Screening for flavonol 3-glycoside specific β-glycosidases in plants using a spectrophotometric enzymatic assay

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric assay for following the hydrolysis of flavonol 3-glycosides has been developed. The assay profits from the fact that peroxidase converts flavonol aglycones to their corresponding 2,3-dihydroxyflavanones, producing a large shift in UV absorption, whereas flavonol 3-glycosides are not attacked. The amount of liberated aglycone can therefore be calculated from the decrease of flavonol absorption at 350–380 nm. A horseradish peroxidase-H₂O₂ test system can be used to investigate the hydrolysis of most flavonol 3-glycosides, whereas quercetin 3-glycosides can be tested using a peroxidase preparation from Mentha sp. which uses O₂ as cofactor rather than H₂O₂. Flavonol 3-glycoside synthesis, e.g. with UDP-sugars as cofactors, may also be tested by this particular system. Various plants and plant cell cultures were screened for kaempferol and quercetin 3-glycoside specific β-glycosidases. However, in no case could any specific activity be detected.     

东北红豆杉幼苗黄酮类化合物含量变化及其对气候因子的响应

植物在进化适应过程中形成了一套对环境变化响应的防御体系,其中黄酮类化合物作为植物体内重要的次生代谢产物,是表征植物化学防御能力的重要指标。本研究将5个种源东北红豆杉幼苗分别移栽到4个试验地(37°N-43°N),利用多酚测量仪Multiplex-3(Force-A,France)对其叶片表皮黄酮类化合物含量进行无损测定,探讨随试验地、种源地气候因子的变化,东北红豆杉幼苗黄酮类化合物含量的变化规律。结果表明:试验地环境变化对类黄酮指数、花青素指数变化的相对贡献率大于种源地、试验地与种源地交互效应的相对贡献率;试验地气候因子对类黄酮指数、花青素指数解释率(49.8%、55.4%)分别高于种源地气候因子的解释率(35.3%、29.2%);东北红豆杉幼苗类黄酮指数、花青素指数随试验地纬度的升高而下降;试验地3类气候因子方差分解结果显示,光照因子对类黄酮指数、花青素指数变化的单独解释率最高;种源地气候因子方差分解结果显示,水分因子对类黄酮指数、花青素指数变化的单独解释率最高;试验地环境变化对东北红豆杉幼苗黄酮类化合物含量变化起主要作用;东北红豆杉幼苗在低纬度试验地表现出更强的化学防御能力;光照因子在短期影响东北红豆杉幼苗黄酮类化合物含量变化中起主导作用,而长期影响黄酮类化合物含量变化则转变为水分因子起主导作用。     

Arabidopsis thaliana expresses a second functional flavonol synthase

Arabidopsis thaliana L. produces flavonoid pigments, i.e. flavonols, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins, from dihydroflavonol substrates. A small family of putative flavonol synthase (FLS) genes had been recognized in Arabidopsis, and functional activity was attributed only to FLS1. Nevertheless, other FLS activities must be present, because A. thalianafls1 mutants still accumulate significant amounts of flavonols. The recombinant FLSs and leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) proteins were therefore examined for their enzyme activities, which led to the identification of FLS3 as a second active FLS. This enzyme is therefore likely responsible for the formation of flavonols in the ldox/fls1-2 double mutant. These double mutant and biochemical data demonstrate for the first time that LDOX is capable of catalyzing the in planta formation of flavonols.     

白皮锦鸡儿黄酮醇类化合物及其抗菌和抗氧化活性(英文)

从豆科植物白皮锦鸡儿(Caragana leucophloea Pojark.)地上部分分离到3个黄酮醇类化合物,经理化和波谱分析鉴定为3-O-甲基山奈酚(1)、3-O-甲基槲皮素(2)和槲皮素(3)。活性测定表明,1表现出较强的抗细菌活性,对大肠杆菌和番茄疮痂病菌的半抑制浓度分别为9.00μg/mL和7.42μg/mL,最低抑制浓度均为12.5μg/mL;而2和3则表现出较强的抗氧化活性,对DPPH还原的半抑制浓度分别为14.39μg/mL和13.64μg/mL;对β-胡萝卜素-亚油酸氧化的半抑制浓度分别为10.26μg/mL和9.87μg/mL。上述黄酮醇类化合物均为首次从白皮锦鸡儿中分离得到。     

Determination of the interaction between the receptor binding domain of 2019-nCoV spike protein,TMPRSS2, cathepsin B and cathepsin L,and glycosidic and aglycon forms of some flavonols

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly spreading disease with a high mortality. In this research, the interactions between specific flavonols and the 2019-nCoV receptor binding domain (RBD), transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2), and cathepsins (CatB and CatL) were analyzed. According to the relative binding capacity index (RBCI) calculated based on the free energy of binding and calculated inhibition constants, it was determined that robinin (ROB) and gossypetin (GOS) were the most effective flavonols on all targets. While the binding free energy of ROB with the spike glycoprotein RBD, TMPRSS2, CatB, and CatL were –5.02, –7.57, –10.10, and –6.11 kcal/mol, the values for GOS were –4.67, –5.24, –8.31, and –6.76, respectively. Furthermore, both compounds maintained their stability for at least 170 ns on respective targets in molecular dynamics simulations. The molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations also corroborated these data. Considering Lipinski’s rule of five, ROB and GOS exhibited 3 (MW>500, N or O>10, NH or OH>5), and 1 (NH or OH>5) violations, respectively. Neither ROB nor GOS showed AMES toxicity or hepatotoxicity. The LD50 of these compounds in rats were 2.482 and 2.527 mol/kg, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that these compounds could be considered as alternative therapeutic agents in the treatment of COVID-19. However, the possible inhibitory effects of these compounds on cytochromes (CYPs) should be verified by in vitro or in vivo tests and their adverse effects on cellular energy metabolism should be minimized by performing molecular modifications if necessary.     

Quantitative trait loci analysis of seed‐specialized metabolites reveals seed‐specific flavonols and differential regulation of glycoalkaloid content in tomato

Given the potential health benefits (and adverse effects), of polyphenolic and steroidal glycoalkaloids in the diet there is a growing interest in fully elucidating the genetic control of their levels in foodstuffs. Here we carried out profiling of the specialized metabolites in the seeds of the Solanum pennellii introgression lines identifying 338 putative metabolite quantitative trait loci (mQTL) for flavonoids, steroidal glycoalkaloids and further specialized metabolites. Two putative mQTL for flavonols and one for steroidal glycoalkaloids were cross‐validated by evaluation of the metabolite content of recombinants harboring smaller introgression in the corresponding QTL interval or by analysis of lines from an independently derived backcross inbred line population. The steroidal glycoalkaloid mQTL was localized to a chromosomal region spanning 14 genes, including a previously defined steroidal glycoalkaloid gene cluster. The flavonoid mQTL was further validated via the use of transient and stable overexpression of the Solyc12g098600 and Solyc12g096870 genes, which encode seed‐specific uridine 5′‐diphosphate‐glycosyltransferases. The results are discussed in the context of our understanding of the accumulation of polyphenols and steroidal glycoalkaloids, and how this knowledge may be incorporated into breeding strategies aimed at improving nutritional aspects of plants as well as in fortifying them against abiotic stress.     

Flavonoids of Pallenis spinosa (Asteraceae)

Pallenis spinosa was investigated for its flavonoid content. Two mono- and diglycosides of patuletin, a quercetin monoglycoside, two tricin monoglycosides, and four methoxylated flavonols were reported.     

Flavonoid patterns in Leptodactylon and Linanthus

Twenty-seven flavonoids were found among three species of Leptodactylon and sixteen species of Linanthus, of which only three were identical between the two genera. This argues strongly for the maintenance of two genera; however, the underlying similarities in coumarins, flavonol glycosides, chrysoeriol and glycoflavones suggest that the two genera are closely related. The flavonoid data also suggest that Leptodactylon and Linanthus of the tribe Gilieae may actually be closer to Phlox and Microsteris of the tribe Polemonieae, than to other Gilieae.