Induction of Anti-inflammatory Responses by Dietary Momordica charantia L. (Bitter Gourd)

We assessed the immunomodulatory activity of Momordica charantia L. (bitter gourd), a vegetable that has been reported to possess various bioactivities. We examined the effect of bitter gourd on intestinal immunity by monitoring the TGF-β and IL-7 secretion from Caco-2 cells and the IL-10 and IL-12 secretion from THP-1 cells that are used as in vitro models of the intestinal epithelium and monocyte/macrophages, respectively. We also determined the in vivo immunological responses of rats fed on bitter gourd for 3 weeks. We found that bitter gourd induced a decrease in the intestinal secretion of IL-7 and an increase in the secretions of TGF-β and IL-10, these effects reflecting the bitter gourd-induced changes in systemic immunity, i.e., a decrease in the number of lymphocytes, increases in the populations of Th cells and NK cells, and increase in the Ig production of lymphocytes. Dietary bitter gourd may therefore induce both intestinal and also systemic anti-inflammatory responses.     

蛇瓜芽的诱导

蛇瓜的茎尖和腋芽以MS分别加入0.5～2.0 mg*L-1的6-BA和0.5～1.0 mg*L-1的6-BA与不同浓度的2,4-D、NAA、IAA组合培养时,以1.0 mg*L-1的6-BA以及6-BA与0.1～1.0 mg*L-1的IAA组合对芽的诱导效果最好.     

普通丝瓜新品种‘福研1号’选育

‘福研1号’丝瓜是福建省农业科学院作物研究所以‘SG9’为母本、‘SG17’为父本育成的杂交一代品种。中早熟,座果率高;瓜呈短棒状,瓜皮绿色,有明显黑色条纹,不易裂果;肉质质地硬,甘甜,果肉不易褐变;瓜长20~25 cm,横径5~7 cm,单瓜重510 g左右,产量达45 000~60 000 kg·hm-2,适合福建省及周边省份种植。     

Development of Pathogenicity and AFLP to Characterize Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. momordicae Isolates from Bitter Gourd in China

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) cultivated in China is regarded as an important vegetable crop and is of considerable economic importance. However, it is susceptible to fusarium wilt, which causes heavy economic losses. Forty‐eight isolates were isolated from diseased bitter gourd plants that displayed typical fusarium wilt symptoms. Based on the morphological features, the rDNA internal transcribed space (ITS) sequences, pathogenicity and host biotypes, all of the isolates tested were pathogenic to the susceptible bitter gourd plants species (cv. ‘Guinongke No. 2’) and were identified as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae (FOM). Our results classified different isolates as slightly, moderately or highly virulent. Among the isolates tested, 43 isolates slightly infected bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria var. clavata), whereas they did not infect other species from the family Cucurbitaceae. Genetic diversity among 48 isolates was characterized using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The number of bands amplified by each primer pairs ranged from 41 to 66, with sizes ranging from 200 to 500 bp. A total of 366 bands were observed, out of which 363 were polymorphic (99.14%). The Nei's genetic identity of the six geographical populations varied from 0.7362 to 0.9707. The mean Nei's gene diversity index (H = 0.2644) and the mean Shannon's information index (I = 0.4071) at species level were higher than ones at populations level, indicated that the variation within populations was greater than that among populations. The Nei's GST (0.5103) and gene flow (Nm = 0.4923) revealed that genetic differentiation was mainly among populations and few gene exchanges. The dendrogram obtained from AFLP marker showed that there was a good correlation between isolates from different geographical locations and their pathogenicity. The AFLP marker effectively distinguished the high virulent isolates from the less virulent isolates. The highly virulent isolates were distinctly separated in different clusters, which indicated a significantly high correlation with the geographical origin in the AFLP dendrogram. The pathogenicity and molecular marker analysis confirmed the presence of variation in virulence as well as genetic diversity among the FOM isolates studied.     

苦瓜的核糖体失活蛋白

核糖体失活蛋白是一类专一修饰核糖体的大亚基rRNA从而抑制蛋白质生物合成的蛋白毒素,可分为Ⅰ-型和Ⅱ-型两种类型。苦瓜中含有多种Ⅰ-型核糖体失活蛋白,如α-苦瓜素,β-苦瓜素和MAP30等,这些蛋白成分具有抗肿瘤、抗病毒和抗艾滋病等功能,因而近年来引起人们广泛的关注。对苦瓜核糖体失活蛋白的研究进展和应用前景进行了综述。     

Mapping of the Gynoecy in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) Using RAD-Seq Analysis

Momordica charantia is a monoecious plant of the Cucurbitaceae family that has both male and female unisexual flowers. Its unique gynoecious line, OHB61-5, is essential as a maternal parent in the production of F₁ cultivars. To identify the DNA markers for this gynoecy, a RAD-seq (restriction-associated DNA tag sequencing) analysis was employed to reveal genome-wide DNA polymorphisms and to genotype the F₂ progeny from a cross between OHB61-5 and a monoecious line. Based on a RAD-seq analysis of F₂ individuals, a linkage map was constructed using 552 co-dominant markers. In addition, after analyzing the pooled genomic DNA from monoecious or gynoecious F₂ plants, several SNP loci that are genetically linked to gynoecy were identified. GTFL-1, the closest SNP locus to the putative gynoecious locus, was converted to a conventional DNA marker using invader assay technology, which is applicable to the marker-assisted selection of gynoecy in M. charantia breeding.     

Heterogeneous Packing in the Folding/Unfolding Intermediate State of Bitter Gourd Trypsin Inhibitor

The conformation and dynamics of a protein are essential in characterizing the protein folding/unfolding intermediate state. They are closely involved in the packing and site-specific interactions of peptide elements to build and stabilize the tertiary structure of the protein. In this study, it was confirmed that trypsin inhibitor obtained from seeds of bitter gourd (BGTI) adopted a peculiar but plausible conformation and dynamics in the unfolding intermediate state. The fluorescence spectrum of one of two tryptophan residues of BGTI, Trp9, shifted to the blue side in the presence of 2–3 M guanidine hydrochloride, although the other, Trp54, did not show this spectral shift. At the same time, the motional freedom of Trp9 revealed by a time-resolved fluorescence study decreased, suggesting that the segmental motion of this residue was more restricted. These results indicate that BGTI takes such a conformation state that the hydrophobic core and loop domains arranging Trp9 and Trp54 respectively are heterogeneously packed in the unfolding intermediate state.     

芦苇末基质对樱桃番茄和瓠瓜生理特性的影响（简报）

芦苇末有机基质中添加其它固体基质和肥料合成复合有机基质栽培的樱桃番茄和瓠瓜比岩棉上的生长健壮,根系活力提高50％－100％,叶片气孔阻抗减小,光合速率提高30％左右。     

我国冬瓜、节瓜种质资源研究现状及建议

冬瓜及其变种节瓜原产我国南部地区,是我国传统的重要菜药兼用型蔬菜品种,现广泛分布于亚洲的热带、亚热带和温带地区。目前我国国家种质资源库中保存的冬瓜和节瓜种质资源分别只有299份和69份,且仅对几个种质特征进行了简单描述,许多重要的种质特征信息尚为空白,种质资源的遗传多样性也众说不一。建议今后我国冬瓜和节瓜种质资源研究应重点开展以下几个内容:(1)搜集与抢救散落在民间的大量冬瓜、节瓜种质资源,扩充国家种质资源库;(2)系统、完整地对冬瓜、节瓜种质资源的特征特性进行鉴定;(3)创建我国冬瓜、节瓜种质资源的分子身份证产权保护系统;(4)鉴别和区分冬瓜种质资源中的同名异物或同物异名资源,构建核心冬瓜、节瓜种质资源库。     

观赏南瓜及葫芦种质资源遗传多样性分子评价

利用RAPD和ISSR标记对28份观赏南瓜及葫芦种质资源进行遗传多样性分子评价。结果表明:12个RAPD引物和13个ISSR引物分别扩增出89条和93条清晰谱带,平均每个引物分别扩增出6.1条和6.2条多态性谱带,多态性比率分别为82%和86%。RAPD和ISSR标记检测供试材料的遗传相似性系数(GS)范围分别为0.31～0.99和0.33～0.99,ISSR(平均GS值0.68)检测多态性效果高于RAPD(平均GS值0.73)。利用UPGMA法基于RAPD与ISSR混合聚类,将28份观赏南瓜及葫芦种质分为3类,类群的划分与果实形状明显相关:第Ⅰ类群包括15份种质,为扁圆形、卵圆形、圆球形或圆筒状的早熟或晚熟果实;第Ⅱ类群包括11份种质,为汤匙形、梨形、扁球形或皇冠形的早中熟果实;第Ⅲ类群包括2份种质,为葫芦形的晚熟果实。     

38份瓠瓜种质资源遗传多样性的ISSR分析

采用ISSR分子标记技术对源自中国7个省份的38份瓠瓜种质进行遗传多样性分析。12个ISSR引物共扩增出96条多态性带,平均每个引物扩增的多态性带数为8条,多态性比率平均为83.5%。聚类分析将供试的38份种质分为4个类群8组,主坐标分析将其分为4个类群10组。ISSR分子标记的分类结果与瓠瓜的农艺性状分类和地理分布有一定的相关性。     

冬瓜和节瓜DNA提取及RAPD反应体系优化

以8份冬瓜和节瓜为材料,采用改良CTAB法提取基因组DNA,采用正交试验设计,对冬瓜和节瓜RAPD条件进行了优化,建立了最佳反应体系:25μL反应体系中含1×buffer,模板DNA、Mg2+、dNTPs、引物和Taq酶的浓度分别为20 ng、2.0mmol/L、0.24 mmol/L、0.3μmol/L和1.0 U。PCR扩增程序为:94℃预变性5 min;94℃变性45 s,36.9℃退火45 s,72℃延伸1.5min,共40个循环;72℃延伸10 min,12℃保存。     

苦瓜种质遗传多样性的SRAP标记分析

从144对SRAP引物中筛选出61对多态性强、重复性好的SRAP引物,对43份苦瓜种质DNA进行了扩增,共得到2078条谱带,其中多态性谱带863条,平均每对引物扩增得到14.15条多态性谱带,多态性位点百分率为42.11%。用UPM-GA方法进行聚类分析,供试苦瓜种质的遗传相似系数为0.50～0.95,在阈值0.65处(L1)可将苦瓜分为2个类群,第Ⅰ类群为野生种,第Ⅱ类群为半栽培种和栽培种;在阈值0.80处(L2)将第Ⅱ类群分为5个亚类群,L2的划分反映了苦瓜种质间的遗传多样性与果实性状、来源或地理分布有较高相关性;在阈值0.83处,第Ⅱ类群1亚类群又分为4类,大致分为滑身苦瓜(粗棱无瘤)、大顶苦瓜(棱细大圆瘤、倒锥形)、棱细圆瘤苦瓜以及尖刺瘤或凸瘤苦瓜,分类结果与苦瓜的刺瘤有无、棱条粗细、瘤的形状和瓜色等密切相关,初步认为刺瘤苦瓜为较原始类型。     

丝瓜种质资源亲缘关系的SRAP分析

利用SRAP标记,对来源不同的56份有棱丝瓜和8份无棱丝瓜种质的亲缘关系进行了分析。从144对SRAP引物中筛选出60对多态性强、重复性好的SRAP引物。共扩增得到1433条谱带,其中多态性谱带1280条,平均每对引物扩增得到21.33条多态性谱带,多态性位点百分率为88.74%。将丝瓜种质利用UPMGA方法进行聚类分析,结果表明,64份丝瓜种质的遗传相似系数为0.17～0.98。在遗传相似系数0.17处,供试种质被分为2大类群,第一大类群为普通丝瓜,第二大类群为有棱丝瓜,在第二大类群中又被分为以长绿型丝瓜为主和短果型丝瓜2亚群。丝瓜类群的划分与形态学性状比较一致,即首先与棱沟的有无密切相关,其次与瓜条的长短、颜色有较高的相关性。     

吊瓜籽中氨基酸质量分数的测定

样品吊瓜籽经酸水解处理,应用氨基酸分析仪进行分析,结果表明,吊瓜籽含所有常规17种氨基酸,质量分数高达23.28%,其中谷氨酸(G lu)和精氨酸(Agr)质量分数达4.39%和3.88%。     

Primary Structure of 6.5k-Arginine/Glutamate-rich Polypeptide from the Seeds of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica)

The amino acid sequence of 6.5k-arginine/glutamate rich polypeptide (6.5k-AGRP) from the seeds of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) has been determined. The 6.5k-AGRP consists of a 47-residue polypeptide chain containing two disulfide bonds, and a molecular mass calculated to be 5695 Da, which fully coincides with a value of [Μ + H] ⁺ = m/z 5693.39 obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The mass spectrometric evidence indicated that 6.5k-AGRP is also present partially truncated at the C-terminus. In our preparations, approximately half of the polypeptide molecules have the C-terminal sequence Arg-Arg-Glu-Val-Asp; the other half lack Val-Asp and end with the glutamic acid, making a total of 45 residues in the polypeptide chain. The two disulfide bonds connect Cys¹² to Cys³³ and Cys¹⁶ to Cys²⁹. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of 6.5k-AGRP with those of the other known proteins included in the PIR protein sequence database showed that it is related to the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region encoded by the first exon of the cocoa (Theobroma cacao) and cotton seeds vicilin genes, sharing a characteristic two Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Cys motif.     

Effect of CPTA and of Nicotine on Chlorophyll and Carotenoid Contents of an Ornamental Gourd

The three coloured parts: green, yellow-green and yellow offruits of an ornamental gourd contained carotenoids and chlorophyllsin decreasing amounts, while the orange parts had only smallamounts of carotenoids. There were 14 individual carotenoids(typically leaf carotenoids) in the green parts with three cis-xanthophylls(normally found in maturing fruits) which were in smaller amountsin the other coloured parts and disappeared completely in theorange parts. When the fruits were stored for 15 days, both carotenoids andchlorophylls (where present) decreased. 2-(4-chlorophenylthio)-triethylaminehydrochloride (CPTA)-treated fruits unusually contained eitherslightly less or slightly more carotenoids than controls, whilechlorophylls were always less. Lycopene and -carotene, absentin controls, accumulated in the treated fruits. These resultssupport the suggestion that CPTA may work as a cyclization reactioninhibitor. Nicotine however, inhibited total chlorophylls but increasedtotal carotenoids without accumulating either -carotene or lycopene.The results cannot be explained on the basis that only the non-ionicform of nicotine is effective as a carotenoid cyclization inhibitor. Ornamental gourd, Cucurbita, carotenoids, lycopene, xanthophylls, chlorophylls, 2-(4-chlorophenylthio)-triethylamine hydrochloride     

Exogenous Nitric Oxide Delays Ripening and Maintains Postharvest Quality of Pointed Gourd During Storage

This study was aimed to assess the effect of nitric oxide (NO; 1 and 2 mM) on shelf life and quality of pointed gourd. Fruits were stored at 12 °C for 14 days with simulated ambient storage for 3 days (7 + 3 and 14 + 3) to mimic the marketing period. NO treatment significantly improved the postharvest shelf life as compared to control samples. The fruits underwent to the application of NO (2 mM) effectively maintained the chlorophyll, phenolics, antioxidant activity and membrane integrity. It suppressed weight loss, yellow color development, lignin formation, and electrolytic leakage. Activity of enzymes (PAL and LOX) was also influenced positively by NO application. Postharvest treatment of NO (2 mM) could be suggested as an eco-safe and effective technique for enhancing the shelf life without hampering quality of pointed gourd.

     

Isolation and Characterization of Two Momordins,Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins from the Seeds of Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia)

Cathepsins L and L-like (58 kDa) proteinase from mackerel were purified to electrophoretical homogeneity by Concanavalin A-Sepharose and Econo-Pac S chromatographies. The molecular weights of cathepsins L and L-like proteinase were 30,000 and 58,000, and the optimal pH for the hydrolysis of Z-Phe-Arg-MCA (benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine-7-[4-methyl] coumarylamide) were 5.0 and 5.5, respectively. The stability of both purified proteinases at various pHs was low, when the pH was above 7.0. According to the substrate specificity analysis, these proteinases hydrolyzed Z-Phe-Arg-MCA and Z-Arg-Arg-MCA, but did not hydrolyze Z-Arg-MCA and L-Arg-MCA. The activities of these two proteinases were effectively activated by cysteine and dithiothreitol. Their thiol-dependent proteolytic activity against Z-Phe-Arg-MCA was strongly inhibited by E-64 (trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido[4-guanidino]butane), antipain, chymostatin, iodoacetic acid, and leupeptin, but not inhibited by pepstatin or phenylmethane sulfonyl floride. The inactivation rate constants (K_D) of cathepsins L and L-like proteinases at 50°C were 5.1 × 10^?5 and 6.9 × 10^?4 s^?1, respectively. K⁺, Na⁺, Mg⁺, and Sr⁺ did not affect them, while Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ inhibited the activity of the purified cathepsins L and L-like proteinase.