Comparison of Acylated Plant Pigments: Light-resistance and Radical-scavenging Ability

The acylated plant pigments synthesized by lipase-catalyzed transesterification with aromatic acids were compared in respect of their light-resistance and radical-scavenging ability. With both the flavonols and anthocyanins, their acylated derivatives were more stable against illumination with fluorescent light than their non-acylated glucosides. Their radical-scavenging ability partially decreased or was retained by acylation to the glucoside molecules.     

Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) imposes regulation at several anatomical levels during inflorescence development on the gene for dihydroflavonol-4-reductase

In the ornamental cut flower plant Gerbera hybrida the spatial distribution of regulatory molecules characteristic of differentiation of the composite inflorescence is visualized as the various patterns of anthocyanin pigmentation of different varieties. In order to identify genes that the plant can regulate according to these anatomical patterns, we have analysed gene expression affecting two enzymatic steps, chalcone synthase (CHS) and dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR), in five gerbera varieties with spatially restricted anthocyanin pigmentation patterns. The dfr expression profiles vary at the levels of floral organ, flower type and region within corolla during inflorescence development according to the anthocyanin pigmentation of the cultivars. In contrast, chs expression, although regulated in a tissue-specific manner during inflorescence development, varies only occasionally. The variation in the dfr expression profiles between the varieties reveals spatially specific gene regulation that senses the differentiation events characteristic of the composite inflorescence.     

Cyanidin 3-malonylglucoside in Cichorium intybus

The major anthocyanin of red leaves of Cichorium intybus has been identified as cyanidin 3-O-β-(6-O-malonyl)-d-glucopyranoside by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy.     

Differences in the floral anthocyanin content of violet–blue flowers of Vinca minor L. and V. major L. (Apocynaceae)

Two novel delphinidin 3-(tri or di)-glycoside-7-glycosides were isolated from the violet–blue flowers of Vinca minor L. and V. major L. (Family: Apocynaceae), and determined to be delphinidin 3-O-[2-O-(β-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranoside]-7-O-(α-rhamnopyranoside) [= delpphinidin 3-(2^G-xylosylrobinobioside)-7-rhamnoside] as major floral anthocyanin of V. minor and delphinidin 3-O-[6-O-(α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranoside]-7-O-(α-rhamnopyranoside) [= delpphinidin 3-robinobioside-7-rhamnoside] as major floral anthocyanin of V. major by chemical and spectroscopic methods. In addition, chlorogenic acid and kaempferol 3-O-[6-O-(α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-galactopyranoside]-7-O-(α-rhamnopyranoside) [= kaempferol 3-robinobioside-7-rhamnoside (robinin)] were identified in these flowers. In this paper, the relation between the structure of floral anthocyanins and classification of Vinca species was discussed.     

蔗糖调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成

为了探讨糖在花青素合成过程中的调节作用,采用蔗糖和其代谢糖（葡萄糖 和果糖）组合处理拟南芥幼苗.实验结果表明,60 mmol/L蔗糖处理显著提高拟南芥 幼苗的花青素、还原糖含量,并上调花青素合成相关基因（CHS, FLS-1, DFR, LDOX, BANYULS）的转录,对叶绿素含量和UGT78D2基因的转录无影响;20 mmol/L 葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处理,对花青素、叶绿素和还原糖的含量无影响,对花青素 合成相关基因转录影响不一;20 mmol/L蔗糖+20 mmol/L葡萄糖+20 mmol/L果糖处 理后,花青素和还原糖含量介于前两个处理之间,也上调花青素合成相关基因的转 录;但和蔗糖处理组相比,上调UGT78D2基因转录,下调FLS-1基因转录.在不同处 理组之间,花青素含量变化和还原糖含量变化趋势相同,有可能糖在调节花青素 合成的同时也调节还原糖含量.因此,蔗糖既可以通过蔗糖特异信号途径,也可以 和其代谢糖通过其他途径共同调节拟南芥花青素的生物合成.     

紫娘喜荔枝果皮K、Ca和Mg含量变化对着色的影响

为探讨紫娘喜荔枝(Litchi chinensis)着色与果皮K、Ca和Mg含量变化的关系,以紫娘喜荔枝果皮为试材,通过对数据作典型性相关和一元指数函数回归分析,研究其K、Ca、Mg含量变化及其对叶绿素、花色素苷等含量的影响特点。结果表明:随着果皮不断转红,叶绿素含量呈显著下降趋势,而花色素苷含量却呈显著上升趋势;全K、水溶性K和全Ca、水溶性Ca含量分别呈下降和上升的趋势,水溶性Mg含量呈上升趋势,全Mg含量变化不显著,同期全K、Ca、Mg和水溶性K、Mg、Ca等含量分别呈依次递减趋势;花色素苷含量与全Ca和全K含量分别呈正和负相关的一元指数函数回归关系;叶绿素含量与水溶性Mg、全Ca和全K含量分别呈负、负和正相关一元指数函数回归关系。可见,全Ca含量较高是促进果皮转红的关键因素,研究结果可为制定紫娘喜荔枝合理施肥技术提供理论依据。     

COP1/SPA ubiquitin ligase complexes repress anthocyanin accumulation under low light and high light conditions

In Arabidopsis and many other plant species, anthocyanin pigments accumulate only after light exposure and not in darkness. Excess light of very high fluence rates leads to a further, very strong increase in anthocyanin levels. How excess light is sensed is not well understood. Here, we show that mutations in the key repressor of light signaling, the COP1/SPA complex, cause a strong hyperaccumulation of anthocyanins not only under normal light but also under excess, high light conditions. Hence, normal light signaling via COP1/SPA is required to prevent hyperaccumulation of anthocyanins under these high light conditions. However, since cop1 and spa mutants show a similar high-light responsiveness of anthocyanin accumulation as the wild type it remains to be resolved whether COP1/SPA is directly involved in the high-light response itself.     

Antioxidant activities of red versus green leaves in Elatostema rugosum

Anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaves increases under stresses which also generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the present study the hypothesis that red leaves are better equipped to scavenge ROS than green leaves was tested. Antioxidants in leaf extracts from red and green morphs of Elatostema rugosum were identified, and activities quantified using enzymatic and α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays and cyclic voltammetry. Red leaves from E. rugosum held greater amounts of superoxide dismutase, catalase, anthocyanins, and hydroxycinnamic acids, were significantly more effective at scavenging DPPH radicals, and produced higher voltammetric currents than green leaves. Anthocyanins contributed to the antioxidant pool more than all other constituent phenolics. Anthocyanin concentrations, and antioxidant activities declined with leaf age. Purified anthocyanin fractions displayed oxidative activities at both pH 7·0 and pH 5·5. Implications of the antioxidant potential of anthocyanin in its cytoplasmic and vacuolar locations are discussed.     

黑米中花青苷色素的测定方法研究

以 4种黑米为实验材料 ,用酸性乙醇作为提取溶剂 ,以色价值为色素含量的评价依据 ,研究了时间、温度、提取批次和脱脂对黑米中花青苷色素提取的影响。结果表明 :80℃ ,酸性乙醇 ,6 0min重复提取 2次 ,可实现 90 %以上的色素溶出。在最大吸收峰 5 35nm处测定提取液的ABS值 ,计算色价 ,作为黑米中花青苷色素的测定方法 ,可用于黑米品质分析