In vitro induction of tetraploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus jujuba</Emphasis> Mill. var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">spinosa</Emphasis> plants from leaf explants

The genetic manipulation of Capsicum has been unsuccessful, and a large bottleneck to transferring the desired genes is due to the difficulty in regenerating whole plants through tissue culture because of its highly recalcitrant and high genotype specificity. This study aimed to investigate and establish rapid shoot regeneration from the proximal ends of the leaves of Capsicum frutescens KT-OC and BOX-RUB varieties. A maximum of 8–10 shoot buds were obtained from the margins of the proximal portion of a cotyledonary leaf explant of C. frutescens variety KT-OC on medium I containing 44.44 µM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 5.71 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 10 µM silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and 1.98 mg L^?1 2-(N-morpholine) ethane sulphonic acid within 4 weeks of incubation, of which 60% of explants responded in terms of shoot buds. Petiole explants (40%) cultured on the same medium produced 2–4 shoots per explant from the distal portion. The cut portions of the cotyledonary leaf proximal portions responded well to shoot bud formation in the presence of 22.20 µM BA and 14.68 µM phenyl acetic acid (PAA), wherein 100% of explants responded in terms of shoot bud formation, with an average of 10?±?1.7 and 8?±?1.9 shoot buds per explant in KT-OC and BOX-RUB varieties, respectively. The differentiated shoots grew well and proliferated in the presence of 14.68 µM PAA?+?22.20 µM BA and 10 µM AgNO₃. Shoot elongation was obtained in presence of 1.44 µM gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 10 µM AgNO₃. These shoots were rooted on plant growth regulator-free half-strength MS medium and upon hardening; field survival rate was 70%. This reproducible regeneration method for C. frutescens, especially the Indian high pungent variety, from proximal portion of cotyledonary leaf and petiole explants, can be used for biotechnological improvement.     

Nitric oxide-mediated cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is involved in aluminum toxicity of soybean under high aluminum concentration

Aims

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) has been reported to be involved in resistance to various environmental stresses. However, the role of G6PDH in aluminum (Al) toxicity remains unclear.

Methods

Physiological and biochemical methods together with histochemical analysis were used to investigate the participation of G6PDH in Al-induced inhibition of root growth.

Results

Exposure to high Al concentration caused a significant increase in the activities of total and cytosolic G6PDH in roots of soybean. Al-induced inhibition of root growth and oxidative stress were alleviated by a G6PDH inhibitor. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in Al-treated root apexes could be abolished by a NADPH oxidase inhibitor. Furthermore, treatment with a G6PDH inhibitor reduced NADPH content and NADPH oxidase activity in Al-treated root apexes. Further investigation demonstrates that nitric oxide (NO) mediates Al-induced increase in cytosolic G6PDH activity by modulating the expression of genes encoding cytosolic G6PDH. In addition, nitrate reductase pathway is mainly responsible for Al-induced NO production in root apexes.

Conclusions

These results indicate that NADPH produced by NO-modulated cytosolic G6PDH in root apexes is responsible for ROS accumulation mediated by NADPH oxidase under Al stress, subsequently suffering from oxidative stress and thus causing the inhibition of root elongation.

     

Histone acetylation and reactive oxygen species are involved in the preprophase arrest induced by sodium butyrate in maize roots

Histone acetylation plays a critical role in controlling chromatin structure, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in cell cycle progression. To study the relationship between histone acetylation and cell cycle progression in plants, sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that can cause a significant increase in histone acetylation in both mammal and plant genomes, was applied to treat maize seedlings. The results showed that NaB had significant inhibition effects on different root zones at the tissue level and caused cell cycle arrest at preprophase in the root meristem zones. This effect was accompanied by a dramatic increase in the total level of acetylated lysine 9 on histone H3 (H3K9ac) and acetylated lysine 5 on histone H4 (H4K5ac). The exposure of maize roots in NaB led to a continuous rise of intracellular ROS concentration, accompanied by a higher electrolyte leakage ratio and malondialdehyde (MDA) relative value. The NaB-treated group displayed negative results in both TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and γ-H2AX immunostaining assays. The expression of topoisomerase genes was reduced after treatment with NaB. These results suggested that NaB increased the levels of H3K9ac and H4K5ac and could cause preprophase arrest accompanied with ROS formation leading to the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase.     

Chemical constituents from the bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. and their phenol oxidase inhibitory effects

Botanical insecticides investigation led to 21 compounds from the bark of Juglans mandshurica Maxim., in which, compounds 4, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 were isolated from Juglans genus for the first time. The inhibitory effect of dihydrokaempferol (6), naringenin (7) and rhoiptelol C (18) on phenol oxidase (PO) are 5–10 times more than arbutin, a well-known tyrosinase inhibitor. Thus, the selective and effective these inhibitors can be expected for using in the development of environment-friendly pesticide.     

A Preliminary Study about the Potential Effects of Heavy Metals on the Human Male Reproductive Parameters in HIV-Infected Population in China

Due to the inconsistent effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the human male reproduction in previous studies and the impacts of environmental exposures, such as heavy metals, on male reproduction receiving little attention in HIV-infected population, the aim of present study was to investigate whether heavy metals have potential effects on reproductive parameters in HIV-infected men. The current study assessed the associations between semen quality or serum hormone and concentration of the three heavy metal toxicants (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn)) in seminal, urine, and serum, and 50 HIV-infected men were recruited in the present study. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were measured in three fluids by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. Serum samples were analyzed for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone. HIV RNA viral load was determined by HIV virus loads kit. Spearman’s rank correlations were used for correlation analyses. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were significantly correlated with semen quality and serum hormone. HIV-1 virus loads were significantly associated with increased seminal Pb. However, HIV-1 virus loads were not statistically associated with semen quality and serum hormone. Our findings suggested that environmental heavy metals had potential effects on reproductive parameters in HIV-infected men in China.     

Atorvastatin Upregulates the Expression of miR-126 in Apolipoprotein E-knockout Mice with Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque

Carotid atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the carotid arterial wall, which is very important in terms of the occurrence of cerebral vascular accidents. Studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes are involved in the formation of atherosclerosis and that atorvastatin might reduce atherosclerotic plaques by regulating the expression of miRNAs. However, the related mechanism is not yet known. In this study, we first investigated the effects of atorvastatin on miR-126 and its target gene, i.e., vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in apolipoprotein E-knockout (ApoE?/?) mice with carotid atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. We compared the expressions of miR-126 and VCAM-1 between the control, atherosclerotic model and atorvastatin treatment groups of ApoE?/? mice using RT-PCR and Western blot. We found the miR-126 expression was significantly down-regulated, and the VCAM-1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the atherosclerotic model group, which accelerated the progression of atherosclerosis in the ApoE?/? mice. These results following atorvastatin treatment indicated that miR-126 expression was significantly up-regulated, VCAM-1 expression was significantly down-regulated and atherosclerotic lesions were reduced. The present results might explain the mechanism by which miR-126 is involved in the formation of atherosclerosis in vivo. Our study first indicated that atorvastatin might exert its anti-inflammatory effects in atherosclerosis by regulating the expressions of miR-126 and VCAM-1 in vivo.     

A Single Intrathecal or Intraperitoneal Injection of CB2 Receptor Agonist Attenuates Bone Cancer Pain and Induces a Time-Dependent Modification of GRK2

The objective of this study was to explore the potential role of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in the progression of cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2) agonist-induced analgesic effects of bone cancer pain. Female Sprague–Dawley rats, weighing 160–180 g, were utilized to establish a model of bone cancer pain induced by intra-tibia inoculation of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells. JWH-015, a selective CB2 agonist, was injected intrathecally or intraperitoneally on postoperative day 10. Bone cancer-induced pain behaviors—mechanical allodynia and ambulatory pain—were assessed on postoperative days ?1 (baseline), 4, 7, and 10 and at post-treatment hours 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72. The expressions of spinal CB2 and GRK2 protein were detected by Western Blotting on postoperative days ?1 (baseline), 4, 7, and 10 and at post-treatment hours 6, 24, and 72. The procedure produced prolonged mechanical allodynia, ambulatory pain, and different changes in spinal CB2 and GRK2 expression levels. Intrathecal or intraperitoneal administration of JWH-015 alleviated the induced mechanical allodynia and ambulatory pain, and inhibited the downregulation of spinal GRK2 expression. These effects were in a time-dependent manner and reversed by pretreatment of CB2 selective antagonist AM630. The results affirmed CB2 receptor agonists might serve as new treatment targets for bone cancer pain. Moreover, spinal GRK2 was an important regulator of CB2 receptor agonist-analgesia pathway.