Biotransformation of Cinnamic Acid,p-Coumaric Acid,Caffeic Acid,and Ferulic Acid by Plant Cell Cultures of Eucalyptus perriniana

Biotransformations of phenylpropanoids such as cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid were investigated with plant-cultured cells of Eucalyptus perriniana. The plant-cultured cells of E. perriniana converted cinnamic acid into cinnamic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, p-coumaric acid, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid. p-Coumaric acid was converted into 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid, p-coumaric acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcoumaric acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, a new compound, caffeic acid, and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid. On the other hand, incubation of caffeic acid with cultured E. perriniana cells gave 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, 3-O-(6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, a new compound, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcaffeic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, ferulic acid, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferulic acid. 4-O-β-D-Glucopyranosylferulic acid, ferulic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferulic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester were isolated from E. perriniana cells treated with ferulic acid.     

Turnover of Free Sialic Acid, CMP-Sialic Acid, and Bound Sialic Acid In Rat Brain

Abstract: Adult male rats were injected intraventricularly with N-[³H]acetylmannosamine. After different time intervals the rats were killed and free sialic acid, CMP-sialic acid, lipid- and protein-bound sialic acid were isolated from brain and the specific radioactivities determined. Maximal specific radioactivity was reached after approximately 4 h for CMP-sialic acid, after 10–12 h for free sialic acid and after approximately 42 h for lipid-and protein-bound sialic acid. After some days the specific radioactivities of all four pools were the same and decreased equally, with a calculated turnover rate of approximately 3.5 weeks. The conclusion was that this phenomenon was the result of reutilisation of sialic acid and/or precursors. Therefore, the calculated turnover is not the turnover of bound sialic acid, but merely the rate of leakage of sialic acid and/or precursors out of the brain, so that no real turnover can be measured by this method. The first few hours after injection the specific radioactivity of CMP-sialic acid rose above that of free sialic acid. It is supposed that a compartmentalization exists of free sialic acid. The newly synthesized sialic acid molecules are not secreted into the cytoplasmic pool but are preferentially used for the synthesis of CMP-sialic acid. The results and conclusions are discussed in view of the general problems concerning turnover measurements of glycoconjugates.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Ribonucleic Acid, Protein and Uncombined Amino Acid Content of Legume Seeds During Embryogeny

The nucleic acid, protein and uncombined amino acid contentof seeds of soya-bean (Glycine max L. Merr.), garden pea (Pisumsativum L.), kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) were measured at various times duringseed formation in an effort to understand why the soya-beanhas nearly twice as much protein as the other legume seeds.In all these species the concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid,ribonucleic acid and uncombined amino acids decreased duringseed formation. The protein level of kidney bean was relativelyconstant during development whereas the protein levels of pea,peanut and soya-bean increased during development. The proteincontent of the soya-bean increased throughout development whereasthe protein increase in peanut took place early and that inpea took place later in development. The ratio of protein toribonucleic acid was highest in peanut, less in soya-bean, andlowest in pea and kidney bean. Similarly, the ratio of proteinto deoxyribonucleic acid was higher in kidney bean than in soya-bean.Soya-beans had a lower amino acid content than any of the otherseeds at all stages of development. These results indicate thatneither total deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid nor uncombinedamino acid content is responsible for the higher protein contentof soya-beans.     

Chemistry of Abscisic Acid, Abscisic Acid Catabolites and Analogs

Recently there have been breakthroughs on a number of fronts in abscisic acid (ABA) biology research that have advanced the field significantly, including discovery of genes involved in ABA metabolism, along with progress in understanding of ABA signaling (Finkelstein and others 2002; Kushiro and others 2004; Lim and others 2005; Saito and others 2004). At the same time, the chemistry of ABA has advanced. New analytical methods have been developed for profiling ABA and catabolites (Ross and others 2004; Zaharia and others 2005). Novel bioactive catabolites have been discovered from feeding studies with deuterated ABA and catabolites (Zaharia and others 2004; Zhou and others 2004). This review covers recent advances and prospects in natural products chemistry, analysis of ABA catabolism, and applications of ABA analogs for biochemical studies and horticultural uses.     

Effects of Abscisic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Trans-cinnamic Acid on Phosphate Uptake, ATP-level and Oxygen Evolution in Scenedesmus

The effects of abscisic acid, salicylic acid and trans-cinnamic acid were tested on the light-induced phosphorylating reactions and oxygen evolution of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus. It was found that abscisic acid and cinnamic acid had practically no influence on the total inorganic phosphate uptake, while salicylic acid in the concentration range of 10^-6 to 10^-3M gave a small decrease in the total inorganic phosphate uptake. The ATP level in the cells is in most cases increased when these three acids are given to the algae. The oxygen output is not significantly changed by abscisic acid or salicylic acid. Trans- cinnamic acid inhibits the oxygen evolution at concentrations of 10^-4–10^-3M None of the substances investigated caused such effects on photophosphorylation and oxygen evolution in Scenedesmus as those caused by the inhibitor β-complex from potatoes according to earlier reports. It is suggested that these effects are due to other components in the inhibitor β-complex.     

Formation of N,N-Dimethylglycine, Acetic Acid, and Butyric Acid from Betaine by Eubacterium limosum

Two bacterial strains that grow anaerobically on betaine were isolated from enrichment cultures and identified as strains of Eubacterium limosum. In a mineral medium supplemented with yeast extract and Casitone, the doubling time of E. limosum strain 11A on betaine was 6 h at 37°C. The molar growth yield amounted to 9 g of dry cell mass per mol. Betaine was fermented in accordance with the following equation: 7 betaine + 2 CO₂ → 7 N,N-dimethylglycine + 1.5 acetate + 1.5 butyrate. E. limosum also grew on methanol and choline. The former was converted to acetate and butyrate, and the latter was converted to N,N-dimethylethanolamine, acetate, and butyrate. The conditions for the quantitative determination of N,N-dimethylglycine by capillary tube isotachophoresis have been determined.     

Improved Microbial Production of Colominic Acid,a Homopolymer of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid

A culture medium has been devised for producing colominic acid in improved yields. Major improvements were obtained by using sorbitol as a source of carbon, by adding phosphate in high concentrations, and by supplementing a limited amount of yeast extract. E. coli O 16: Kl: HNM produced approximately 3000 µg/ml of colominic acid on cultivation at 37°C for 46 hr with a liquid medium consisting of sorbitol (2.0%), (NH₄)₂SO₄ (0.5%), K₂HPO₄ (1.4%), MgSO₄·7H₂O (0.05%), and yeast extract (0.05%).

Isolation and purification by deproteinization with ammonium sulfate, precipitation with ethanol, and by column chromatography on anion exchange resins resulted in a pure colominic acid preparation devoid of internal ester linkages.

In producing colominic acid, strains forming S-type colonies were more active than those forming R-type colonies.     

Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism in the Developing Rhesus Monkey Brain: Subcellular Studies of Taurine, Cysteinesulfinic Acid Decarboxylase, γ-Aminobutyric Acid, and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase

Abstract: Taurine, cysteinesulfinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were measured in subcellular fractions prepared from occipital lobe of fetal and neonatal rhesus monkeys. In addition, the distribution of [³⁵S]taurine in subcellular fractions was determined after administration to the fetus via the mother, to the neonate via administration to the mother prior to birth, and directly to the neonate at various times after birth. CSAD, glutamate, GABA, and GAD all were found to be low or unmeasurable in early fetal life and to increase during late fetal and early neonatal life to reach values found in the mother. Taurine was present in large amounts in early fetal life and decreased slowly during neonatal life, arriving at amounts found in the mother not until after 150 days of age. Significant amounts of taurine, CSAD, GABA, and GAD were associated with nerve ending components with some indication that the proportion of brain taurine found in these organelles increases during development. All subcellular pools of taurine were rapidly labeled by exogenously administered [³⁵S]taurine. The subcellular distribution of all the components measured was compatible with the neurotransmitter or putative neuro-transmitter functions of glutamate, GABA, and taurine. The large amount of these three amino acids exceeds that required for such function. The excess of glutamate and GABA may be used as a source of energy. The function of the excess of taurine is still not clear, although circumstantial evidence favors an important role in the development and maturation of the CNS.     

Measurement of Excitatory Sulfur Amino Acids, Cysteine Sulfinic Acid, Cysteic Acid, Homocysteine Sulfinic Acid, and Homocysteic Acid in Serum by Stable Isotope Dilution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Selected Ion Monitoring

Oxidized sulfur-containing amino acids are recognized as agonists of excitatory amino acid receptors in the mammalian nervous system. Homologues of glutamic acid (homocysteine sulfinic acid and homocysteic acid) and aspartic acid (cysteine sulfinic acid and cysteic acid) have been shown to be agonistic to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in animal brain and have been demonstrated in brain tissue. Considerable evidence exists for the role of homocysteic acid and cysteine sulfinic acid as endogenous ligands for excitatory amino acid receptors. We report, for the first time, the quantitation of these compounds in normal human serum, by a newly developed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method that employs stable isotope-dilution selected ion monitoring using internal standards prepared in our laboratory. We also report new methods of synthesis of stable isotope-labeled internal standards used in measuring cysteine sulfinic acid, cysteic acid, homocysteine sulfinic acid, and homocysteic acid.     

Role of Brassinosteroids, Ethylene, Abscisic Acid, and Indole-3-Acetic Acid in Mango Fruit Ripening

Rapid ripening of mango fruit limits its distribution to distant markets. To better understand and perhaps manipulate this process, we investigated the role of plant hormones in modulating climacteric ripening of ??Kensington Pride?? mango fruits. Changes in endogenous levels of brassinosteroids (BRs), abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ethylene and the respiration rate, pulp firmness, and skin color were determined at 2-day intervals during an 8-day ripening period at ambient temperature (21?±?1°C). We also investigated the effects of exogenously applied epibrassinolide (Epi-BL), (+)-cis, trans-abscisic acid (ABA), and an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), on fruit-ripening parameters such as respiration, ethylene production, fruit softening, and color. Climacteric ethylene production and the respiration peak occurred on the fourth day of ripening. Castasterone and brassinolide were present in only trace amounts in fruit pulp throughout the ripening period. However, the exogenous application of Epi-BL (45 and 60?ng?g^?1 FW) advanced the onset of the climacteric peaks of ethylene production and respiration rate by 2 and 1?day, respectively, and accelerated fruit color development and softening during the fruit-ripening period. The endogenous level of ABA rose during the climacteric rise stage on the second day of ripening and peaked on the fourth day of ripening. Exogenous ABA promoted fruit color development and softening during ripening compared with the control and the trend was reversed in NDGA-treated fruit. The endogenous IAA level in the fruit pulp was higher during the preclimacteric minimum stage and declined during the climacteric and postclimacteric stages. We speculate that higher levels of endogenous IAA in fruit pulp during the preclimacteric stage and the accumulation of ABA prior to the climacteric stage might switch on ethylene production that triggers fruit ripening. Whilst exogenous Epi-BL promoted fruit ripening, endogenous measurements suggest that changes in BRs levels are unlikely to modulate mango fruit ripening.     

Transformation of Citric Acid to Acetic Acid,Acetoin and Diacetyl by Wine Making Lactic Acid Bacteria

A decrease in citric acid and increases in acetic acid, acetoin and diacetyl were found in the test red wine after inoculation of intact cells of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. lactosum ATCC 27307. a malo-lactic bacterium, grown on the malate plus citrate-medium. Citric acid in the buffer solution was transformed to acetic acid, acetoin and diacetyl in the pH range of 2 to 6 after inoculation with intact cells of this bacterial species. It was concluded that citric acid in wine making involving malolactic fermentation, at first, was converted by citrate lyase to acetic and oxaloacetic acids, and the latter was successively transformed by decarboxylation to pyruvic acid which was subsequently converted to acetoin, diacetyl and acetic acid.

Both the activities of citrate lyase and acetoin formation from pyruvic acid in the dialyzed cell-free extract were optimal at pH 6.0. Divalent cations such as Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ activated the citrate lyase. The citrate lyase was completely inhibited by EDTA, Hg²⁺ and Ag²⁺ . The acetoin formation from pyruvic acid was significantly stimulated by thiamine pyrophosphate and CoCl₂, and inhibited by oxaloacetic acid. Specific activities of the citrate lyase and acetoin formation were considerably variable among the six strains of malo-lactic bacteria examined. Some activities of irreversible reduction of diacetyl to acetoin were found in the cell-free extracts of four of the malo-lactic bacteria strains and the optimal pH was 6.0 for this activity of Leu. mesenteroides.     

Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Quinolinic Acid, Kynurenic Acid, and L-Kynurenine in Acute Septicemia

Increases in brain quinolinic acid have been implicated in neurodegeneration and convulsions that may accompany infectious diseases. In three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with septicemia, both CSF and serum quinolinic acid concentrations were markedly elevated and were accompanied by increases in CSF kynurenic acid levels that were of a smaller magnitude. Elevated serum and CSF L-kynurenine concentrations also occurred and are consistent with activation of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase and increased substrate flux through the kynurenine pathway. Although it is probable that the marked increases in CSF quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid concentrations are reflected in the extracellular fluid space of brain, it remains to be determined whether the magnitude of such increases influences the activity of excitatory amino acid receptors in brain to produce excitotoxic pathology or noncytolytic disruption of functions mediated by excitatory amino acid receptors.     

The Effects of Polyacrylic Acid, Acetylsalicylic Acid and Salicylic Acid on Resistance of Cucumber to Colletotrichum lagenarium

Injection of cucumber cotyledons with polyacrylic acid (PA), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and salicylic acid (SA) induced resistance to inoculations with Colletrichum Iagenarium when inoculation followed injection by 96 h but not by 24 h. Size and number of lesions were greatly decreased. Resistance was greatest in injected cotyledons but was also pronounced in non-injected halves of cotyledons and occasionally in first or second leaves.
Incorporation of PA, ASA and SA into liquid shake cultures did not significantly affect growth of the pathogen.
Gel electrophoresis of soluble proteins extracted from cotyledons showed that induction of resistance was not accompanied by the appearance of novel soluble proteins.     

Carbohydrate, organic Acid, and amino Acid composition of bacteroids and cytosol from soybean nodules

Metabolites in Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteroids and in Glycine max (L.) Merr. cytosol from root nodules were analyzed using an isolation technique which makes it possible to estimate and correct for changes in concentration which may occur during bacteroid isolation. Bacteroid and cytosol extracts were fractionated on ion-exchange columns and were analyzed for carbohydrate composition using gas-liquid chromatography and for organic acid and amino acid composition using high performance liquid chromatography. Analysis of organic acids in plant tissues as the phenacyl derivatives is reported for the first time and this approach revealed the presence of several unknown organic acids in nodules. The time required for separation of bacteroids and cytosol was varied, and significant change in concentration of individual compounds during the separation of the two fractions was estimated by calculating the regression of concentration on time. When a statistically significant slope was found, the true concentration was estimated by extrapolating the regression line to time zero. Of 78 concentration estimates made, there was a statistically significant (5% level) change in concentration during sample preparation for only five metabolites: glucose, sucrose, and succinate in the cytosol and d-pinitol and serine in bacteroids. On a mass basis, the major compounds in bacteroids were (descending order of concentration): myo-inositol, d-chiro-inositol, alpha,alpha-trehalose, sucrose, aspartate, glutamate, d-pinitol, arginine, malonate, and glucose. On a proportional basis (concentration in bacteroid as percent of concentration in bacteroid + cytosol fractions), the major compounds were: alpha-aminoadipate (94), trehalose (66), lysine (58), and arginine (46). The results indicate that metabolite concentrations in bacteroids can be reliably determined.     

Inhibition by Salicylhydroxamic Acid, BW755C, Eicosatetraynoic Acid, and Disulfiram of Hypersensitive Resistance Elicited by Arachidonic Acid or Poly-l-Lysine in Potato Tuber

The hypothesis that arachidonic acid (AA) induction of sesquiterpene accumulation and browning in potato (Solanum tuberosum) is mediated by a lipoxygenase metabolite of AA was tested using lipoxygenase inhibitors. Salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) and 3-amino-1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline hydrochloride (BW755C) delayed the response to AA. Inhibition by eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) was more persistent. These results are consistent with previous reports that SHAM and BW755C are reversible inhibitors of lipoxygenase and easily oxidized by potato while ETYA acts as an irreversible inhibitor. Disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide) also inhibited AA elicitor activity. SHAM was most effective if applied at the time of AA treatment, having no effect if applied 6 hours afterward. SHAM was effective in the presence of MES or MOPS buffers but not in acetate-buffered or unbuffered solutions; neither BW755C nor ETYA exhibited this restriction. However, SHAM, BW755C, and ETYA also were inhibitors of browning and sesquiterpene accumulation elicited in potato by poly-l-lysine, which, unlike AA, is not a lipoxygenase substrate. SHAM effectiveness also was restricted to 6 hours after treatment with poly-l-lysine. While the results with AA support a role for lipoxygenase, those with poly-l-lysine may be evidence that these compounds are having other effects in potato tissue.