Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases with different stereospecificity from Linum album and Linum usitatissimum

Recently it was found that cell cultures and plants of Linum species contain lignans of various chemical structures. The stereochemistry of these compounds differ among species. Cell cultures of L. album accumulate (-)-podophyllotoxin together with pure (-)-secoisolariciresinol. The presence of both enantiomers of the precursor pinoresinol indicates that in L. album cell cultures the reactions from pinoresinol to secoisolariciresinol are the first steps determining enantiospecificity in biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin. Seeds of L. usitatissimum contain almost enantiomerically pure (+)-secoisolariciresinoldiglucosid derived from (+)-secoisolariciresinol. A cell culture of this species contains a mixture of both enantiomers of pinoresinol and pure (+)-secoisolariciresinol. In order to get more insight into the mechanism of (-)- and (+)-secoisolariciresinol biosynthesis, respectively, we isolated a cDNA encoding pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase (PLR) from L. album. The heterologously expressed PLR-La1 converts only (+)-pinoresinol into (-)-secoisolariciresinol. In contrast, the heterologously expressed PLR from L. usitatissimum converts only (-)-pinoresinol to (+)-secoisolariciresinol confirming the results from others. Comparison of all available PLR protein sequences resulted in a few amino acids which may be responsible for the action of the PLRs with respect to the different enantioselectivity. A mutagenesis approach could not confirm this hypothesis. Aspects about the evolution of PLRs are discussed.     

Influence of methyl jasmonate on podophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin accumulation in Linum album cell suspension cultures

The accumulation of podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin (6MPTOX) was enhanced about twofold in the suspension culture of Linum album line 2-5 aH following the addition of methyl jasmonate (MeJas) to the cultivation medium, reaching 7.69±1.45 mg/g dry weight and 1.11±0.09 mg/g dry weight, respectively. There was no increase in 6MPTOX accumulation following the addition of MeJas to suspension cells of L. album line X4SF, whereas PTOX accumulation was enhanced about tenfold to 0.49±0.10 mg/g dry weight. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity increased immediately after the addition of MeJas to a cell suspension culture of line X4SF, reaching a maximum between 4 h and 1 day after elicitation, while cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity and the lignin content of the cells were not affected.     

A combined HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS method for the identification of lignans and its application to the lignans of Linum usitatissimum L. and L. bienne Mill

A combined HPLC-UV/PAD and HPLC-ESI/MS method allowing the fast detection and identification/structural characterisation of lignans of different structural subclasses is described. Twenty-four lignans of different skeletal types were analysed and the combined information derived from their UV and ESI/MS spectra led to the identification of group characteristics that can be used to establish the structure of unknown lignans in plant samples. This method was successfully applied to the identification of lignans in crude extracts of Linum usitatissimum L. and L. bienne Mill.     

Production of podophyllotoxin from Podophyllum hexandrum: a potential natural product for clinically useful anticancer drugs

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle of family Berberidaceae is an endangered medicinal plant. Rhizome ofP.hexandrum contains several lignans which posses antitumor activity. Podphyllotoxin is the most active cytotoxic natural product. It is used as starting compound for the synthesis of anticancer drug etoposide and teniposide. Podophyllotoxin acts as an inhibitor of microtubule assembly. These drugs are used for lung cancer, testicular cancer, neuroblastoma, hepatoma and other tumors. Besides this, it also shows antiviral activities by interfering with some critical viral processes. Availabilityof podophyllotoxin from plants has its limitations because of its intense collection from nature and lack of organized cultivation. The chemical synthesis of podophyllotoxin is considered to be very complicated as yet. The use of biotechnological approaches for the production of podophyllotoxin using cell cultures, organ cultures, and biotransformation route or by manipulating biosynthetic pathway proves to be an attractive alternative for production of podophyllotoxin. The present paper discusses the current status of research, limitations and future prospects for theproduction of podophyllotoxinin vitro.     

Podophyllotoxin content in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Podophyllum hexandrum</Emphasis> Royle plants of known age of seed origin and grown at a lower altitude

Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, an important alpine herb, and a source of the highly valued aryltetralin-type lignan, podophyllotoxin, has been subjected to heavy collection from the wild due to ever increasing demand. The present study deals with an attempt to bring this plant under cultivation at a relatively lower altitude and to evaluate (1) various growth parameters including above and below ground biomass accumulation, net assimilation rate and relative growth rate, etc., and (2) podophyllotoxin content from the resulting above and below ground biomass in seed raised plants of a known age series of 1–5 years. The podophyllotoxin content was estimated on the basis of HPLC analyses. The levels were found to increase with the plant age and the maximum amount was found in 5-year old plants. This study demonstrates that (1) seeds can be conveniently used for raising healthy propagules in easily approachable locations at a relatively lower altitude, and that the plants can be maintained in such sites over long periods, and (2) this approach of “conservation through cultivation” can be suggested as an effective tool for the management of this “critically endangered status” species.     

鬼臼毒素及其衍生物

鬼臼毒素作为鬼臼属植物的主要活性成分,已经有广泛的研究报道。其同系物及衍生物具有很强的抗肿瘤活性。依托泊甙、替尼泊甙已经成功地用于临床抗肿瘤治疗。优化结构、寻找新的鬼臼毒素类化合物资源替代品,已成为当前进一步研究的主要方向。     

Seven New Eimeria spp. (Protozoa,Coccidia) from Freshwater Fishes of Canada*

Seven new species of Eimeria are described and figured from the freshwater fishes of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. They are Eimeria catostomi sp. n. and E. fernandoae sp. n. from Catostomus commersoni (Lacépède), E. etheostomae sp. n. from Etheostoma exile (Girard), E. hoffmani sp. n. from Umbra limi (Kirtland), E. micropteri sp. n. from Micropterus dolomieui Lacépède E. pungitii sp. n. from Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus), and E. salvelini sp. n. from Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill). Furthermore, 2 new host records and 2 new distribution records for North America are reported for E. anguillae Léger & Hollande, 1922 and E. truttae Léger & Hesse, 1919 respectively. Finally, morphologically similar oocysts found in various cyprinids are regarded as belonging to E. iroquoina Molnar & Fernando, 1974.     

中国松塔牛肝菌属新种和新记录种

本文报道松塔牛肝菌属四个新种,即:裸皱松塔牛肝菌Strobilomyces gla-bellus Ying sp.nov.,阔裂松塔牛肝菌S.latirimosus Ying sp.nov.,微茸松塔牛肝菌S.subnudus Ying sp.nov.,短绒松塔牛肝菌S.velutinus Ying sp.nov.;及四个中国新记录种,即:柔鳞松塔牛肝菌S.mollis Corner,疣鳞松塔牛肝菌S.nigricans Berk.,锥鳞松塔牛肝菌S.polypyramis Hook.,半裸松塔牛肝菌S.semi-nudus Hongo.松塔牛肝菌属Strobilomyces以其具有变黑的担子果与菌幕、不粘的菌盖上有疣状、绵绒状或刺状鳞片以及黑褐色带明显纹饰的孢子而易于识别。Singer(1945)按孢子纹饰的不同将松塔牛肝菌属分为两个组,其一为具疣、刺和网纹的种类;另一为具纵贯孢子两端的翼状棱纹的种类。对于后者的归属问题,Pegler & Young持不同见解,并于1981建立了非洲牛肝菌属AfroboletusPegler & Young以纳孢子具翼状纵棱和孢缘边(rim)的种类;含2—4种,分布在非洲近赤道的地区。在中国,松塔牛肝菌属已报道过三个种,即:松塔牛肝菌Strobilomyces,floc-copus(Vahl.ex Fr.)Karst.光头松塔牛肝菌S.glabriceps Chiu和混淆松塔牛肝菌S.confusus Sing.。裘维蕃(1948,1957)曾描述过网孢松塔牛肝菌Strobi-lomyces retisporus(Pat.et Bak.)Gilb.但因其子实体色鲜红至褐红而不变黑色、子层体淡暗黄色且菌肉不变红-黑色、孢子具网纹而宜转隶于Heimiellia Boedijn(1951)。文中有新分类单位和国内已知种的分种检索表、新种的拉丁文和英文描述并有绘图和扫描电镜照片示明孢子纹饰。     

子囊菌二新种

本文报道在我国东北地区发现寄生在落叶松(Larix Mill.)上的二个子囊菌新种——多孢小黑腐皮壳(Valsella multispora sp.nov.)及落叶松隐腐皮壳(Cryptovalsa laricina sp.nov.)。其形态特征有汉文和拉丁文描述以及显微照像图版。     

基于Cyt b基因和形态学的鼠兔属系统发育研究及鼠兔属1新亚属5新种描述

本研究扩增了169号鼠兔属样本的cyt b序列,代表13个种11亚种及5个未分类单元,下载了66条分类地位确定而完整的Cyt b序列,包括25种及9个亚种。构建了Bayesian系统发育树,计算了遗传距离,开展了物种界定分析;对13个种4亚种及5个未分类单元174号完整头骨和外形的20个形态学量度数据开展了主成分分析、判别分析和T检验;对头骨和身体外部特征进行了比较研究。结果显示：鼠兔属包含5个亚属,分别是Ochotona, Conothoa, Pika, Lagotona 和一新亚属;5个亚属间的遗传距离在12.8%-16.0%之间;高黎贡鼠兔（Ochotona gaoligongensis）是灰颈鼠兔（O. forresti）的亚种;喜马拉雅鼠兔(O. himalayana)是灰鼠兔(O. roylei)的亚种;木里鼠兔(O. muliensis)是川西鼠兔(O. gloveri)的亚种;宁夏鼠兔(O. argentata)应为蒙古鼠兔(O. pallasi)的亚种;西伯利亚鼠兔（O. turuchanensis） 为高山鼠兔(O. alpina)的同物异名。藏鼠兔循化亚种（O. thibetana xunhuaensis）应提升为种：循化鼠兔(O. xunhuaensis);东北鼠兔长白山亚种(O. hyperborea coreana)应该提升为种：长白山鼠兔(O. coreana);藏鼠兔峨眉亚种（O. thibetana sacraria）应提升为种：峨眉鼠兔（O. sacraria）; 藏鼠兔锡金亚种（O. thibetana sikimaria）应提升为种：锡金鼠兔（O. sikimaria）。通过分子系统学和形态学研究,发现了鼠兔属1 新亚属和5个新种。新亚属命名为异耳鼠兔亚属(Alienauroa subgen. n.),属模为黄龙鼠兔（O. huanglongensis sp. n.）,成员包括黄龙鼠兔新种、峨眉鼠兔、循化鼠兔,以及在龙门山和大巴山发现的2个新种,共计5个种。新亚属的鉴定特征是：耳上前缘内侧有一个密被短毛的异耳屏（Congenial tragus）;头骨扁平,颅面平直;眼小,眼眶长和眼眶宽均小于其他亚属;被毛粗长而无光泽;腹毛多为灰白色。5个新种分别发现于四川黄龙自然保护区、四川北部龙门山、四川北部大巴山、四川西部邛崃山、西藏雅鲁藏布江中游的朗县。我们分别将其命名为黄龙鼠兔（Ochotona huanglongensis sp. n.）,扁颅鼠兔（Ochotona flatcalvariam sp.n.）,大巴山鼠兔（Ochotona dabashanensis sp. n.）,雅鲁藏布鼠兔（Ochotona yarlungensis sp. n.）和邛崃鼠兔（Ochotona qionglaiensis sp. n.）。黄龙鼠兔的鉴定特征是：门齿孔前段平行;脑颅扁平,颅高为颅全长的33.5%;耳大,平均20mm以上（不含耳基部的管）,异耳屏三角形,但顶端圆形;毛长而粗糙,无光泽,背部毛长约20mm;腹面毛色以灰白为主;前后足背面灰白色,腹面黑灰色,指（趾）垫大,橘黄色,露出毛外,爪黄白色半透明。扁颅鼠兔的鉴定特征是：脑颅异常扁平,颅高约11mm,颅高仅为颅全长的31%;眼眶很小,平均6.7mm×5.6mm;个体小,体长140mm以下;体毛长而粗糙无光泽,背部毛长22mm;耳小,平均17mm左右,异耳屏阔圆型,相对较小;背毛沙黄色,腹毛黄白。大巴山鼠兔的鉴定特征是：异耳屏镰刀状;耳相对较小,均在17mm以下,和峨眉鼠兔、扁颅鼠兔差不多,比该亚属循化鼠兔和黄龙鼠兔小。颅高相对较大,颅面更隆突,颅高平均12.45mm, 眼眶相对较大,平均8.52mm×7.13mm。雅鲁藏布鼠兔的鉴定特征是：与黑唇鼠兔（O. curzoniae）和努布拉克鼠兔拉萨亚种（O. nubrica lhasaensis）有很近的亲缘关系;唇缘有很窄的深灰色圈,深灰色圈外侧为灰白色;前后足底部毛浓密,趾端毛多而长,趾垫和爪隐于毛中;个体中等,体长150mm左右,比黑唇鼠兔和努布拉克鼠兔拉萨亚种小得多;颅面较隆突,但与黑唇鼠兔相比,颅面相对平直;被毛黑褐色。邛崃鼠兔的鉴定特征是：大小及头骨和藏鼠兔很相似,但该种和藏鼠兔的显著不同是眶间宽狭窄,平均4.05mm（3.64-4.19mm）,而藏鼠兔眶间宽一般超过4.2mm,平均为4.45mm;该种毛色为沙色带黄色调,毛粗长;藏鼠兔为黑褐色调,毛相对较短;邛崃鼠兔前后足背面为显著的草黄色,而藏鼠兔前后足背面黄白色。     

珍稀药用植物桃儿七细胞工程及内生菌研究进展

桃儿七的主要活性成分是鬼臼毒素,在医药领域具有重要的应用价值。目前商用桃儿七主要来自野生资源,过度采挖已造成桃儿七在世界范围内濒临灭绝。综述了桃儿七的植物学特性,以及近年来通过细胞工程(组织培养、人工快繁、大规模细胞培养、毛状根培养)和内生菌发酵等生物技术手段生产鬼臼毒素的研究进展及存在的问题,旨在为该领域今后的相关研究提供背景资料。