Induction of enzymatic scavengers of active oxygen species in rice in response to infection by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis>

Changes in the activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase in rice in response to infection by Rhizoctonia solani were studied. A significant increase in peroxidase activity was observed in R. solani-inoculated rice leaf sheaths 1 day after inoculation and the maximum enzyme activity was recorded 3 days after inoculation at which period a 3-fold increase in peroxidase activity was observed compared to the untreated control. Three peroxidase isozymes viz., PO-4, PO-5 and PO-6 were induced in rice upon infection by R. solani. Ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities significantly increased 1–2 days after inoculation and the maximum enzyme activities were recorded 5 days after inoculation. Superoxide dismutase activity increased significantly 2 days after inoculation and increased progressively, reaching four times the control value at 7 days after inoculation.     

Purification and identification of the type of superoxide dismutase fromGlœocapsa sp.

Superoxide dismutase purified from the photoautotrophic cyanobacteriumGlœocapsa sp. has a molar mass of 38 kDa, as estimated by gel filtration. Inhibition pattern indicated limited resistance to H₂O₂ under conditions which entirely inhibited FeSOD. The enzyme is insensitive to cyanide and is inhibited by azide. This suggested the presence of a hybrid of two isozymes, FeSOD and a minor constituent of MnSOD. Amino acid composition of the purified SOD showed structural homology to FeSOD and MnSOD apoenzymes.     

参与调控桂花花朵开放的SPL基因鉴定及表达分析

SPL(SQUAMOSA-promoter binding protein-like)是植物特有的基因家族,在花发育过程中具有重要调控作用。该研究以桂花全基因组数据为基础,对SPL基因家族成员的蛋白理化性质、系统进化、基因结构和不同组织的表达模式进行生物信息学分析,筛选出花组织中较高表达的基因进行实时荧光定量、亚细胞定位及酵母自激活验证,为解析SPL基因参与调控桂花花朵开放过程中的作用机制和功能提供基因资源。结果显示:(1)共鉴定出29个桂花SPL基因家族成员,它们均具有SBP结构域,且不均匀分布在15条染色体上。(2)与拟南芥构建系统进化树,聚类可分为8大亚群,同亚群的OfSPL基因具有高度相似的基因结构。(3)RNA-seq数据分析表明,OfSPL9/10/17/19/21/27/28整体FPKM值较高,在花组织中具有一定的特异性;qRT-PCR分析表明,OfSPL10/21在花朵开放过程中的相对表达量呈先升后降的趋势。(4)亚细胞定位和转录自激活活性分析显示,OfSPL10/21编码蛋白主要定位于细胞核上,不具有转录自激活活性。研究推测,OfSPL10/21可能参与调控桂花花色与...     

Effects of modification of membrane lipid composition on Bacillus subtilis sporulation and spore properties

Aims: To determine effects of inner membrane lipid composition on Bacillus subtilis sporulation and spore properties. Methods and Results: The absence of genes encoding lipid biosynthetic enzymes had no effect on B. subtilis sporulation, although the expected lipids were absent from spores’ inner membrane. The rate of spore germination with nutrients was decreased c. 50% with mutants that lacked the major cardiolipin (CL) synthase and another enzyme for synthesis of a major phospholipid. Spores lacking the minor CL synthase or an enzyme essential for glycolipid synthesis exhibited 50–150% increases in rates of dodecylamine germination, while spores lacking enzymes for phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and lysylphosphatidylglycerol (l‐PG) synthesis exhibited a 30–50% decrease. Spore sensitivity to H₂O₂ and tert‐butylhydroperoxide was increased 30–60% in the absence of the major CL synthase, but these spores’ sensitivity to NaOCl or Oxone^? was unaffected. Spores of lipid synthesis mutants were less resistant to wet heat, with spores lacking enzymes for PE, PS or l‐PG synthesis exhibiting a two to threefold decrease and spores of other strains exhibiting a four to 10‐fold decrease. The decrease in spore wet heat resistance correlated with an increase in core water content. Conclusions: Changing the lipid composition of the B. subtilis inner membrane did not affect sporulation, although modest effects on spore germination and wet heat and oxidizing agent sensitivity were observed, especially when multiple lipids were absent. The increases in rates of dodecylamine germination were likely due to increased ability of this compound to interact with the spore’s inner membrane in the absence of some CL and glycolipids. The effects on spore wet heat sensitivity are likely indirect, because they were correlated with changes in core water content. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of this study provide insight into roles of inner membrane lipids in spore properties.     

Protective effect of brown Brazilian propolis against acute vaginal lesions caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 in mice: involvement of antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms

Propolis has been highlighted for its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiviral properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate if brown Brazilian hydroalcoholic propolis extract (HPE) protects against vaginal lesions caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV‐2) in female BALB/c mice. The treatment was divided in 5 days of pre‐treatment with HPE [50 mg·kg^–1, once a day, intragastric (i.g.)], HSV‐2 infection [10 µl of a solution 1 × 10² plaque‐forming unit (PFU·ml^–1 HSV‐2), intravaginal inoculation at day 6] and post‐treatment with HPE (50 mg·kg^–1) for 5 days more. At day 11, the animals were killed, and the in vivo analysis (score of lesions) and ex vivo analysis [haematological and histological evaluation; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities; reactive species (RS), tyrosine nitration levels, non‐protein thiols (NPSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) levels] were carried out. HPE treatment reduced extravaginal lesions and the histological damage caused by HSV‐2 infection in vaginal tissues of animals. HPE was able to decrease RS, tyrosine nitration, AA levels and MPO activity. Also, it protected against the inhibition of CAT activity in vaginal tissues of mice. HPE promoted protective effect on HSV‐2 infected animals by acting on inflammatory and oxidative processes, and this effect probably is caused by its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in superoxide dismutase activity in various larval organs of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L., Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) induced by infection with Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. galleriae

We studied the changes in superoxide dismutase activity in organs of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with two strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. A considerable increase in superoxide dismutase activity was observed at the initial stages of infection, later the enzyme activity decreased and this decrease was timed to cessation of feeding and development of sepsis in the infected larvae. Changes in the enzyme activity in the organs of larvae infected with a highly virulent strain of B. thuringiensis correlated with the stages of infection. Involvement of superoxide dismutase in prevention of oxidative stress in the infected larvae is discussed.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, No. 1, 2005, pp. 63–68.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Khvoshchevskaya, Dubovskii, Glupov.