Phenylalanin Ammonia-lyase Activity,Total Phenolics and Flavonoids Contents in Flowers,Leaves,Hulls and Kernels of Three Pistachio(Pistacia vera L.) Cultivars

Phenylalanin ammonia-lyase (PAL) plays a pivotal role in the production of phenolic compounds, which are responsible for the success of the defense strategies in harsh environments in response to different stimuli. Measurements of the PAL activity, total phenolics, total flavonoids and anthocyanin contents were performed in flowers, leaves and fruits of three pistachio cultivars “Ahmadaghaii”, “Ohadi” and “Kallehghuchi”. The results showed that PAL activity was different in cultivars and in plant organs of pistachio trees (flowers, leaves and fruits). The highest activity rate of their compounds was observed in Ahmadaghaii cultivar. A positive correlation was observed between PAL activity, total phenolics and total flavonoids in leaves, and a negative correlation between PAL activity and anthocyanin contents in leaves and flowers of Ahmadaghaii cultivar. PAL activity and total phenolics in fruits of pistachio suffered a decrease when the maturation processes began. It is suggested that the hulls of the pistachio fruits, containing high level of phenolic compounds (especially in Ahmadaghaii cultivar), may function as a protective layer of defense chemicals against ultraviolet radiation and pathogens. The final concentration of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antocyanins in the kernel depend on PAL activity in the kernel’s cultivar. The results led to the conclusion that increase in PAL activity, phenolic compounds and flavonoids in Ahmadaghaii can help the plant to cope with the stresses better than the other cultivars. Since phenolic compounds are antioxidant and scavenge free oxygen, it is postulated that Ahmadaghaii is the most resistant cultivar to the environmental stresses.     

The polyketide synthase OsPKS2 is essential for pollen exine and Ubisch body patterning in rice

Lipid and phenolic metabolism are important for pollen exine formation. In Arabidopsis, polyketide synthases(PKSs) are essential for both sporopollenin biosynthesis and exine formation. Here, we characterized the role of a polyketide synthase(OsPKS2) in male reproduction of rice(Oryza sativa). Recombinant OsPKS2 catalyzed the condensation of fatty acyl-CoA with malonyl-CoA to generate triketide and tetraketide α-pyrones, the main components of pollen exine. Indeed, the ospks2 mutant had defective exine patterning and was male sterile. However, the mutant showed no significant reduction in sporopollenin accumulation. Compared with the WT(wild type), ospks2 displayed unconfined and amorphous tectum and nexine layers in the exine, and less organized Ubisch bodies. Like the pksb/lap5 mutant of the Arabidopsis ortholog, ospks2 showed broad alterations in the profiles of anther-related phenolic compounds.However, unlike pksb/lap5, in which most detected phenolics were substantially decreased, ospks2 accumulated higher levels of phenolics. Based on these results and our observation that OsPKS2 is unable to fully restore the exine defects in the pksb/lap5, we propose that PKS proteins have functionally diversified during evolution.Collectively, our results suggest that PKSs represent a conserved and diversified biochemical pathway for anther and pollen development in higher plants.     

The Arabidopsis Spontaneous Cell Death1 gene, encoding a ζ-carotene desaturase essential for carotenoid biosynthesis, is involved in chloroplast development,photoprotection and retrograde signalling

Carotenoids, a class of natural pigments found in all photosynthetic organisms, are involved in a variety of physiological processes, including coloration, photoprotection, biosynthesis of abscisic acid （ABA） and chloroplast biogenesis. Although carotenoid biosynthesis has been well studied biochemically, the genetic basis of the pathway is not well understood. Here, we report the characterization of two allelic Arabidopsis mutants, spontaneous cell death1-1 （spcl-1） and spc1-2. The weak allele spc1-1 mutant showed characteristics of bleached leaves, accumulation of superoxide and mosaic cell death. The strong mutant allele spc1-2 caused a complete arrest of plant growth and development shortly after germination, leading to a seedling-lethal phenotype. Genetic and molecular analyses indicated that SPC1 encodes a putative ζ-carotene desaturase （ZDS） in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Analysis of carotenoids revealed that several major carotenoid compounds downstream of SPC 1/ZDS were substantially reduced in spc1-1, suggesting that SPC 1 is a functional ZDS. Consistent with the downregulated expression of CAO and PORB, the chlorophyll content was decreased in spc1-1 plants. In addition, expression of Lhcb1. 1, Lhcbl. 4 and RbcS was absent in spc1-2, suggesting the possible involvement of carotenoids in the plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. The spc1-1 mutant also displays an ABA-deficient phenotype that can be partially rescued by the externally supplied phytohormone. These results suggest that SPC1/ZDS is essential for biosynthesis of carotenoids and plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.     

The COI1 and DFR Genes are Essential for Regulation of Jasmonate-Induced Anthocyanin Accumulation in Arabidopsis

Jasmonates （JAs） are a class of plant hormones that play important roles in the regulation of plant development and plant defense. It has been shown that Arabidopsis plants produce much higher levels of anthocyanins when treated exogenously with methyl jasmonate （MeJA）. However, a molecular link between the JA response and anthocyanin production has not been determined. The CORONATINE INSENTITIVE1 （COI1） gene is a key player in the regulation of many JA-related responses. In the present study, we demonstrate that the COI1 gene is also required for the JA-induced accumulation of anthocyanins in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, the MeJA-inducible expression of DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE （DFR）, an essential component in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, was completely eliminated in the coil mutant. Jasmonateinduced anthocyanin accumulation was found to be independent of auxin signaling. The present results indicate that the expression of both COI1 and DFR genes is required for the regulation of JA-induced anthocyanin accumulation and that DFR may be a key downstream regulator for this process.     

A New Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase Gene from Taxus media Rehder： Cloning, Characterization and Functional Complementation

Farnesyl dlphosphate synthase （FPS; EC 2.5.1.10） catalyzes the production of 15-carbon farnesyl dlphosphate which Is a branch-point Intermediate for many terpenoids. This reaction Is considered to be a ratelimiting step In terpenold biosynthesis. Here we report for the first time the cloning of a new full-length cDNA encoding farnesyl dlphosphate synthase from a gymnosperm plant species, Taxus media Rehder, designated as TmFPS1. The full-length cDNA of TmFPS1 （GenBank accession number： AY461811） was 1 464 bp with a 1 056-bp open reading frame encoding a 351-amino acid polypeptlde with a calculated molecular weight of 40.3 kDa and a theoretical pl of 5.07. Biolnformatlc analysis revealed that TmFPS1 contained all five conserved domains of prenyltransferases, and showed homology to other FPSs of plant origin. Phylogenetlc analysis showed that farnesyl dlphosphate synthases can be divided Into two groups： one of prokaryotic origin and the other of eukaryotic origin. TmFPS1 was grouped with FPSs of plant origin. Homologybased structural modeling showed that TmFPS1 had the typical spatial structure of FPS, whose most prominent structural feature Is the arrangement of 13 core helices around a large central cavity In which the catalytic reaction takes place. Our blolnformatic analysis strongly suggests that TmFPS1 is a functional gene. Southern blot analysis revealed that TmFPS1 belongs to a small FPSgene family in T. media. Northern blot analysis indicated that TmFPS1 is expressed in all tested tissues, Including the needles, stems and roots of T. media. Subsequently, functional complementatlon with TmFPS1 in a FPS-deflclent mutant yeast demonstrated that TmFPS1 did encode farnesyl dlphosphate synthase, which rescued the yeast mutant. This study will be helpful In future Investigations aiming at understanding the detailed role of FPS In terpenold biosynthesis flux control at the molecular genetic level.     

Effects of Overexpression of the Endogenous Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase on the Artemisinin Content in Artemisia annua L.

Artemisinin is a novel effective antimalarial drug extracted from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. Owing to the tight market and low yield of artemisinin, there is great interest in enhancing the production of artemisinin. In the present study, farnesyi diphosphate synthase （FPS） was overexpressed in high-yield A. annua to Increase the artemisinin content. The FPS activity in transgenic A. ennue was twoto threefold greater than that In non-transgenic A. annua. The highest artemisinin content in transgenic A. annua was approximately 0.9% （dry weight）, which was 34.4% higher than that in non-transgenic A. annua. The results demonstrate the regulatory role of FPS in artemisinin biosynthesis.     

Abiotic and Biotic Stresses and Changes in the Lignin Content and Composition in Plants

Lignin is a polymer of phenylpropanoid compounds formed through a complex biosynthesis route,represented by a metabolic grid for which most of the genes involved have been sequenced in several plants,mainly in the model-plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus.Plants are exposed to different stresses,which may change lignin content and composition.In many cases,particularly for plant-microbe interactions,this has been suggested as defence responses of plants to the stress.Thus,understanding how a stressor modulates expression of the genes related with lignin biosynthesis may allow us to develop study-models to increase our knowledge on the metabolic control of lignin deposition in the cell wall.This review focuses on recent literature reporting on the main types of abiotic and biotic stresses that alter the biosynthesis of lignin in plants.     

Wnt signaling control of bone cell apoptosis

Wnts are a large family of growth factors that mediate essential biological processes like embryogenesis, morpho- genesis and organogenesis. These proteins also play a role in oncogenesis, and they regulate apoptosis in many tissues. Wnts bind to a membrane receptor complex comprised of a frizzled （FZD） G-protein-coupled receptor and a low-density lipoprotein （LDL） receptor-related protein （LRP）. The formation of this ligand-receptor complex initiates a number of signaling cascades that include the canonical/beta-catenin pathway as well as several noncanonical pathways. In recent years, canonical Wnt signaling has been reported to play a significant role in the control of bone formation. Clinical studies have found that mutations in LRP-5 are associated with reduced bone mineral density （BMD） and fractures. Investigations of knockout and transgenic mouse models of Wnt pathway components have shown that canonical Wnt signaling modulates most aspects ofosteoblast physiology including proliferation, differentiation, function and apoptosis. Transgenic mice expressing a gain of function mutant of LRP-5 in bone, or mice lacking the Wnt antagonist secreted frizzled-related protein-l, exhibit elevated BMD and suppressed osteoblast apoptosis. In addition, preclinical studies with pharmacologic compounds such as those that inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3β support the importance of the canonical Wnt pathway in modulation of bone formation and osteoblast apoptosis.     

Isolation and functional analysis of 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase gene promoters from Salvia miltiorrhiza

The enzyme 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) plays an important role in phenylpropanoid metabolism. The 5′-upstream regions of two Sm4CL genes were isolated from danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) and their functions were characterized by promoter-directed GUS gene expression assay in transgenic Arabidopsis. Seedlings containing pSm4CL1 promoter:GUS fusions showed apparent GUS staining in hypocotyl and those harboring pSm4CL2 promoter:GUS fusions were clearly stained in cotyledon vasculars and roots. Mature Arabidopsis transformed with pSm4CL1 promoter:GUS exhibited GUS expression which was weak in the shoots and scarcely in roots and those modified with pSm4CL2 promoter:GUS displayed obvious GUS staining in roots, stigmatic papillae, stamens and sepal veins. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that Sm4CL2 was transcribed at the highest level in roots which was also shown to be the major accumulation site of salvianolic acid B. The results suggested that Sm4CL2 rather than Sm4CL1 might be responsible for the biosynthesis of salvianolic acid B in danshen roots.     

Enzymes of phenylpropanoid metabolism in the important medicinal plant Melissa officinalis L.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, Lamiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant. Amongst the biologically active ingredients are a number of phenolic compounds, the most prominent of which is rosmarinic acid. To obtain better knowledge of the biosynthesis of these phenolic compounds, two enzymes of the general phenylpropanoid pathway, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and 4-coumarate:coenzyme A-ligase (4CL), were investigated in suspension cultures of lemon balm. MoPAL1 and Mo4CL1 cDNAs were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and the enzymes characterised. Expression analysis of both genes showed a correlation with the enzyme activities and rosmarinic acid content during a cultivation period of the suspension culture. Southern-blot analysis suggested the presence of most probably two gene copies in the M. officinalis genome of both PAL and 4CL. The genomic DNA sequences of MoPAL1 and Mo4CL1 were amplified and sequenced. MoPAL1 contains one phase 2 intron of 836 bp at a conserved site, whilst Mo4CL1 was devoid of introns.     

Chemiluminescence determination of sulphite using a cyclometalated iridium complex as chemiluminescence reagent

A simple, fast and accurate chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of sulphite has been developed, based on its sensitizing effect on the CL reaction between a novel water‐soluble iridium complex, [(dpci)₂Ir(bvbbi)](PF₆) (dpci = 3,4‐diphenylcinnoline; bvbbi = N,N′‐bivinylester‐¹H,^1′H‐[2,2′] bibenzimidazole) and cerium(IV). Under the optimal experimental conditions, the increased CL response was linear, with the concentration of sulphite over the range 5.0 × 10^–7–5.0 × 10^–4 mol/L. The detection limit of the method was 1.6 × 10^–7 mol/L, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.7% for nine repetitive determination of 1.0 × 10^–4 mol/L sulphite. The method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of sulphite in sugar samples. The possible reaction mechanism of sulphite on the [(dpci)₂Ir(bvbbi)](PF₆)–cerium(IV) system is also briefly discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential induction of polar and non‐polar metabolism during wound‐induced suberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers

Wound‐induced suberin deposition involves the temporal and spatial coordination of phenolic and fatty acid metabolism. Phenolic metabolism leads to both soluble metabolites that accumulate as defense compounds as well as hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives that form the basis of the poly(phenolic) domain found in suberized tissue. Fatty acid metabolism involves the biosynthesis of very‐long‐chain fatty acids, 1‐alkanols, ω‐hydroxy fatty acids and α,ω‐dioic acids that form a poly(aliphatic) domain, commonly referred to as suberin. Using the abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone (FD), we reduced wound‐induced de novo biosynthesis of ABA in potato tubers, and measured the impact on the expression of genes involved in phenolic metabolism (StPAL1, StC4H, StCCR, StTHT), aliphatic metabolism (StCYP86A33, StCYP86B12, StFAR3, StKCS6), metabolism linking phenolics and aliphatics (StFHT) or acyl chains and glycerol (StGPAT5, StGPAT6), and in the delivery of aliphatic monomers to the site of suberization (StABCG1). In FD‐treated tissue, both aliphatic gene expression and accumulation of aliphatic suberin monomers were delayed. Exogenous ABA restored normal aliphatic suberin deposition in FD‐treated tissue, and enhanced aliphatic gene expression and poly(aliphatic) domain deposition when applied alone. By contrast, phenolic metabolism genes were not affected by FD treatment, while FD + ABA and ABA treatments slightly enhanced the accumulation of polar metabolites. These data support a role for ABA in the differential induction of phenolic and aliphatic metabolism during wound‐induced suberization in potato.     

Characterization and Influence of Green Synthesis of Nano‐Sized Zinc Complex with 5‐Aminolevulinic Acid on Bioactive Compounds of Aniseed

A new water soluble zinc‐aminolevulinic acid nano complex (n[Zn(ALA)₂]), which was characterized by TEM, IR, and EDX spectra, has been prepared via sonochemical method under green conditions in water. In the current study, the effectiveness of foliar Zn amendment using synthetic Zn‐ALA nano complex, as a new introduced Zn‐fertilizer here, was evaluated. As the model plant, Pimpinella anisum, the most valuable spice and medicinal plant grown in warm regions, was used. By using zinc nano complex, further twenty compounds were obtained in the essential oil of anise plants. Application of 0.2% (w/v) Zn‐ALA nano complex increased the levels of (E)‐anethole, β‐bisabolene, germacrene D, methyl chavicol, and α‐zingiberene in the essential oil. Nano Zn complex at the rate of 0.2% induced considerable high phenolic compounds and zinc content of shoots and seeds. Chlorogenic acid had the highest level between four detected phenolic compounds. The maximum antioxidant activity was monitored through the application of Zn nano complex. According to the results, nanoscale nutrients can be provided with further decreased doses for medicinal plants. Using Zn‐ALA nano complex is a new and efficient method to improve the pharmaceutical and food properties of anise plants.     

A mitochondrial phosphatase required for cardiolipin biosynthesis: the PGP phosphatase Gep4

Cardiolipin (CL), a unique dimeric phosphoglycerolipid predominantly present in mitochondrial membranes, has pivotal functions for the cellular energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics and the initiation of apoptotic pathways. Perturbations in the mitochondrial CL metabolism cause cardiomyopathy in Barth syndrome. Here, we identify a novel phosphatase in the mitochondrial matrix space, Gep4, and demonstrate that it dephosphorylates phosphatidylglycerolphosphate to generate phosphatidylglycerol, an essential step during CL biosynthesis. Expression of a mitochondrially targeted variant of Escherichia coli phosphatase PgpA restores CL levels in Gep4‐deficient cells, indicating functional conservation. A genetic epistasis analysis combined with the identification of intermediates of CL biosynthesis allowed us to integrate Gep4 in the CL‐biosynthetic pathway and assign an essential function during early steps of CL synthesis to Tam41, which has previously been shown to be essential for the maintenance of normal CL levels. Our experiments provide the framework for the further dissection of mechanisms that are required for accumulation and maintenance of CL levels in mitochondria.     

Plant-originated glycoprotein (24 kDa) has an inhibitory effect on proliferation of BNL CL.2 cells in response to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

Di(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is one of the many environmental chemicals that are widely used in polyvinyl chloride products, vinyl flooring, food packaging and infant toys. They cause cell proliferation or dysfunction of human liver. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of a glycoprotein (24 kDa) isolated from Zanthoxylum piperitum DC (ZPDC) on proliferation of liver cell in the DEHP‐induced BNL CL. 2 cells. [³H]‐thymidine incorporation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization and activity of protein kinase C (PKC) were measured using radioactivity and fluorescence method respectively. The expression of mitogen‐activated protein kinases [extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)], activator protein (AP)‐1 (c‐Jun and c‐Fos), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cell cycle‐related factors (cyclin D1/cyclin‐dependent kinase [CDK] 4) were evaluated using Western blotting or electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results in this study showed that the levels of [³H]‐thymidine incorporation, intracellular ROS, intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization and activity of PKCα were inhibited by ZPDC glycoprotein (100 µg/ml) in the DEHP‐induced BNL CL. 2 cells. Also, activities of ERK, JNK and AP‐1 were reduced by ZPDC glycoprotein (100 µg/ml). With regard to cell proliferation, activities of PCNA and cyclin D1/CDK4 were significantly suppressed at treatment with ZPDC glycoprotein (100 µg/ml) in the presence of DEHP. Taken together, these findings suggest that ZPDC glycoprotein significantly normalized activities of PCNA and cyclin D1/CDK4, which relate to cell proliferation factors. Thus, ZPDC glycoprotein appears to be one of the compounds derived from natural products that are able to inhibit cell proliferation in the phthalate‐induced BNL CL. 2 cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.