25.6 mg_glutathione/g_glucose, respectively. These values were 6.6-, 4.9-, and 4.3-fold higher than the corresponding values of the wild-type strain. In a glucose-limited fed-batch fermentation, the SKSC222 strain produced 2.0 g L^-1 glutathione in 67 h. Therefore, this study highlights the benefits of the synthetic isozyme system in enhancing the production titer and yield of value-added chemicals by engineered strains of S. cerevisiae.     

Anthraquinones production,hydrogen peroxide level and antioxidant vitamins in Morinda elliptica cell suspension cultures from intermediary and production medium strategies

The effects of medium strategies [maintenance (M), intermediary (G), and production (P) medium] on cell growth, anthraquinone (AQ) production, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant vitamins in Morinda elliptica cell suspension cultures were investigated. These were compared with third-stage leaf and 1-month-old callus culture. With P medium strategy, cell growth at 49 g l^–1, intracellular AQ content at 42 mg g^–1 DW, and H₂O₂ level at 9 mol g^–1 FW medium were the highest as compared to the others. However, the extent of lipid peroxidation at 40.4 nmol g^–1 FW and total carotenoids at 13.3 mg g^–1 FW for cultures in P medium were comparable to that in the leaf, which had registered sevenfold lower AQ and 2.2-fold lower H₂O₂ levels. Vitamin C content at 30–120 g g^–1 FW in all culture systems was almost half the leaf content. On the other hand, vitamin E content was around 400–500 g g^–1 FW in 7-day-old cultures from all medium strategies and reduced to 50–150 g g^–1 FW on day 14 and 21; as compared to 60 g g^–1 FW in callus and 200 g g^–1 FW in the leaf. This study suggests that medium strategies and cell growth phase in cell culture could influence the competition between primary and secondary metabolism, oxidative stresses and antioxidative measures. When compared with the leaf metabolism, these activities are dynamic depending on the types and availability of antioxidants.Abbreviations AQ Anthraquinone - DW Dry cell weight - FW Fresh cell weight - G Intermediary medium - M Maintenance medium - MDA Malondialdehyde - P Production medium - ROS Reactive oxygen species - TBA Thiobarbituric acid - t_d Doubling time     

Salinization and wastewater effects on the growth and some cell contents of Scenedesmus bijugatus

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of salinization and wastewater stresses on the growth, some cellular contents (total soluble proteins, total soluble carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and amino acids composition) and ultrastructure using TEM of unicellular green alga Scenedesmus bijugatus. Treatment of S. bijugatus by NaCl at 10 and 50 mg L⁻¹ significantly increased the growth of this alga and its cellular macro-molecules. While, treatment above this concentration with NaCl significantly inhibited the growth and cellular macro-molecules. On the other hand, treatment by NaCl at the pre-lethal concentration (300 mg L⁻¹) had different effects on its detected amino acids. Whereas, Asp. Acid, Pro, Cys, Val, Iso-leu, leu, Phe.ala and Lys were slightly stimulated with salinization treatment. On contrast the levels of amino acids: Thr, Ser, Glu.acid, Gly, Ala, Mth, His and Arg were markedly inhibited. Ultrastructure examination of treated S. bijugatus by 300 mg L⁻¹ of NaCl for 8 days showed increase of starch granules, shrinkage of cell contents and thickening of cell wall. The recorded data indicated also that treatment by wastewater with all concentrations led to stimulatory effects on their growth and cellular macro-molecules except at 100% wastewater which had inhibitory effects on Asp., Gly., Thr., Ser., Pro., Glu., Ala., Meth., and Cyst., of S. bijugatus. Also, wastewater induced a slight change in the treated S. bijugatus as elevation in starch granules and presence of thylakoid membranes although not clear as in the control.     

Uptake and Translocation of Tri- and Hexa-Valent Chromium and Their Effects on Black Gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper cv. Co4) Roots

An equal concentration (100 μM) of Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-induced changes in activities of antioxidative enzymes and metabolites of ascorbate-glutathione cycle was studied in 7-d-old black gram (Vigna mungo L Hepper cv. Co4) seedlings for 5-d after infliction of Cr stress. Seeds were germinated and grown in the presence or absence of Cr under controlled environmental conditions. Uptake and translocation of Cr rate was relatively higher during first 12 h of treatment with both speciation of Cr, Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-treated black gram roots retained 15 times more Cr than the shoots. Significantly increased lipid peroxidation was observed in the form of accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) molecule and superoxide (O₂ ) radical after 6 h of infliction with Cr(VI) and after 12 h in Cr(III)-treated black gram roots. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were significantly increased under Cr(VI)-treatment after 12 and 6 h, respectively. However, catalase (CAT) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities were not significantly increased under Cr(Ill)-treatment. There was a steep increase of 2.71 μmol g^-1 FW in ascorbic acid (AA) content was observed between 6 and 24 h of Cr(VI)-treatment. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content was steadily increased through the course of Cr(III)- and Cr(VI)-treatments, where as reduced glutathione (GSH) level was decreased after 24 h of treatment. GSH/GSSG ratio was rapidly decreased in treatment with Cr(III) than the Cr(VI). There was significant increase of 99 nmol g^-1 FW in non-protein thiol (NPT) content was recorded between 6 and 24 h of Cr(VI)-treatment. The present results showed differential response to AA and H₂O₂ signaling by Cr(III) and Cr(VI), AA in combination with APX was more effective in mitigating oxidative stress as against the role of GSH as an antioxidant.     

Assessment of the preventive effect of vermicompost on salinity resistance in tomato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum lycopersicum</Emphasis> cv. Ailsa Craig)

To determine the effects of vermicompost leachate (VCL) on resistance to salt stress in plants, young tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Ailsa Craig) were exposed to salinity (150 mM NaCl addition to nutrient solution) for 7 days after or during 6 mL L^??1 VCL application. Salt stress significantly decreased leaf fresh and dry weights, reduced leaf water content, significantly increased root and leaf Na⁺ concentrations, and decreased K⁺ concentrations. Salt stress decreased stomatal conductance (g_s), net photosynthesis (A), instantaneous transpiration (E), maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry in the dark-adapted state (F_v/F_m), photochemical quenching (qP), and actual PSII photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII). VCL applied during salt stress increased leaf fresh weight and g_s, but did not reduce leaf osmotic potential, despite increased proline content in salt-treated plants. VCL reduced Na⁺ concentrations in leaves (by 21.4%), but increased them in roots (by 16.9%). VCL pre-treatment followed by salt stress was more efficient than VCL concomitant to salt stress, since VCL pre-treatment provided the greatest osmotic adjustment recorded, with maintenance of net photosynthesis and K⁺/Na⁺ ratios following salt stress. VCL pre-treatment also led to the highest proline content in leaves (50 µmol g^??1 FW) and the highest sugar content in roots (9.2 µmol g^??1 FW). Fluorescence-related parameters confirmed that VCL pre-treatment of salt-stressed plants showed higher PSII stability and efficiency compared to plants under concomitant VCL and salt stress. Therefore, VCL represents an efficient protective agent for improvement of salt-stress resistance in tomato.     

Growth,graviresponsiveness and abscisic-acid content of Zea mays seedlings treated with Fluridone

Ten-d-old seedlings of Zea mays L. cv. Tx 5855 treated with 1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-(3-[trifluoromethyl]phenyl)-4-(1H)-pyridinone (Fluridone) were analyzed for abscisic acid (ABA) content using high-performance liquid chromatography with an analysis sensitivity of 2.5 ng ABA g^-1 fresh weight (FW). Seedlings were divided into three portions: leaves, detipped roots, and root tips (terminal 1.5 mm). Control plants (water treatment only; no Fluridone) were characterized by the following amounts of ABA: leaves, 0.114±0.024 (standard deviation) g ABA g^-1 FW; detipped roots, 0.260±0.039±g ABA g^-1 FW; root tips, no ABA detected. We did not detect any ABA in tissues of Fluridone-treated plants. Primary roots of treated and untreated seedlings were strongly graviresponsive, with no significant differences between the curvatures or the growth rates of primary roots of Fluridone-treated and control seedlings. These results indicate that 1) Fluridone completely inhibits ABA synthesis, and 2) ABA is not necessary for positive gravitropism by primary roots of Zea mays.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - Fluridone 1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-(3-[trifluoromethyl]phenyl)-4-(1H)-pyridinone - FW fresh weight - SD standard deviation     

Production of withanolide-A from adventitious root cultures of Withania somnifera

Withanolides are biologically active secondary metabolites present in roots and leaves of Withania somnifera. In the present study, we have induced adventitious roots from leaf explants of W. somnifera for the production of withanolide-A, which is having pharmacological activities. Adventitious roots were induced directly from leaf segments of W. somnifera on half strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) semisolid medium (0.8% agar) with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 30 g l⁻¹ sucrose. Adventitious roots cultured in flasks using half strength MS liquid medium with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ IBA and 30 g l⁻¹ showed higher accumulation of biomass (108.48 g l⁻¹FW and 10.76 g l⁻¹ DW) and withanolide-A content (8.8 ± 0.20 mg g⁻¹ DW) within five weeks. Nearly 11-fold increment of fresh biomass was evident in suspension cultures and adventitious root biomass produced in suspension cultures possessed 21-fold higher withanolide-A content when compared with the leaves of natural plants. An inoculum size of 10 g l⁻¹ FW favoured the biomass accumulation and withanolide-A production in the tested range of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 g l⁻¹ FW. Among different media tested [Murashige and Skoog (MS), Gamborg’s (B5), Nitsch and Nitsch (NN) and Chu’s (N6)], MS medium favoured both biomass accumulation and withanolide-A production. Half strength MS medium favoured the biomass accumulation and withanolide-A production among the different strength MS medium tested (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0). The current results showed great potentiality of adventitious roots cultures for the production of withanolide-A.     

GSH threshold requirement for NO-mediated expression of the Arabidopsis AtFer1 ferritin gene in response to iron

Iron treatment of Arabidopsis cultured cells promotes a rapid NO burst within chloroplasts, necessary for up-regulation of the AtFer1 ferritin gene expression. The same occurs in Arabidopsis leaf chloroplasts, and is dependent upon the GSH content of plants. A leaf GSH concentration threshold between 10 and 50 nmol GSHg(-1) FW is required for full induction of AtFer1 gene expression in response to iron.     

A Possible Role of Glutathione as an Endogenous Agonist at the N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Recognition Domain in Rat Brain

Abstract: Glutathione, both reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG), was effective in displacing binding of l -[³H]-glutamic acid (l -[³H]Glu) and dl -(E)-2-[³H]amino-4-propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid ([³H]CGP-39653) in rat brain synaptic membranes, with less potent displacement of binding of dl -α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-[³H]-methylisoxazole-4-propionic and [³H]kainic acids. Liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that both GSH and GSSG were contaminated with l -Glu by <1%. Both GSH and GSSG potentiated (+)-5-[³H]methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine ([³H]MK-801) binding in a manner similar to that found with l -Glu. Pre-treatment with glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) induced a marked rightward shift of the concentration-response curve for l -Glu in the presence of NAD without affecting that in its absence, whereas GDH was ineffective in affecting the potentiation by both GSH and GSSG even in the presence of NAD. In the presence of GSH at a maximally effective concentration, both glycine (Gly) and spermidine potentiated [³H]MK-801 binding to a somewhat smaller extent than that found in the presence of l -Glu at a maximally effective concentration. The potentiation of [³H]MK-801 binding by GSH was invariably attenuated by addition of CGP-39653, d -2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (d -AP5), and 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (DCKA), whereas GSH was effective in diminishing potencies of CGP-39653, d -AP5, DCKA, and 6,7-dichloroquinoxaline-2,3-dione to inhibit [³H]MK-801 binding when determined in the presence of both l -Glu and Gly. These results suggest that glutathione may be an endogenous agonist selective for the N-methyl-d -aspartate (NMDA) recognition domain on the NMDA receptor ionophore complex.     

Graviresponsiveness and abscisic-acid content of roots of carotenoid-deficient mutants of Zea mays L.

The abscisic-acid (ABA) content of roots of the carotenoid-deficient w-3, vp-5, and vp-7 mutants of Z. mays was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with an analysis sensitivity of 6 ng ABA g^–1 fresh weight (FW). Roots of normal seedlings of the same lines were characterized by the following amounts of ABA (as ng ABA g^–1 FW,±standard deviation): w-3, 279±43; vp-5, 237±26; vp-7, 338±61. We did not detect any ABA in roots of any of the mutants. Thus, the lack of carotenoids in these mutants correlated positively with the apparent absence of ABA. Primary roots of normal and mutant seedlings were positively gravitropic, with no significant differences in the curvatures of roots of normal as compared with mutant seedlings. These results indicate that ABA 1) is synthesized in maize roots via the carotenoid pathway, and 2) is not necesary for positive gravitropism by primary roots of Z. mays.Abbreviation ABA abscisic acid     

Oligonucleotide-stabilized fluorescent silver nanoclusters for sensitive detection of biothiols in biological fluids

In this work, we reported a simple and sensitive method to detect biothiols, such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH), using fluorescent silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) stabilized by single-stranded DNA (DNA-Ag NCs) as probes. The photoluminescence intensity of DNA-Ag NCs was found to be quenched effectively with the increase of biothiols concentration due to the formed nonfluorescent coordination complex between DNA-Ag NCs and biothiols, resulting in the shift-to-red of emission wavelength. But the fluorescence of DNA-Ag NCs was not changed in the presence of other amino acids at 10-fold higher concentration. Satisfactory detection limits and linear relationships of Cys, GSH and Hcy were obtained, respectively. The resulted plots exhibited good linear relationships in the range from 8.0×10(-9) to 1.0×10(-7) mol L(-1) (R(2)=0.984) for Cys, 8.0×10(-9) to 1.0×10(-7) mol L(-1) (R(2)=0.983) for GSH, and 2.0×10(-6) to 6.0×10(-7) mol L(-1) (R(2)=0.999) for Hcy, respectively; the detection limits of Cys, GSH and Hcy were 4.0 nmol L(-1), 4.0 nmol L(-1), and 0.2 μmol L(-1), respectively. The method was successfully used for the detection of biothiols in human plasma samples.     

Screening for glucose‐triggered modifications of glutathione

Nonenzymatic protein glycation is caused by a Schiff's base reaction between the aldehyde groups of reducing sugars and the primary amines of proteins. These structures may undergo further Amadori rearrangement and free radical‐mediated oxidation to finally generate irreversible advanced glycation end products (AGEs). One of the factors known to modulate the glycation of proteins is glutathione, the most abundant nonprotein thiol tripeptide with the γ‐linkage, H‐Glu(Cys‐Gly‐OH)‐OH (GSH). Screening for products formed by GSH with D ‐glucose is an essential step in understanding the participation of GSH in glycation (the Maillard) reaction. Under the conditions used in these studies we observed N‐(1‐deoxy‐D ‐fructos‐1‐yl)‐pyroglutamic acid as the major glycation product formed in the mixtures of GSH and glucose in vitro. A RP HPLC/MS and tandem MS analyses of the GSH/glucose mixtures revealed that cleavage of the N‐terminal glutamic acid and the formation of pyroglutamic acid‐related Amadori product were accompanied by generation of Cys‐Gly‐derived Amadori and thiazolidine compounds. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

蔗糖对发根农杆菌C58C1诱导烟草毛状根生长的影响北大核心CSCD

毛状根良好的生长状况是建立毛状根-AM真菌双重培养体系的关键,为优化毛状根培养基成分,确定适宜毛状根生长的蔗糖浓度,改善烟草毛状根的生长状况,该研究以发根农杆菌菌株C58C1诱导2个烟草品种NC82和Va116叶片产生毛状根,经PCR检测证实后,用含有不同蔗糖浓度的1/2MS培养基分别进行固体和液体优化培养,通过测定毛状根的分枝数、鲜重(FW)与干重(DW),研究蔗糖对2个品种烟草毛状根生长的影响。结果表明:(1)C58C1均能诱导两种烟草叶片产生毛状根,但诱导率不同,NC82(87.3%)的诱导率更高,是Va116(38.6%)的2.26倍。(2)培养基蔗糖浓度显著影响毛状根生长,因烟草品种和起始分枝数而异。(3)固体培养基优化培养NC82和Va116的毛状根,分枝数增长的抑制蔗糖浓度分别为25 g·L^(-1)和15 g·L^(-1);液体培养基优化培养分别在25 g·L^(-1)和15 g·L^(-1)时F(D)W达到最大,分别为0.541 g(0.055 g)、0.474 g(0.050 g)。(4)综合分枝数、F(D)W、毛状根生长势考虑,C58C1诱导NC82毛状根最适培养基蔗糖浓度为25 g·L^(-1),Va116毛状根为15 g·L^(-1)。该文优化了烟草毛状根培养基组成的适宜蔗糖浓度及培养方法,为后续毛状根大量扩繁奠定基础,建立了毛状根-AM真菌双重培养体系,解决了关键的寄主生长不良的问题。