Germination inhibitor from the Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica

(1S,6R)-2,7(14),10-Bisabolatrien-1-ol-4-one was identified as a germination inhibitor from the methanol extract of Japanese cedar wood, Cryptomeria japonica. The occurrence of this compound in 1 g fresh wood was 2.0 mg, and showed a maximum of 60% germination inhibition at the dose of 20 mg/filter paper (157 microg/cm(2)) against both of lettuce and rice seeds for 4 d. A selective activity between Dicotyledoneae and Monocotyledoneae seeds was not observed.     

Bioactive metabolites from the endophytic fungus Ampelomyces sp. isolated from the medicinal plant Urospermum picroides

Extracts of cultures grown in liquid or on solid rice media of the fungal endophyte Ampelomyces sp. isolated from the medicinal plant Urospermum picroides exhibited considerable cytotoxic activity when tested in vitro against L5178Y cells. Chromatographic separation yielded 14 natural products that were unequivocally identified based on their ¹H and ¹³C NMR as well as mass spectra and comparison with previously published data. Six compounds (2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11) were natural products. Both fungal extracts differed considerably in their secondary metabolites. The extract obtained from liquid cultures afforded a pyrone (2) and sulfated anthraquinones (7 and 9) along with the known compounds 1, 3, 6 and 8. When grown on solid rice medium the fungus yielded three compounds 4, 5 and 11 in addition to several known metabolites including 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14. Compounds 4, 8 and 10 showed the strongest cytotoxic activity against L5178Y cells with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.2–7.3 μg/ml. Furthermore, 8 and 10 displayed antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis at minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 12.5 μg/ml and 12.5–25 μg/ml, respectively. Interestingly, 6 and 8 were also identified as constituents of an extract derived from a healthy plant sample of the host plant U. picroides thereby indicating that the production of bioactive natural products by the endophyte proceeds also under in situ conditions within the host plant.     

Creation of aromatic maize by CRISPR/Cas

Aroma is an important quality parameter for breeding in rice (Oryza sativa). For example, the aromatic rice varieties basmati and jasmine rice, with a popcorn-like scent, are popular worldwide and routinely command a price premium. 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) is a key flavor compound among over 200 volatiles identified in fragrant rice. A naturally fragrant germplasm exists in multiple plant species besides rice, which all exhibit lower activity of BETAINE ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE 2 (BADH2). However, no equivalent aromatic germplasm has been described in maize (Zea mays). Here, we characterized the two maize BADH2 homologs, ZmBADH2a and ZmBADH2b. We generated zmbadh2a and zmbadh2b single mutants and the zmbadh2a-zmbadh2b double mutant by CRISPR/Cas in four inbred lines. A popcorn-like scent was only noticeable in seeds from the double mutant, but not from either single mutant or in wild type. In agreement, we only detected 2AP in fresh kernels and dried mature seeds from the double mutant, which accumulated between 0.028 and 0.723 mg/kg 2AP. These results suggest that ZmBADH2a and ZmBADH2b redundantly participate in 2AP biosynthesis in maize, and represent the creation of the world's first aromatic maize by simultaneous genome editing of the two BADH2 genes.     

Natural alleles of a uridine 5ʹ-diphospho-glucosyltransferase gene responsible for differential endosperm development between upland rice and paddy rice

Traditional upland rice generally exhibits insufficient grains resulting from abnormal endosperm development compared to paddy rice. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of this trait is poorly understood. Here, we cloned the uridine 5ʹ-diphospho (UDP)-glucosyltransferase gene EDR1 (Endosperm Development in Rice) responsible for differential endosperm development between upland rice and paddy rice by performing quantitative trait loci analysis and map-based cloning. EDR1 was highly expressed in developing seeds during grain filling. Natural variations in EDR1 significantly reduced the UDP-glucosyltransferase activity of EDR1^YZN compared to EDR1^YD1, resulting in abnormal endosperm development in the near-isogenic line, accompanied by insufficient grains and changes in grain quality. By analyzing the distribution of the two alleles EDR1^YD1 and EDR1^YZN among diverse paddy rice and upland rice varieties, we discovered that EDR1 was conserved in upland rice, but segregated in paddy rice. Further analyses of grain chalkiness in the alleles of EDR1^YD1 and EDR1^YZN varieties indicated that rice varieties harboring EDR1^YZN and EDR1^YD1 preferentially showed high chalkiness, and low chalkiness, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that the UDP-glucosyltransferase gene EDR1 is an important determinant controlling differential endosperm development between upland rice and paddy rice.     

不同水稻种质在不同生育期耐盐鉴定的差异

以21份水稻(Oryza sativa)种质为材料,用1.5%Na Cl处理种子8天后测定发芽率。在苗期用不同浓度NaCl水培处理10天,测定叶片死亡率等指标和高亲和性K+转运基因(HKT)家族变异。在成株期选3份种质,用不同浓度NaCl盆栽处理,在开花期和籽粒蜡熟期测定植株可溶性糖和生物量等指标,以明确各种质不同生育期的耐盐差异和关键指标。结果表明,在NaCl胁迫下,种子发芽率受到显著影响。苗期盐胁迫后,各种质的平均叶片死亡率变幅最大。在被鉴定的8个耐盐种质中,HKT家族的7个基因除OsHKT2;4外均存在。在≤1 g·kg–1盐胁迫下植株可溶性糖含量表现出刺激增长效应。CG15R单株生物量与盐浓度呈正相关,且随盐浓度的增加而缓慢增长。在≤1 g·kg–1时,中花9号的生物量随盐浓度的增加而增加。水稻耐盐性具有明显的阶段发育特异性,且不同发育阶段的耐盐性之间无相关性。叶片死亡率与蜡熟期生物量可分别作为苗期和成株期耐盐鉴定的关键指标。CG15R可作为高耐盐种质进行深入分析和利用。     

Biotransformation of enones with biocatalysts — two enone reductases from Astasia longa

The stereochemistry and mechanism in the reduction of the C–C double bond of carvone by the cultured cells of Astasia longa, a nonchlorophyllous cell line classified in Euglenales, was studied. The reduction of the C–C double bond of carvone with the cultured cells involved the anti-addition of hydrogen atom from the si face at the -position and the re face at the β-position of carbonyl group. Two different enone reductases were isolated from the cultured cells of A. longa. Both reductases catalyzed stereospecifically the anti-addition of hydrogen atoms from the si face at C-1 and the re face at C-6. However, one of the reductases participated in a hydrogen transfer of the pro-4R hydrogen of NADH to C-6 position of carvone and the other used the pro-4S hydrogen of NADH.     

基于CSSLs群体定位和图位克隆水稻长芒基因GAD1-2

水稻是世界上最早驯化的重要粮食作物之一。水稻芒可以保护水稻种子不被鸟琢食,是水稻重要的驯化性状之一。芒在野生稻中普遍存在,对野生稻的生存和传播至关重要,然而在驯化和人工选择过程中该性状逐渐被淘汰。定位和克隆水稻长芒相关基因是研究水稻芒驯化遗传机制的基础。本研究以籼稻恢复系东南恢810为受体、漳浦野生稻为供体构建的146个染色体片段置换系(chromosome segment substitution lines, CSSLs)为研究材料,调查了146个CSSLs株系和双亲的芒长,结果表明在4个置换系中检测到1个控制水稻芒长主效基因GAD1-2,位于水稻第8号染色体;利用重叠代换作图法,将GAD1-2定位在Ind8-10和RM4936标记之间,遗传距离约为4.75 Mb。选择分离群体中的显性单株,利用开发的标记,最终将GAD1-2 基因定位在两个 Indel 标记之间,两者间的物理距离约为27 kb,该区域内只有两个候选基因Os08g0485500和Os08g0485400。经测序和分析表明,Os08g0485500是GAD1-2的候选基因,GAD1-2在保守的ORF区域存在6个碱基缺失,导致丝氨酸和半胱氨酸这两个氨基酸缺失,从而表现长芒的性状;在Os08g0485500基因位点已克隆了1个控制水稻芒长的GAD1基因,推测GAD1-2与GAD1为等位基因。本研究为进一步理解水稻起源演化和水稻芒长发育基因的遗传机制奠定了基础。     

稻镰状瓶霉促进水稻生长的机制

稻镰状瓶霉Falciphora oryzae是本实验室从野生稻根系分离获得的一株DSE,具有促生、防病等作用。本研究旨在对其促生机制进行初探。在室内平板共培养条件下,对水稻种子接种稻镰状瓶霉菌饼（4个/皿）,测定植株生长指标、营养元素含量及营养吸收相关基因表达量;温室盆栽条件下,将稻镰状瓶霉以菌肥形式（60g/桶）与水稻进行盆栽共培养,测定植株农艺性状指标。结果表明,接种稻镰状瓶霉后,平板上的水稻幼苗的株高、叶宽和茎秆直径显著增加,根长并未受影响。稻镰状瓶霉能够促进水稻根系对营养元素的吸收,提高地上部分和根系组织中N、P、K、S、Fe和Mg元素的含量,诱导根部与营养元素吸收相关的调控基因OsPTR9、OsAMT3;2、OsPT4、OsSULTR3;1、OsMRS2-8、OsHAK16、OsYSL15和OsIRO2的显著上调表达。盆栽试验表明,稻镰状瓶霉显著提高了水稻各农艺性状指标,包括叶宽、茎秆直径、植株鲜重、植株干重、叶绿素含量和光合强度。结果表明,稻镰状瓶霉的根部定殖能够诱导营养元素吸收相关基因的上调表达,从而促进根系对营养元素的吸收,进而促进水稻植株的生长。     

培养基和栽培方式对蛹虫草子实体活性成分的影响

采用麦粒（W）、麦粒加蚕蛹粉（WW）、大米（R）、大米加蚕蛹粉（RW）的配料栽培方式,以及蚕蛹（CY）活体接种栽培方式培养蛹虫草子实体,比较蛹虫草子实体中多糖及核苷、游离糖醇和小分子糖类含量。结果表明：培养基和栽培方式影响蛹虫草多糖含量及其单糖组成和分子量分布,多糖含量最高的为蚕蛹活体接种培养的处理（CY）,多糖含量为6.19%,其他处理的多糖含量仅为CY的44.4%-62.8%;蚕蛹（CY）上培养的蛹虫草子实体中核苷类成分含量最高,在麦粒上培养获得的子实体中核苷含量显著高于在大米上的处理,并且麦粒添加蚕蛹粉后培养的子实体中尿苷、鸟苷、N⁶-(2-羟乙基)腺苷含量显著上升,大米添加蚕蛹粉后培养的子实体中尿苷、虫草素、N⁶-(2-羟乙基)腺苷含量显著上升;配料栽培的4个处理,其子实体中海藻糖含量为20.07%-23.40%,蚕蛹活体接种的处理（CY）海藻糖含量显著降低,为8.41%;添加蚕蛹粉后子实体中甘露醇含量显著降低。对各成分含量的数据进行归一化处理后进行蛹虫草品质的综合评价,在蚕蛹上培养的蛹虫草综合评分最高,麦粒为主要培养基培养的蛹虫草品质好于大米为主要培养基的,且添加蚕蛹粉的处理优于未添加的处理。     

不同氮水平下不同种稗草对水稻产量形成的影响

以‘南粳9108’(粳稻)为材料,自移栽至成熟期分别与无芒稗、西来稗和光头稗共培养,以无稗草共培为对照,观察不同种类共培稗草在不同施氮水平下(0、120、240、360 kg N·hm^-2)对水稻产量形成的影响.结果表明:相同氮肥水平下,不同种稗草株高表现为西来稗>无芒稗>光头稗,生育期由长到短为无芒稗>西来稗>光头稗.随着氮肥施用量的增加,不同种稗草的生物量在240 kg N·hm^-2下达到最大值,然后降低,无芒稗和西来稗的生物量均显著高于光头稗.在0 kg N·hm^-2下,不同种稗草对水稻产量无显著影响;在120 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和光头稗处理水稻产量与无稗草处理差异不显著,但西来稗处理产量较无稗草处理显著降低;在240 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗、西来稗和光头稗处理显著减产;在360 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和西来稗处理产量较无稗草处理显著降低,光头稗处理与无稗草处理差异不显著.稗草和氮肥对水稻产量形成具有明显的互作效应.120 kg N·hm^-2下,西来稗处理显著降低了水稻灌浆期剑叶硝酸还原酶活性、光合速率和根系氧化力以及成熟期氮积累量和干物质量,其他稗草处理与对照差异不显著;在240和360 kg N·hm^-2下,无芒稗和西来稗处理降低了水稻上述指标;在0 kg N·hm^-2下,各处理的上述指标差异不显著.回归分析表明,稗草表型对水稻产量的影响由大到小的顺序为生物量、株高、生育期和分蘖数,推测稗草较大的生物量造成水稻剑叶光合速率、硝酸还原酶活性、根系氧化力、氮积累量和干物质积累量降低,影响了水稻的生长发育,造成水稻减产.     

An efficient and reproducible method for regeneration of whole plants from mature seeds of a high yielding Indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety PAU 201

Tissue culture is one of the tools necessary for genetic engineering and many other breeding programs. Moreover, selection of high regenerating rice varieties is a pre-requisite for success in rice biotechnology. In this report we established a reproducible plant regeneration system through somatic embryogenesis. The explants used for regeneration were embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds cultured on callus induction media. For callus induction mature seeds were cultured on MS medium containing 30 g/l sucrose combined with 560 mg/l proline and 1.5-3.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5-1.5 mg/l Kin. For plant regeneration, embryogenic calli were transferred to MS medium containing 30 g/l sucrose, supplemented with 1.0-3.0 mg/l BAP, 0.5-1.5 mg/l Kin and 0.5-1.5 mg/l NAA. The highest frequency of callus induction (44.4%) was observed on the MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 mg/l Kin, 560 mg/l proline and 30 g/l sucrose. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration (42.5%) was observed on the MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP, 0.5 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l Kin. The plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil in earthen pots. The developed method was highly reproducible. The in vitro developed plants showed normal growth and flowering under glasshouse conditions.     

Isolation of Five Sterols from the Liverwort,Scapania parvitexta Steph.

Castasterone (1), teasterone (2), and 6-deoxocastasterone (3), as well as monoolein, monolinolein, and monopalmitin, have been identified in immature seeds of rice (Oryza sativa) as active principles in the rice lamina inclination bioassay. Castasterone, as well as monoolein and monopalmitin, were likewise identified in immature seeds of Perilla frutescens, while monopalmitin was identified as a major active principle in cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum. It seems that the occurrence of monoglycerides in higher plants as biologically active principles might be a general feature.     

药用野生稻GBSS基因的系统发育及组织特异性表达

淀粉作为主要的碳水化合物在储藏能量方面发挥至关重要的作用。颗粒结合型淀粉合酶(GBSS)与直链淀粉的合成息息相关。尽管该酶的编码基因已在许多栽培植物中被分离和确定, 但有关它们在作物野生近缘种中的序列分歧和表达的研究却相对较少。该研究以药用野生稻(Oryza officinalis)为研究对象, 定性和定量地分析了GBSS编码基因的序列特点、与其它植物同源基因的进化关系以及在叶和种子中的表达情况。系统发育分析表明, 该酶在禾本科植物中分别由GBSSI和GBSSII基因编码。在药用野生稻中, 这2种基因所编码蛋白的氨基酸序列一致性为62%, 并且它们在不同器官内呈现时空分化表达, 其中GBSSI在种子中超强表达, GBSSII则主要在叶片表达。     

药用野生稻GBSS基因的系统发育及组织特异性表达

淀粉作为主要的碳水化合物在储藏能量方面发挥至关重要的作用。颗粒结合型淀粉合酶(GBSS)与直链淀粉的合成息息相关。尽管该酶的编码基因已在许多栽培植物中被分离和确定, 但有关它们在作物野生近缘种中的序列分歧和表达的研究却相对较少。该研究以药用野生稻(Oryza officinalis)为研究对象, 定性和定量地分析了GBSS编码基因的序列特点、与其它植物同源基因的进化关系以及在叶和种子中的表达情况。系统发育分析表明, 该酶在禾本科植物中分别由GBSSI和GBSSII基因编码。在药用野生稻中, 这2种基因所编码蛋白的氨基酸序列一致性为62%, 并且它们在不同器官内呈现时空分化表达, 其中GBSSI在种子中超强表达, GBSSII则主要在叶片表达。     

Nitrate reductase inactivating factor from rice seedlings

A nitrate reductase inactivating factor was found in extractsof leaf blades, leaf sheaths, and roots of rice seedlings. Thefactor was nondialyzable, precipitable with (NH₄)₂SO₄, and heatlabile. The factor from rice roots inactivated NADH nitratereductase, FMNH2 nitrate reductase, and NADH cytochrome c reductasefrom rice shoots, but had no effect on the activities of NADHdiaphorase and nitrite reductase. The factors from rice shoots,rice roots, and maize roots inactivated NADH nitrate reductaseprepared from cultured rice cells. The factor from culturedrice cells also inactivated rice shoot NADH nitrate reductase. The activity of the inactivating factor showed a diurnal changein shoots of rice seedlings grown with NO₃– medium, althoughthe fluctuation was not large compared to that of NADH nitratereductase activity. When the seedlings were placed in darkness,the activity of the factor did not change during 20 hr withNO₃– medium. However, the activity of the factor fluctuatedwith NO₃– -free medium in light; its activity startedto increase at the 8th hour after transfer. NADH nitrate reductaseactivity from rice shoots declined rapidly during the first8 hr and gradually thereafter in both types of culture. (Received August 24, 1977; )     

Pullulanase from rice endosperm

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) in non-germinating seeds was compared with that in germinating seeds. Moreover, pullulanase from the endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Hinohikari) seeds was isolated and its properties investigated. The pI value of pullulanase from seeds after 8 days of germination was almost equal to that from non-germinating seeds, which shows that these two enzymes are the same protein. Therefore, the same pullulanase may play roles in both starch synthesis during ripening and starch degradation during germination in rice seeds. The enzyme was isolated by a procedure that included ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulofine column chromatography, preparative isoelectric focusing, and preparative disc gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was homogeneous by SDS/PAGE. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 100 000 based on its mobility on SDS/PAGE and 105 000 based on gel filtration with TSKgel super SW 3000, which showed that it was composed of a single unit. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.7. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by beta-cyclodextrin. The enzyme was not activated by thiol reagents such as dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol or glutathione. The enzyme most preferably hydrolyzed pullulan and liberated only maltotriose. The pullulan hydrolysis was strongly inhibited by the substrate at a concentration higher than 0.1%. The degree of inhibition increased with an increase in the concentration of pullulan. However, the enzyme hydrolyzed amylopectin, soluble starch and beta-limit dextrin more rapidly as their concentrations increased. The enzyme exhibited alpha-glucosyltransfer activity and produced an alpha-1,6-linked compound of two maltotriose molecules from pullulan.     

Chloroplast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase from Oryza differs in salt tolerance property from the Porteresia enzyme and is protected by osmolytes

Salinity exerted a distinctly differential effect on fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (EC. 3.1.3.11) isolated from salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa) varieties. Cytosolic and chloroplastic isoforms of the enzyme from salt-sensitive rice seedlings exhibited decreased catalytic activity during growth in the presence of salt. Furthermore, chloroplastic fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase purified from salt-sensitive (O. sativa cv. IR26) and from the wild halophytic rice Porteresia coarctata differed in their in vitro salt tolerance property although they exhibited otherwise identical biochemical and immunological properties. This decline in enzyme activity was not correlated with de novo synthesis of the chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase protein in the presence of salt. The inhibitory effect of increasing concentration of NaCl on in vitro enzymatic activity could be prevented by preincubation of the enzyme with a number of osmolytes with an effectiveness in the order polyol>sugars. Further, the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the purified rice enzyme is altered in vitro with increasing NaCl concentration which could be prevented by preincubation with inositol. Purified chloroplastic fructose-1.6-bisphosphatase from P. coarctata however, exhibits no such inhibition of enzyme activity in vitro or alteration in tryptophan fluorescence with increasing NaCl concentration.     

Elimination of artifacts on native Western blots arising from endogenous lectin activity

While studying the behavior of profilin from Phaseolus vulgaris seeds under native conditions, a high molecular weight species suggesting a complex of profilin and associated proteins was observed by Western immunoblotting. This putative complex was also observed when enzyme-linked secondary antibodies alone were used, and this apparently resulted from antibody association, through its glycosyl moieties, with the endogenous carbohydrate-binding activity from the seed extracts. This endogenous activity corresponded to that of purified phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In addition, the P. vulgaris lectin activity was very stable and was observed when the extracts were pretreated with varying concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate, Triton X-100, urea and β-mercaptoethanol, or when membrane blots were boiled in water before incubation with antibody. The activity was abolished only if the membrane was boiled in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. This finding could also be useful to implement assays for carbohydrate-binding activity from cell or tissue extracts using different visualizable reagents bearing particular glycosyl moieties.