Evolutionary ecology of the tropane alkaloids of Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae)

Abstract.— Although insect herbivory is frequently assumed to be responsible for the maintenance of plant secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, the assumption is controversial and experimental evidence for this assumption is sparse. We examined natural selection on the two major alkaloids present in the leaves of Datura stramonium and found that both alkaloids came under active selection. We found negative directional selection for scopolamine (natural selection acting to reduce scopolamine levels) and stabilizing selection for hyoscyamine (natural selection acting to maintain an intermediate level of hyoscyamine). We also present evidence that insect herbivores act as the agents of selection on these alkaloids. Finally, we show that there were no trade-offs in resistance to different species of insects.     

Studies on lectins. XXXVII. Isolation and characterization of the lectin from Jimson-weed seeds (Datura stramonium L.)

The lectin of Jimson-weed seeds (Datura stramonium L.) was isolated by affinity chromatography on a polysaccharide mixture from mycelium of Aspergillus niger. The lectin yields two bands on disc electrophoresis, it has sedimentation coefficient s20,w = 3.8 S and its apparent molecular weight estimated by thin layer gel chromatography is 120,000. The lectin reduced with mercaptoethanol yields on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate three zones corresponding to subunits of molecular weight 72,000, 45,000 and 25,000. The lectin contains large amounts of cystine, glycine, 6.3% of hydroxyproline residues, 4.5% glucosamine and 28% of neutral sugar, predominantly arabinose. The lectin is nonspecific in human erythrocyte ABO system, it is not inhibited by simple sugars but is inhibited by a partial hydrolysate of chitin-containing mixture of polysaccharides from Aspergillus niger.     

曼陀罗药用价值的开发和利用

现代医学和临床研究表明,曼陀罗含有莨菪碱、东莨菪碱等多种生物活性物质,在生物医药领域的研究和应用中,具有广阔的前景。为了更好地开发利用这一药用植物资源,本文对其生物学特性,药用成分及开发利用现状等方面进行了综述,力求为相关研究提供参考。     

曼陀罗药用价值的开发和利用

现代医学和临床研究表明,曼陀罗含有莨菪碱、东莨菪碱等多种生物活性物质,在生物医药领域的研究和应用中,具有广阔的前景。为了更好地开发利用这一药用植物资源,本文对其生物学特性,药用成分及开发利用现状等方面进行了综述,力求为相关研究提供参考。     

The Route of Nitrate-Nitrogen Assimilation in the Root of Datura stramonium L.

Datura roots were pressure-infiltrated with 400 µg ml^–115N-nitrate feeding solutions with and without the additionof 7 mM L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine (MSO), a glutamine synthetaseinhibitor. Over a 30 min time course the main diversion of newlyreduced ¹⁵N in MSO untreated roots was to glutamine. In MSO-treatedroots ammonia assimilation into amino compounds was completelysuppressed, with resultant accumulation of a large ¹⁵N ammoniapool. This treatment also caused marked concentrational changesin the free amino compound pools, suggesting that conditionsof nitrogen stress had been induced. Glutamate dehydrogenaseactivity was unaffected by the MSO treatment. The results are consistent with the concept that the glutaminesynthetase/glutamate synthase pathway is the major route ofnewly reduced nitrogen assimilation in Datura roots.     

The Relation between the Patterns of Cytomixis and Variation of Chromosome Numbers in Pollen Mother Cells of Jimsonweed ( Datura stramonium L.)

The phenomenon of cytomixis is a general occurenee in the pollen mother cells (PMCs) of certain angiosperms. Recently, we found this phenomenon also occurred in jimsonweed. According to our observations and a test of chi-square, it has been shown that the discrepancies between the patterns of intercellular chromatin migration and the variation of chromosome numbers in the PMCs of jimsonweed, as well as rye, are not significant. It means that the patterns of intercellulr chromatin migration and the variation chromosome numbers are related to each other.     

曼陀罗种子油脂肪酸化学成分研究

以石油醚为溶剂提取曼陀罗种子中的脂肪酸,采用GC-MS技术测定其化学成分,并通过饲料混毒法测定了曼陀罗种子脂肪酸对小鼠的毒性.结果表明,曼陀罗种子中含有23.2%的脂肪酸,其主要化学成分为1,20-二十碳二酸(34.55%)、Crinan-3-ol,1,2-didehydro-,(3à)(13.41%)、8,11-十八碳二烯酸(4.56%)、8,11,14-二十碳三烯酸(Z,Z,Z)(4.39%)、2,3,3-三甲基辛烷(4.35%)、7,10-十八碳二烯酸(3.61%)、亚油酸乙脂(2.64%)、α-亚麻酸(2.34%)、cis-乙酸环己脂-2-丙酸(2.34%)等.采用饲料混毒法对小鼠的毒性测定结果表明,曼陀罗种子脂肪油对小鼠无胃毒作用.研究认为,曼陀罗种子中含有多种对人体有益的活性成分,可作为脂肪酸食用油来源或从中提取对人体有益的活性成分开发利用.     

曼陀罗种子休眠机理与破眠方法研究

通过对曼陀罗种子生活力测定、发芽试验、吸水率测定及种子萌发抑制物研究,揭示曼陀罗种子休眠机理,并利用物理、化学法处理曼陀罗种子,以探寻打破曼陀罗种子休眠的最佳方法.结果表明:(1)新采收的曼陀罗种子为综合休眠,休眠原因包括:种皮障碍、缺少萌发所需激素以及种皮和种仁中存在萌发抑制物,其中种皮障碍是限制种子萌发的首要因素.(2)室温存储6个月可解除曼陀罗种子种仁的休眠,但种皮障碍始终是其种子萌发的限制因素.(3)机械摩擦、浓H2SO4处理和NaOH处理均可打破除曼陀罗种皮的休眠障碍,促进种子萌发,其中用10% NaOH处理90 min为破除曼陀罗种皮休眠障碍的最佳方法,且发芽率比对照提高了83%.     

Purification of the lectin from Datura stramonium.

The lectin from Datura stramonium can be inhibited by oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine. This property was exploited to purify the lectin by affinity chromatography on Sepharosefetuin. The purified lectin is a glycoprotein in having subunits of 40 000 and 45 000 mol.wt.     

Factors Influencing the Efficacy of the Potential Microbial Herbicide Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler on Amaranthus retroflexus (L.)

Alternaria alternata , applied to run-off at 107 conidia ml -1 and given a 6 h dew period, caused an 88.5% reduction in dry weight of 4 to 5 true-leaf plants of Amaranthus retroflexus . This level of control was achieved whether the inoculated plants were grown in the glasshouse or outside. Formulation of the pathogen in oilseed rape emulsion reduced its dew period requirement from 24 h or more to 8 h or less. For example, with 106 conidia ml -1 , equivalent effects were found with 8 h dew with emulsion formulation compared to 48 h dew with the Tween formulation. Allowing spray deposits to dry on inoculated plants for ca 7 h, before exposing to dew increased the efficacy of the pathogen.     

GC-MS法分析曼陀罗挥发油的化学成分

用水蒸气蒸馏法从曼陀罗中提取挥发油,并用气相色谱/质谱联用技术(GC-MS)对挥发油的化学成分进行分离鉴定,用气相色谱峰面积归一化法确定各组分的相对含量.结果从曼陀罗挥发油中鉴定出58种化合物,占总挥发油量的92.37%.其中主要成分为5,6-二氢-6-戊基-2H-吡喃-2-酮(44.29%)、二苯胺(12.50%)、四十四烷(10.41%)、二十烷(4.19%)、(E)-3-己烯-1-醇(2.38%)、3,7,11,15-四甲基-2-十六碳烯-1-醇(2.28%)等.     

Factors influencing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of carrot (Daucus carota L.)

To develop an efficient procedure for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of carrot (Daucus carota L.) the effects of several factors were studied. Parameters which significantly affected the transformation frequency were the variety, the explant type, and the co-cultivation period. Under optimal conditions, using the A. tumefaciens C58C1 containing either pGSTRN943 or pGSGluc1 and 3 days of co-cultivation, the frequency of transformation of petiole explants of the variety Nanco was greater than 45%. This procedure does not require acetosyringone or prolonged precultivation period. Using kanamycin (100 mg l^-1) for selection, a large number of transgenic plantlets developed from the embryogenic calli within 8–10 weeks of culture on hormone-free medium. Transformation was confirmed by histochemical detection of -glucuronidase activity in the transformed cells, by the ability of petiole segments to produce embryogenic calli in presence of kanamycin, and by Southern hybridization analyses.     

Contribution of the Pericarp to the Amino Acids of the Seeds of Datura stramonium L.

Pericarps of Datura stramomum L. photosynthesizing in ¹⁴CO₂,have been shown to contribute amino acids (especially aspartate,threonine, serine, glutamate, glycine, alanine, phenylalanine,lysine, and histidine) to the protein-bound amino acids of theseed. This contribution is, however, a relatively minor onein comparison with the contribution made by photosyntheaizingleaves in the close proximity of the fruit.     

Studies on the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids by Datura stramonium L. transformed root cultures

Transformed root cultures of Datura stramonium, competent in tropane-alkaloid biosynthesis, have been treated with exogenous plant growth regulators. It was found that combinations of -naphthalene-acetic acid, kinetin (N⁶-furfurylaminopurine) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid induced de-differentiation, causing both the rooty phenotype and the hyoscyamine-biosynthetic capacity to be lost. Alkaloid biosynthesis disappeared rapidly and prior to the loss of morphological integrity. It was observed that the enzymes ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17), arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19) and N-methylputrescine oxidase did not show the increase in level normally associated with subculturing the roots. The level of putrescine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.53) activity, the first enzyme fully committed to hyoscyamine biosynthesis, rapidly declined, about 80% being lost from the roots within 12h. This activity, although showing some temporary restoration, declined further after a few days, and was totally absent from fully dispersed cultures. N-Methylputrescine oxidase persisted at a low level. Following sub-culture of established de-differentiated lines to plant-growth-regulator-free medium, limited root regeneration occurred. The roots formed showed renewed competence in alkaloid biosynthesis and putrescine N-methyltransferase and N-methylputrescine oxidase activities were restored to their normal levels. The relationship between the morphological state and alkaloid-biosynthetic capacity of the cultures is discussed in relation to the overall control of alkaloid biosynthesis.Abbreviations ADC arginine decarboxylase - FW fresh weight - MPO N-methylputrescine oxidase - NAA -naphthalineacetic acid - ODC ornithine decarboxylase - pgr plant growth regulator - PMT putrescine N-methyltransferase We are most grateful to Abigael Peerless and Bridget Chapman for assistance with various part of this work.     

Studies on the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids in Datura stramonium L. transformed root cultures

The relative contributions made by the l-arginine/agmatine/N-carbamoylputrescine/putrescine and the l-ornithine/putrescine pathways to hyoscyamine formation have been investigated in a transformed root culture of Datura stramonium. The activity of either arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19) or ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) was suppressed in vivo by using the specific irreversible inhibitors of these activities, dl--difluoromethylarginine or dl--difluoromethylornithine, respectively. It was found that suppression of arginine decarboxylase resulted in a severe decrease in free and conjugated putrescine and in the putrescine-derived intermediates of hyoscyamine biosynthesis. In contrast, the suppression of ornithine decarboxylase activity stimulated an elevation of arginine decarboxylase and minimal loss of metabolites from the amine and alkaloid pools. The stimulation of arginine decarboxylase was not, however, sufficient to maintain the same potential rate of putrescine biosynthesis as in control tissue. It is concluded that (i) in Datura the two routes by which putrescine may be formed do not act in isolation from one another, (ii) arginine decarboxylase is the more important activity for hyoscyamine formation, and (iii) the formation of polyamines is favoured over the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. An interaction between putrescine metabolism and other amines is also indicated from a stimulation of tyramine accumulation seen at high levels of dl--difluoromethylornithine.Abbreviations ADC arginine decarboxylase - DFMA dl--dif-luoromethylarginine - DFMO dl--difluoromethylornithine - MPO N-methylputrescine oxidase - ODC ornithine decarboxylase - PMT putrescine N-methyltransferase We are indebted to Dr. E.W.H. Bohme of Merrell Dow Research Laboratories (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) for kind gifts of DFMO and DFMA and to Dr. M.J.C. Rhodes for helpful advice and discussion.