Effects of initial sucrose concentration on excretion of anthocyanin pigments in suspended cultures of Perilla frutescens cells

Cell cultures of Perilla frutescens, growing on Linsmaier and Skoog medium, released more anthocyanin with 40 to 50 g sucrose/l compared with the control of 30 g sucrose/l of medium. More proteins were also released into the medium with the higher sucrose concentration and the cell volume was smaller, suggesting that the higher osmotic pressure, caused by the high sucrose concentration, may cause these releases. The capacitance of the cultured cells indicated a difference in membrane structure between the cells cultivated with different sucrose concentrations, supporting the hypothesis that cell permeabilization is increased at higher sucrose concentrations.J.-J. Zhong is with the Research Institute of Biochemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China, G.-R. Xu is with the Department of Fermentation Technology, Wuxi Institue of Light Industry, Jiangsu 214036, China. T. Yoshida is with the International Center of Cooperative Research in Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering. Osaka University, Osaka 565, Japan.     

Genetic control of geranial formation inPerilla frutescens

A novel chemotype (C type) having a lemon-like odor segregated out in the F₂ progeny of a cross between PK and PL chemotypes ofPerilla frutescens. Chemical analysis of C-type plants revealed that geranial was the major component of essential oils in the leaves. Genetic analysis suggested that geranial is accumulated by individuals homozygous for two pairs of recessive, polymeric genes,fr ₁ andfr ₂, which are incapable of converting geranial into perillene.     

Metabolomics and differential gene expression in anthocyanin chemo-varietal forms of Perilla frutescens

We have investigated metabolite profiles and gene expression in two chemo-varietal forms, red and green forms, of Perilla frutescens var. crispa. Striking difference in anthocyanin content was observed between the red and green forms. Anthocyanin, mainly malonylshisonin, was highly accumulated in the leaves of the red form but not in the green form. Less obvious differences were also observed in the stems. However, there was no remarkable difference in the contents and patterns of flavones and primary metabolites such as inorganic anions, organic anions and amino acids. These results suggest that only the regulation of anthocyanin production, but not that of other metabolites, differs in red and green forms. Microscopic observation and immunohistochemical studies indicated that the epidermal cells of leaves and stems are the sites of accumulation of anthocyanins and localization of anthocyanidin synthase protein. By differential display of mRNA from the leaves of red and green forms, we could identify several genes encoding anthocyanin-biosynthetic enzymes and presumptive regulatory proteins. The possible regulatory network leading to differential anthocyanin accumulation in a form-specific manner is discussed.     

Perilla frutescens seed agar, a new medium for identification of the Cryptococcus species complex: evaluation for all major molecular types

Here we present a new and simple medium made by Perilla frutescens seed as a tool for identification of the Cryptococcus species complex, namely Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Its usefulness was evaluated for all major molecular types within the Cryptococcus species complex. As a result, this medium is better for identification of the species complex compared with Guizotia abyssinica or Helianthus annuus seed medium.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> flowering of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis>

This study investigated the factors affecting in vitro flowering of Perilla frutescens. The shoots regenerated from cotyledonary and hypocotyl explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-acetic acid, each at 0.5 mg l⁻¹, were excised and transferred to MS medium containing 30 g l⁻¹ of sucrose, 8.25 g l⁻¹ of ammonium nitrate, and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ of BA. After 40 d of culture, 86.2% of shoots flowered and most of which self-fertilized in vitro and produced mature fruits with viable seeds. These seeds were germinated and plants were grown to maturity and flowered in soil under greenhouse conditions. The in vitro flowering system reported in this study may facilitate rapid breeding of P. frutescens and offers a model system for studying the physiological mechanism of flowering.     

Effects of temporal heterogeneity of water supply on the growth of Perilla frutescens depend on plant density

Background and Aims

Plants respond to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of a resource supply. However, their responses will depend on intraspecific competition for resource acquisition. Although plants are subject to various intensities of intraspecific competition, most studies of resource heterogeneity have been carried out under a single density so that the effects of intraspecific competition on plant responses to resource heterogeneity are largely unknown.

Methods

A growth experiment was performed to investigate plant responses to the temporal heterogeneity of water supply and nutrient levels under multiple plant densities. The annual plant Perilla frutescens was grown using different combinations of frequency of water supply, nutrient level and density, while providing the same total amount of water under all conditions. The effects of the treatments on biomass, allocation to roots and intensity of competition were analysed after 48 d.

Key Results

Biomass and allocation to roots were larger under homogeneous than under heterogeneous water supply, and the effects of water heterogeneity were greater at high density than at low density. The effects of water heterogeneity were greater at high nutrient level than at low level for biomass, while the effects were greater at low nutrient level than high level for allocation to roots. Competition was severer under homogeneous than under heterogeneous water supply.

Conclusions

Competition for water probably makes plants more sensitive to the water heterogeneity. In addition, the intensity of intraspecific competition can be affected by the temporal patterns of water supply. Because both resource heterogeneity and intraspecific competition affect resource acquisition and growth of plants, their interactive effects should be evaluated more carefully under future studies.     

紫苏油脂合成相关基因家族鉴定及表达分析

该研究从转录组数据库中筛选鉴定紫苏溶血磷脂酸酰基转移酶(LPAT)家族基因,采用生物信息学方法分析了该家族基因的序列特征及蛋白结构,利用qRT PCR技术对该基因时空表达特性进行了研究,为进一步了解紫苏油脂合成机制提供理论依据。结果表明：(1)从紫苏转录组数据库中共检测出11个LPAT家族基因,分别命名为PfLPAT1、PfLPAT2 1、PfLPAT2 2、PfLPAT2 3、PfLPAT2 4、PfLPAT4 1、PfLPAT4 2、PfLPAT5 1、PfLPAT5 2、PfLPAT5 3和PfLPAT5 4;PfLPATs编码氨基酸长度介于250~384 aa之间,理论等电点在7.6~9.6之间。(2)基因序列比对结果表明,11个PfLPATs蛋白分别属于3个亚类,其中1型LPAT包含1个基因,2/3型LPAT 包含4个,4/5型LPAT 包含6个。(3)实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,11个LPAT家族基因在 ‘晋紫苏1号’不同组织中均有表达,其中LPAT2 1、LPAT2 2和LPAT2 3在种子中表达量较高,推测其在紫苏种子油脂合成代谢过程中发挥重要作用。该结果为后续紫苏LPAT家族基因的功能研究提供了重要的基因信息。     

小麦胁迫相关基因TaSF3B2的克隆及表达特性分析

为研究小麦剪接因子在逆境胁迫中的作用,通过分析小麦抗性相关EST数据库,筛选并克隆获得1条2 327bp的核苷酸序列。该序列包含了一个1 854bp的开放阅读框,编码一个由617个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白,氨基酸同源比对发现,该蛋白含有GUS1结构域(Splicing Factor 3B,Subunit 2),属于剪接因子3b亚基中的一员,将该蛋白命名为TaSF3B2。生物信息学分析显示,TaSF3B2平均亲水系数(GRAVY)为-0.895,不稳定系数为43.92,且在细胞核中发挥作用的可能性最大。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,TaSF3B2基因在不同组织中存在差异表达,不同发育时期其表达也存在差异;在幼苗叶片中,该基因表达受高盐、低温、条锈菌、干旱及ABA激素胁迫明显下调表达,而在幼苗根中变化不明显。推测TaSF3B2基因参与了小麦正常条件下的生长发育,同时在小麦应对逆境胁迫的过程中具有重要的作用。     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Perilla frutescens Brit

We isolated and characterized 13 polymorphic microsatellite primers from Perilla frutescens Brit. var. frutescens by using a modified method that involves one‐way PCR amplification with single primer prior to enrichment with an ‘oligo hook’. The efficiency of this procedure for isolating unique microsatellite sequences was approximately 77%. The number of alleles per microsatellite locus ranged from three to 10 with an average of 6.5 alleles per locus while fragment size varied from 156 to 298 bp. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.52 to 0.86 and 0.52 to 0.89, respectively. These newly isolated microsatellite markers are expected to provide valuable resources for different genetic studies currently underway in our Perilla genome research program.     

紫苏花蜜腺的发育解剖学研究

紫苏花蜜腺位于不均等分裂的花盘裂片上,属于子房基部的盘状蜜腺。3枚小裂片上的蜜腺由分泌表皮和产蜜组织组成,而另一枚大裂片上的指状蜜腺则由分泌表皮、产蜜组织和维管束组成。4枚蜜腺的表皮细胞外均具薄的角质层,仅在指状蜜腺的顶部分布着密集的气孔器。蜜腺来源于花盘表面的2～3层细胞。在蜜腺发育过程中,液泡和淀粉粒呈现有规律的消长变化,这与蜜汁的合成与分泌有关。3枚小裂片蜜腺的原蜜汁来源和泌蜜途径与指状蜜腺不同。     

Variation in the growth and biosynthetic activity of cloned cell cultures of Capsicum frutescens and their response to an exogenously supplied elicitor

Twenty clones established from single cells of a suspension culture of Capsicum frutescens were maintained as callus and in suspension over a sixteen week culture period. These clones exhibited marked differences in growth, chlorophyll and chloroform-soluble phenolic content which became more apparent with increasing time in culture. Clones in suspension exhibited a more rapid change in morphology and biosynthetic activity than those cultured as callus. Elicitation increased PAL activity, reduced the incorporation of L-[U-¹⁴C] phenylalanine into the chloroform-soluble fraction of the culture medium and increased incorporation into the methanol-soluble fraction of the cells in ten suspension clones. Differences to elicitation were observed among clones; in particular the faster growing isolates incorporated more radioactive label into soluble phenolics that remain in the cells than those that are released into the medium. The implications of these results are discussed.Abbreviations SH Schenk & Hildebrandt - PAL phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - RGR relative growth rate - TCC total chlorophyll content - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography     

Molecular Cloning of a Novel Gene ZAhi-1 and its Expression Analysis during Zebrafish Gametogenesis

Proto-oncogen Ahi-1 is closely related to a lot of human and mouse diseases. Ahi-1 mutation will lead to leukemia in mice and Joubert syndrome in human beings. We have cloned the full cDNA sequence of Ahi-1 homologous in zebrafish, and RT-PCR results of ZAhi-1 in different tissues reveal that ZAhi-1 expressed highest in the mature gonad. In situ hybridization results of zebrafish gonad show that ZAhi-1 only expressed in the early stages’ gamete cells. RT-PCR analyses of mouse Ahi-1 in different stages of spermatogenesis have been done according to the published Ahi-1 sequence, and the findings reveal that Ahi-1 is expressed in gamete of pachytene stage. It can then be safely concluded that Ahi-1 might take place in the spermatocyte from the early pachytene stage to the late pachytene stage.     

温度和紫外照射对紫苏FAD7基因表达的影响

植物ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶(ω-3FAD)基因是催化亚油酸转化为α-亚麻酸(ALA)的关键酶基因,通过调节该基因的表达,可以提高植物ALA的含量。为了研究温度和紫外照射对紫苏PfFAD7的影响,通过RTPCR方法分析了紫苏地上组织的特异性表达和温度、紫外胁迫下紫苏叶片和茎中PfFAD7基因的积累情况。分析表明,PfFAD7基因在紫苏全植株中均有表达,但在叶片中表达量最高,温度和紫外照射均影响PfFAD7基因的表达,低温可诱导PfFAD7基因的表达,而高温则抑制PfFAD7基因的表达;UV-B照射下,PfFAD7基因在叶片和茎中表达量均表现为先升高再降低。本试验对于紫苏ω-3脂肪酸脱氢酶的研究有利于高水平ALA的积累,更有利于紫苏资源的开发和利用,同时对于进一步了解不饱和脂肪酸的积累和代谢过程以及关键基因PfFAD7在此过程中的功能提供了依据。     

蔗茅EfMYB1基因的克隆与表达分析

为了充分利用蔗茅(Erianthus fulvus)野生资源,挖掘其优良的抗性基因,丰富转基因甘蔗育种候选基因库,该研究结合蔗茅转录组数据,以蔗茅99 1无性系为试验材料,利用RT PCR技术克隆蔗茅MYB基因,并对其进行生物信息学分析及胁迫表达分析,以解析蔗茅的耐寒机理,为转基因甘蔗育种奠定理论基础。结果表明：(1)成功克隆得到一个蔗茅MYB基因,命名为EfMYB1基因(登录号ON586646)。(2)生物信息学分析表明,EfMYB1基因全长1 000 bp,ORF为759 bp,编码251个氨基酸;编码蛋白具有一个保守的SANT结构域,无跨膜结构和信号肽,有多个磷酸化位点;二级结构与三级结构主要以α螺旋和无规则卷曲为主;与南荻相似性最高,遗传距离最近。(3)qRT PCR分析结果发现,EfMYB1基因在蔗茅根和叶组织中的相对表达量随低温胁迫时间的持续而逐渐显著上调,并于胁迫72 h时达到最大值,而在茎中的表达则几乎没有变化;茉莉酸甲酯胁迫下,EfMYB1基因的相对表达量呈先升高后降低的趋势,且在处理6 h时达到最高值;脱落酸胁迫下EfMYB1基因的表达水平较0 h时极显著降低。研究认为,EfMYB1基因属于低温胁迫响应基因,可能参与蔗茅低温胁迫下的应答反应。     

山茶CjMYB1基因的克隆及表达分析

该研究通过序列比对分析,以野生红山茶和不同花色品种山茶为材料,采用PCR方法克隆CjMYB1基因,并通过生物信息学和表达分析对其进行初步研究,为深入研究山茶CjMYB1基因在花色形成和花发育过程的调控机理奠定理论基础。结果表明：(1)成功克隆获得山茶CjMYB1基因(GenBank登录号为OL347930),其开放阅读框长为879 bp,编码292个氨基酸,相对分子质量为33.17 kD;CjMYB1基因属于R2R3-MYB转录因子,且与拟南芥MYB基因家族的第7亚组处于同一分支。(2)荧光定量PCR分析发现,山茶CjMYB1基因在野生红山茶花芽中表达量最高,在萼片、花瓣、雄蕊和心皮中都有较高的表达量,推测其在山茶花器官发育中发挥着重要作用;在红色山茶品种中表达量较高,而在粉色、淡黄色、白色山茶品种中表达量较低,说明CjMYB1基因可能在红色山茶品种的花色苷合成途径中起到了关键作用。(3)亚细胞定位实验表明,CjMYB1蛋白定位在细胞核。     

拟南芥AtNHX2启动子的克隆及表达模式分析(英)

AtNHX2基因是拟南芥NHX基因家族的一员,编码了一种液泡膜中的Na⁺/H⁺反向运输体并对拟南芥的耐盐能力起着重要的作用.采用PCR扩增的方法克隆了拟南芥AtNHX2基因启始密码子上游约2.8 kb的DNA片段,并将其克隆到植物表达载体pCAMBIA1301-1中,通过基因枪轰击洋葱表皮瞬时表达的方法,初步检测启动子的活性.将重组质粒pCAMBIA1301-1/AtNHX2 promoter转化拟南芥并筛选纯合子.AtNHX2 promoter-GUS分析显示AtNHX2在所有的组织中均有表达,包括根尖.在保卫细胞中检测到了强烈的GUS表达,这一结果表明,AtNHX2对特殊细胞的pH调控和K⁺自身稳定方面起着重要的作用.AtNHX2启动子的活性可被NaCl抑制,并且抑制的强度和NaCl的浓度成正相关. 300 mmol/L KCl处理可增强启动子的活性,说明NaCl和KCl是在转录水平上调控AtNHX2的表达.在老叶中GUS活性比在新叶中GUS活性强,这说明了AtNHX2优先将有毒的离子积累在老叶中,从而有利于植物的正常发育.在根毛细胞中也观测到了强烈的GUS活性,这就暗示了AtNHX2在扩大的液泡中储存Na⁺.     

Capsaicin formation in p-fluorophenylalanine resistant and normal cell cultures ofCapsicum frutescens and activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase

Callus cultures ofCapsicum frutescens capable of producing a maximum of 53 μg capsaicin/g FW were exposed to various levels of p-fluorophenyialanine (PFP) at 100, 400, 1000 and 2000 μM to develop a resistant cell line that over produces capsaicin. After 15 days of culturing on media lacking PFP, cell lines resistant to 100, 400 and 1000 μM registered 18%, 34.5% and 45% increase in capsaicin content over normal cell line (cells not exposed to PFP). Capsaicin accumulation was inhibited in 2000 μM PFP resistant cell line. The profile of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the key enzyme in pheny1propanoid pathway in resistant cell cultures was studied and compared with normal cell cultures to understand its role in capsaicin formation. Importantly increased production of capsaicin was obtained using PFP resistant cell lines. The activity profile of PAL had no correlation with capsaicin content in both control and PFP resistant cells.