The Mechanism of Gelation of Konjac Mannan

The sol of konjac mannan (KM) was gelatinized with an alkali such as sodium carbonate. The turbidity and the viscosity of sol, the infrared spectra of KM, and the consumption of alkali by KM in the course of gelation were measured. Then, experiments were undertaken in order to elucidate the major role of alkalies in gelation and the mechanism of gel-formation. It was presumed that the alkalies eliminate a moiety containing C=O group (probably an organic acid) from KM, and then the molecules of KM which lost the moiety crystallize in part through a linkage such as hydrogen bonding, and a network structure is formed.     

The daidzein- and estradiol- induced anorectic action in CCK or leptin receptor deficiency rats

We investigated the effect of daidzein feeding and estradiol treatment on food intake in cholecystokinin-1 receptor (CCK1R) deficiency, leptin receptor (ObRb) deficiency rats and their wild-type rats. These rats underwent an ovariectomy or a sham operation. For the 5 week experiment, each rat was divided in three groups: control, daidzein (150 mg/kg diet), and estradiol (4.2 μg/rat/day) groups. In both CCK1R+ and CCK1R? rats, daidzein feeding and estradiol treatment significantly decreased food intake. Daidzein feeding significantly reduced food intake in ovariectomized ObRb? rats, although not in ObRb+ rats. Estradiol treatment significantly lowered food intake in ovariectomized ObRb+ and ObRb? rats. In the ovariectomized rats, estradiol treatment significantly increases uterine weight, while daidzein feeding did not change it, suggesting that daidzein might have no or weak estrogenic effect in our experiment. These results suggest that CCK1R and ObRb signalings were not essential for the daidzein- and estradiol-induced anorectic action.     

Synthesis and Stereochemical Characterization of Hydroxy- and Epoxy-derivatives of Rotenone

One to four routes of synthesis are described for 8′-hydroxyrotenone, 5′-hydroxyrotenone, two epimers of 6′,7′-dihydro-6′,7′-dihydroxyrotenone, two epimers of 6′,7′-epoxyrotenone and the four rotenolones derived from each of these compounds. The stereochemical relationships are determined, in each case, by chemical interconversion, ORD and monochromatic rotation to assess the absolute configuration of the B/C ring juncture and by IR, MS and NMR for the cis- or trans-nature of this juncture. The new compounds described are useful standards for studies on the metabolites and photodecomposition products of rotenone insecticide chemical.     

Interaction of Protein Particles with Lipids in Soybean Milk

The protein in soybean milk exists as 11S and 7S globulins, and the particles formed from them. The lipid content and composition in the protein fractions and effects of defatting on the form of the protein particles were investigated. The size-distribution of protein particles in both raw and heated soybean milk (soymilk) was not influenced by defatting with hexane, but the number of large particles were slightly increased. The protein particles from raw and heated soymilk samples contained 60% and 3% of the total lipid, respectively. Almost all neutral lipid in the particles of raw soymilk was moved to a floating fraction by heating, but a half of the phospholipids was retained in the particles. The protein components from the hexane-defatted meal were similar to those from whole meal, but those from the C-M-de-fatted meal contained remarkably little β-conglycinin. C-M-de-fatting (Removal of polar lipids) caused a reduction in the particulate fraction, and the addition of phospholipids (lecithin) promoted the formation of protein particles.     

Isolation of Human Renin Inhibitor from Soybean: Soyasaponin I Is the Novel Human Renin Inhibitor in Soybean

We found human renin inhibitory activity in soybean and isolated the active compound, soybean renin inhibitor (SRI). The physico-chemical data on the isolated SRI were identical with those of soyasaponin I. SRI showed significant inhibition against recombinant human renin, with an IC₅₀ value of 30 μg/ml. Kinetic studies with SRI indicated partial noncompetitive inhibition, with a K_i value of 37.5 μM. On the other hand, SRI weakly inhibited pepsin, papain, and bromeline activities, but did not inhibit other proteinases, such as trypsin, kallikrein, angiotensin converting enzyme, and aminopeptidase M. Moreover, a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the systolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats was observed when partially purified SRI was orally administrated at 40 mg/kg/d for 7 weeks. This is the first demonstration of a renin inhibitor from soybean, soyasaponin I.     

CO2浓度和磷对不同种植方式玉米大豆生长效应研究

通过顶置光源植物生长室控制380和760 μmol·mol-1 2个CO2浓度水平,研究了磷缺乏与正常供磷条件下,CO2浓度升高对玉米/大豆间作、玉米单作和大豆单作3种种植模式下作物株高、茎粗、叶面积及干物质积累的影响.结果表明:(1)CO2浓度升高能显著增加单/间作玉米、大豆的株高、茎粗、叶面积、根干重、地上部干重及总干重.(2)CO2浓度升高对供磷水平下单、间作玉米大豆的株高、茎粗、叶面积及干物质积累量增加的正效应均大于缺磷处理.(3)两种CO2浓度下,间作大豆与单作大豆生长差异不显著,而间作玉米较单作玉米有明显的生长优势,且供磷和CO2浓度的升高均能够促进这种优势.     

过氧化氢预处理增强敏感型黑豆抗铝能力的生理机制

以铝敏感型黑豆(简称SB)幼苗为实验材料,在水培条件下进行不同浓度过氧化氢(H2O2)和AlCl3处理,考察其生长和相关生理指标变化,探讨H2 O2预处理缓解黑豆铝毒害的生理以及分子机理.结果显示:(1)黑豆幼苗根的相对生长量在0.1和1.0 μmol·L-1 H2O2处理下始终得到显著促进,并以后者效果更好,而在10.0和100.0 μmol·L1 H2O2处理下先表现促进后受到显著抑制.(2)经过1.0 μmol·L-1 H2O2预处理的SB幼苗在不同程度Al3+胁迫(50～400 μmol·L 1)3周后,其叶片和根中总蛋白含量分别显著增加了16.7％～41.2％和10.0％～25.0％,MDA含量减少了近50％;而其同期的SOD和POD活性显著增加.(3) H2 O2预处理可诱导SB根和叶中的SOD基因(Mg/Fe-SOD和Mn-SOD)的表达水平明显提高.研究表明,低浓度H2O2能显著促进铝胁迫下铝敏感型黑豆幼苗生长,且主要是通过增加植株抗氧化酶活性和相关基因表达水平来提高其对铝胁迫的抗性.     

Effect of Soybean Monoculture on the Bacterial Communities Associated with Cysts of Heterodera glycines

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, can cause significant reductions in soybean yield and quality in many parts of the world. Natural biological control may play an important role in regulating SCN population. In this study the bacterial communities associated with SCN cysts obtained from fields under different lengths of soybean monoculture were explored. Soil samples were collected in 2010 and 2011 from six fields that had been used for soybean monoculture for 2 to 41 yr. SCN population densities were determined and bacterial communities from SCN cysts were investigated by Biolog and PCR-DGGE methods. SCN population densities initially increased in the first 5 yr of soybean monoculture but then declined steeply as years of soybean monoculture increased. Catabolic diversity of bacterial communities associated with cysts tended to decline as number of years of monoculture increased. Some specific PCR-DGGE bands, mainly representing Streptomyces and Rhizobium, were obtained from the cysts collected from the long-term monoculture fields. Principal component analysis of Biolog and PCR-DGGE data revealed that bacterial communities associated with cysts could be divided into two groups: those from cysts obtained from shorter (< 8 yr) vs. longer (> 8 yr) monoculture. This research demonstrates that the composition of the bacterial communities obtained from SCN cysts changes with length of soybean monoculture; the suppressive impact of these bacterial communities to SCN is yet to be determined.     

Potentials toward genetic engineering of drought-tolerant soybean

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops in legume family. Soybean and soybean-based products are also considered as popular food for human and animal husbandry. With its high oil content, soybean has become a potential resource for the production of renewable fuel. However, soybean is considered one of the most drought-sensitive crops, with approximately 40% reduction of the yield in the worst years. Recent research progresses in elucidation of biochemical, morphological and physiological responses as well as molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to drought stress in model plants have provided a solid foundation for translational genomics of soybean toward drought tolerance. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in development of drought-tolerant soybean cultivars by gene transfer.     

茉莉酸对棉花单宁含量和抗虫相关酶活性的诱导效应

以植物生长调节物茉莉酸(Jasmonic acid,JA)为诱导子,以常规棉为研究对象,探讨了外源茉莉酸对棉花幼苗单宁和蛋白酶抑制素以及其它抗虫相关酶活性诱导的浓度依赖性和持久性,讨论了棉花抗虫相关物质的抗虫效果.结果表明,0.01、0.1和1.0 mmol/L茉莉酸都能在2周内诱导棉花单宁和胰蛋白酶抑制素(Proteinase inhibitors,PIs)含量增加,诱导多酚氧化酶(Polyphenol oxidase,PPO)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase,PAL)、过氧化物酶(Peroxidase,POD)和过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)活性升高.对3种浓度茉莉酸的诱导效应进行分析表明,0.1 mmol/L茉莉酸对于诱导PIs、PPO、POD和CAT最有效,0.1和1.0 mmol/L茉莉酸对于诱导棉花单宁和苯丙氨酸解氨酶等效,二者的诱导效应均高于0.01 mmol/L.对茉莉酸诱导抗性的持久性进行分析表明,最佳诱导效应发生的时间各不相同:POD活性在JA处理后第1天最高,随后呈下降趋势,PIs和单宁含量分别在JA处理后第7天和第14天达最大值;JA处理后第1天和第7天的PPO活性无明显差异,但明显高于第14天;JA处理后第7天和第14天的PAL活性无明显差异,但明显高于第1天;JA处理后第1、7和14天棉花叶片的CAT活性均无明显差异.以上结果表明,茉莉酸可通过增加棉叶单宁和PIs含量、提高棉叶PAL、PPO、POD和CAT活性等增强棉花幼苗的抗虫性.