Effect of γ irradiation on the fatty acid composition of soybean and soybean oil

Food irradiation is a form of food processing to extend the shelf life and reduce spoilage of food. We examined the effects of γ radiation on the fatty acid composition, lipid peroxidation level, and antioxidative activity of soybean and soybean oil which both contain a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids. Irradiation at 10 to 80 kGy under aerobic conditions did not markedly change the fatty acid composition of soybean. While 10-kGy irradiation did not markedly affect the fatty acid composition of soybean oil under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions, 40-kGy irradiation considerably altered the fatty acid composition of soybean oil under aerobic conditions, but not under anaerobic conditions. Moreover, 40-kGy irradiation produced a significant amount of trans fatty acids under aerobic conditions, but not under anaerobic conditions. Irradiating soybean oil induced lipid peroxidation and reduced the radical scavenging activity under aerobic conditions, but had no effect under anaerobic conditions. These results indicate that the fatty acid composition of soybean was not markedly affected by radiation at 10 kGy, and that anaerobic conditions reduced the degradation of soybean oil that occurred with high doses of γ radiation.     

Has photosynthetic capacity increased with 80 years of soybean breeding? An examination of historical soybean cultivars

Crop biomass production is a function of the efficiencies with which sunlight can be intercepted by the canopy and then converted into biomass. Conversion efficiency has been identified as a target for improvement to enhance crop biomass and yield. Greater conversion efficiency in modern soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars was documented in recent field trials, and this study explored the physiological basis for this observation. In replicated field trials conducted over three successive years, diurnal leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic CO₂ response curves were measured in 24 soybean cultivars with year of release dates (YOR) from 1923 to 2007. Maximum photosynthetic capacity, mesophyll conductance and nighttime respiration have not changed consistently with cultivar release date. However, daily carbon gain was periodically greater in more recently released cultivars compared with older cultivars. Our analysis suggests that this difference in daily carbon gain primarily occurred when stomatal conductance and soil water content were high. There was also evidence for greater chlorophyll content and greater sink capacity late in the growing season in more recently released soybean varieties. Better understanding of the mechanisms that have improved conversion efficiency in the past may help identify new, promising targets for the future.     

Metabolism of ribosylzeatin-5′-monophosphate by soybean callus

Using cytokinin dependent soybean callus and HPLC analysis it was shown that soybean callus rapidly metabolises ribosylzeatin-5-monophosphate to biologically active compounds which co-chromatographed with trans-ribosylzeatin and trans-zeatin.Abbreviations Z zeatin - RZ ribosylzeatin - RZMP ribosylzeatin-5-monophosphate     

Synthesis and assembly of soybean β-conglycinin in vitro

The construction of SP6-derived expression plasmids that encode normal and modified -conglycinin subunits is described. With the exception of an additional methionine at their NH₂-terminal ends and the lack of glycans, the normal subunits synthesized at the direction of these plasmids coresponded to mature and subunits isolated from soybean seeds. The subunits assembled into trimers in vitro that were equivalent in size to those formed in vivo. This result shows that the glycans are not required either for protein folding or oligomer assembly. Subunits produced from other plasmids, which had modifications in a highly conserved hydrophobic region in the COOH-terminal end of the subunits, either did not assemble or assembled at an extremely low rate compared to unmodified subunits. Structural changes at the more hydrophilic NH₂-terminal end had mixed effects. Several subunits modified in this region assembled into trimers at rates that were either equal or greater than those for normal subunits. Others assembled less completely than the normal subunits. Our results indicate that the in vitro synthesis and assembly assay will be useful in evaluating structure-function relationships in modified -conglycinin subunits. The results also show that structural changes at the NH₂-terminal end of the subunits are tolerated to a greater extent than modifications in the hydrophobic conserved region in the COOH-terminal half of the subunits, and this information will be useful in efforts to improve soybean quality.     

Effects of γ-irradiation on antioxidant activity in soybean seeds

There are some reports that low doses of γ-irradiation could induce antioxidant activities in plant material, including soybean. Irradiation, required for the inactivation of some pathogens and induction of mutations, may have adverse effects on sensorial, nutritional and antioxidant qualities. The effects of different γ-irradiation doses (100–200 Gy) on antioxidant properties of soybean seeds was investigated. In this study, we report the results obtained by analysis of antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced glutathione, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyl (HO⁻) radical quantities, soluble protein content, and total antioxidant activity in irradiated soybean seeds. Antioxidant enzyme activities were affected due to high irradiation intensity. Significant changes of total antioxidant activity and MDA and HO.quantities were observed only under the highest irradiation dose, with a 15.7% reduction in total antioxidant activity, MDA quantity increase of 21.6%, and HO⁻ radical quantity increase of 79.3% compared to the non-irradiated control. The total soluble protein content increased slightly.     

Purification and some properties of γ-conglycinin in soybean seeds

A 7S globulin (γ-conglycinin) which was one of four major antigenic components in soybean globulins was purified and found to be homogeneous on ultracentrifugation, disc electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and disc electrofocusing by gel filtration, preparative-scale disc electrophoresis and two kinds of affinity chromatography. Subsequently, some physico-chemical properties of the protein were determined. The sedimentation coefficient, isoelectric point, MW and diffusion constant were 6·55S, pH 5·80, 104000 and 5·80 × 10^?7 cm²/sec, respectively. The protein was a glycoprotein which contained 5·49% total carbohydrate per protein. The protein did not aggregate and dissociate with a change of ionic strength from 0·1 to 0·5.     

Inheritance and biochemical analysis of four electrophoretic variants of β-conglycinin from soybean

Summary Three genes which code for variant -conglycinin subunits were identified. Alleles Cgy ₁ ^S and Cgy ₂ ^S were codominant with Cgy ₁ and Cgy ₂ and produced and subunits, respectively, with reduced electrophoretic mobility. Allele Cgy ₃ ^D increased the mobility of at least one polypeptide in the subunit family and exhibited incomplete dominance. Gene loci Cgy ₂/Cgy ₂ ^S and Cgy ₃ ^D /cgy ₃ ^D were linked, whereas Cgy ₁/Cgy ₁ ^S / cgy ₁ segregated independently of the others. Techniques developed for purification of normal -conglycinin subunits were effective in purifying the altered subunits. Deglycosylated variant proteins from seeds containing the alleles Cgy ₁ ^S , Cgy ₂ ^S , or Cgy ₃ ^D also has altered mobility relative to deglycosylated normal proteins. Therefore, the altered subunits contained changes in their amino acid sequences rather than in their carbohydrate moieties. This interpretation is consistent with the observed codominant or incompletely dominant mode of inheritance for these alleles and suggests that each contains an altered nucleotide sequence in the structural gene. A fourth variant, which exhibited doublet and a electrophoretic bands, was inherited in a recessive fashion. Deglycosylated subunit proteins from this variant were identical in electrophoretic mobility to those of the deglycosylated normal protein. This suggests that the doublet phenotype resulted from an alteration in the carbohydrate moiety of these subunits. The gene or genes which condition this variant presumably are required for normal post-translational modification of the subunit carbohydrates and as such may be useful for investigating these events.Cooperative research of USDA-ARS and the Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Article 10,323. Financial support from the American Soybean Research Foundation is gratefully acknowledged     

Comparison of rhizobitoxine-induced inhibition of β-cystathionase from different bradyrhizobia and soybean genotypes

The enzyme -cystathionase catalyzes the conversion of cystathionine to homocysteine in both plants and bacteria. Preparations of this enzyme taken from both Salmonella and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) have been shown to be irreversibly inhibited by low concentrations of rhizobitoxine (RT), a chlorosis-inducing phytotoxin produced by some strains of soybean bradyrhizobia. The sensitivities of -cystathionase from bradyrhizobia and soybean are not well characterized. Therefore, we purified -cystathionase from selected bradyrhizobia and soybean genotypes that have been shown to exhibit differences in RT production and apparent RT sensitivities, respectively. Enzyme purified from E. coli strain DH52 was used for comparison. The enzymes differed in their physiological properties and RT sensitivities. Overall, the -cystathionase enzymes purified from bradyrhizobia were more sensitive to RT than were those from the soybean cultivars. Kinetic studies showed that the nature of the RT-induced inhibition also differed between the two sources. The enzymes from bradyrhizobia exhibited inhibition that was [RT]-dependent, whereas the enzymes from soybean showed a time-dependent inhibition. These contrasting characteristics may in part reflect differences in active site accessibility, amino acid components, and associated RT diffusion rates. However, in all cases the inhibition caused by RT showed a typical substrate-competitive inhibition pattern.Abbreviations RT rhizobitoxine - PLP pyridoxal phosphate - DTT dithioerythritol - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - HTP hydroxyapatite Published as Paper No. 1571 in the Journal Series of the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Activation of members of a MAPK module in β-glucan elicitor-mediated non-host resistance of soybean

Plants recognize microbial pathogens by discriminating pathogen-associated molecular patterns from self-structures. We study the non-host disease resistance of soybean (Glycine max L.) to the oomycete, Phytophthora sojae. Soybean senses a specific molecular pattern consisting of a branched heptaglucoside that is present in the oomycetal cell walls. Recognition of this elicitor may be achieved through a β-glucan-binding protein, which forms part of a proposed receptor complex. Subsequently, soybean mounts a complex defense response, which includes the increase of the cytosolic calcium concentration, the production of reactive oxygen species, and the activation of genes responsible for the synthesis of phytoalexins. We now report the identification of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and one MAPK kinase (MAPKK) that may function as signaling elements in triggering the resistance response. The use of specific antisera enabled the identification of GmMPKs 3 and 6 whose activity is enhanced within the signaling pathway leading to defense reactions. Elicitor specificity of MAPK activation as well as the sensitivity against inhibitors suggested these kinases as part of the β-glucan signal transduction pathway. An upstream GmMKK1 was identified based on sequence similarity to other plant MAPKKs and its interaction with the MAPKs was analyzed. Recombinant GmMKK1 interacted predominantly with GmMPK6, with concomitant phosphorylation of the MAPK protein. Moreover, a preferential physical interaction between GmMKK1 and GmMPK6 was demonstrated in yeast. These results suggest a role of a MAPK cascade in mediating β-glucan signal transduction in soybean, similar to other triggers that activate MAPKs during innate immune responses in plants. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users. The nucleotide sequences encoding the MAPKs and MAPKK1 from soybean can be accessed through the GenBank database under GenBank accession numbers AF104247, AF329506, and AY070230.     

Analysis of expressed receptor-like kinases （RLKs） in soybean

Receptor-like kinases （RLKs） play crucial roles in cellular signal perception and propagation. To study the evolutionary relationships among RLKs in soybean, a large-scale expressed sequence tags （ESTs） survey for RLKs-related sequences was conducted. By doing BLAST analysis using our database and The Gene Index Database, 605 putative RLK genes were identified. Based on the phylogeny of the kinase domain, these soybean RLKs were classified into 58 different small subfamilies. The phylogenetic analysis of RLKs in soybean, rice and Arabidopsis showed that different subfamilies of RLKs had different functions and could have experienced different selective pressures.     

The involvement of peroxidases in soybean seedlings’ defense against infestation of cowpea aphid

Changes in the level of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and activity of peroxidases towards phenolic substrates (EC 1.11.1.7) such as pyrogallol (PPX), syringaldazine (SPX) and guaiacol (GPX), and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX, EC 1.11.1.11) in response to infestation of cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch) were analyzed in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. “Nam Dan”) at the V3 stage (first two trifoliate leaves fully developed, third trifoliate leaf unrolled) for 96 h post-infestation (hpi). Influence of A. craccivora at a varied population size (10, 20 and 30 individuals per each soybean plant) caused a burst of H₂O₂ generation in the aphid-infested leaves at 12 hpi. Paralleling the H₂O₂ accumulation, peroxidase activity in all the infested plants remarkably increased and was significantly higher than that observed in controls (uninfested plants). The cascade of enzymes induced was continuously overlapped by the early enhancement of SPX within 6–24 hpi, an expression of cAPX (12–48 hpi) followed by an accumulation of GPX (24–72 hpi) and PPX (24–96 hpi). The differential induction of SPX, GPX, PPX and cAPX resulted in a rapid reduction of H₂O₂ content in aphid-infested leaves, and the activity of peroxidase was closely correlated with the intensity of A. craccivora infestation around the defined points of time at which the activity of each enzyme reached the maximum level. The increase in activity of peroxidases matched their function as controlling accumulation of H₂O₂ and detoxifying this reactive oxygen product when soybean plants were challenged with cowpea aphid. Furthermore, peroxidases could directly deter cowpea aphid feeding through other functions such as the anti-nutritive and/or toxicological defenses and/or limiting the penetration of aphid stylets into plant tissues via participating to strengthen and reinforce the cell wall barrier. These results indicated that peroxidases may be some elements of the defense system that increased the resistance of G. max cv. “Nam Dan” to infestation of A. craccivora.     

Proteomic study of β-aminobutyric acid-mediated cadmium stress alleviation in soybean

The present study highlights the protective role of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) in alleviating cadmium (Cd) stress in soybean. Proteomic analyses revealed that out of 66 differentially abundant protein spots in response to Cd challenge, 17 were common in the leaves of BABA-primed and non-primed plants. Oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1 and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small chain 1 were detected in increase abundance in both groups of leaves. Among the 15 commonly decreased protein spots, the relative intensity levels of heat shock cognate 70-kDa protein, carbonic anhydrase, methionine synthase, and glycine dehydrogenase were partially restored after BABA treatment. Moreover, BABA priming significantly enhanced the abundance of the defense-related protein peroxiredoxin and glycolytic enzymes in response to Cd exposure. Additionally, the impact of Cd on the physiological state of BABA-primed and non-primed plants was analyzed using a biophoton technique. The finding of comparatively low biophoton emission in BABA-primed leaves under Cd stress indicates that these plants experienced less oxidative damage than that of non-primed plants. Proteomic study coupled with biophoton analysis reveals that BABA pretreatment helps the plants to combat Cd stress by modulating plants' defence mechanism as well as activating cellular detoxification system to protect the cells from Cd induced oxidative stress damages.     

The C-terminal region of α′ subunit of soybean β-conglycinin contains two types of vacuolar sorting determinants

In maturing seed cells, proteins that accumulate in the protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) are synthesized on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported by vesicles to the PSVs. Vacuolar sorting determinants (VSDs) which are usually amino acid sequences of short or moderate length direct the proteins to this pathway. VSDs identified so far are classified into two types: sequence specific VSDs (ssVSDs) and C-terminal VSDs (ctVSDs). We previously demonstrated that VSDs of α′ and β subunits of β-conglycinin, one of major storage proteins of soybean (Glycine max), reside in the C-terminal ten amino acids. Here we show that both types of VSDs coexist within this region of the α′ subunit. Although ctVSDs can function only at the very C-termini of proteins, the C-terminal ten amino acids of α′ subunit directed green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the PSVs even when they were placed at the N-terminus of GFP, indicating that an ssVSD resides in the sequence. By mutation analysis, it was found that the core sequence of the ssVSD is Ser-Ile-Leu (fifth to seventh residues counted from the C-terminus) which is conserved in the α and β subunits and some vicilin-like proteins. On the other hand, the sequence composed of the C-terminal three amino acids (AFY) directed GFP to the PSVs when it was placed at the C-terminus of GFP, though the function as a VSD was disrupted at the N-terminus of GFP, indicating that the AFY sequence is a ctVSD.     

Identification of QTLs controlling somatic embryogenesis using RI population of cultivar × weedy soybean

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling ability of somatic embryogenesis were identified in soybean. A frame map with 204-point markers was developed using an RI population consisting of 117 F₁₁ lines derived from a cross between cultivar ‘Keburi’ and a weedy soybean ‘Masshokutou Kou 502’. The parents differed greatly in their abilities of somatic embryogenesis using immature cotyledons as explants. The ability of somatic embryogenesis was evaluated in five different experiments: the F₁₁ (evaluated in 1998) and F₁₅ (2002) generations cultured on basal media supplemented with 40 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D (2,4-D1998 and 2,4-D2002), F₁₄ (2001) generation on medium with 40 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D and high sucrose concentration [2,4-D2001 (30 g l⁻¹ sucrose)], and the F₁₁ (1998) and F₁₂ (1999) generations on medium with 10 mg l⁻¹ NAA (NAA1998 and NAA1999). The RILs showed wide and continuous variations in each of the five experiments. In the composite interval mapping analysis, 2 QTLs were found in group 8 (D1b + W, LOD = 5.42, r ² = 37.5) in the experiment of 2,4-D1998 and in group 6 (C2, LOD = 6.03, r ² = 26.0) in the experiment of 2,4-D2001 (high concentration sucrose). In both QTLs, alleles of ‘Masshokutou Kou 502’ with high ability of somatic embryogenesis contributed to the QTLs. For the other three experiments, no QTL was detected in the criteria of LOD >3.0, suggesting the presence of minor genes.     

Identification of the 7S globulin with β-conglycinin in soybean seeds

The 7S globulin, a major ultracentrifugal component with the 11S globulin, was identical with β-conglycinin one of four antigenic components in the reserve proteins of soybean seeds (Glycine max). Double gel immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis in agar gel were used for their identification. In addition, some characteristic properties on ultracentrifugation and in carbohydrate content agreed well between the proteins. Their MWs were ca 180000.     

Production of α-galactosidase by Monascus grown on soybean and sugarcane wastes

Extracts of both sugarcane and soybean wastes supported the growth of Monascus but sugarcane waste was superior for the production of -galactosidase. An aqueous extract prepared from 5% (w/v) soybean waste and 7% (w/v) sugarcane waste gave the best result and was superior to the standard peptone/glucose/yeast extract medium. Liquid-solid mixtures were slightly less effective. Enzyme production could be enhanced by adding raffinose. Enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl--D-galactoside was optimal at pH 4.5. Raffinose and stachyose were hydrolysed to sucrose and galactose.     

Manipulation of saponin biosynthesis by RNA interference-mediated silencing of ��-amyrin synthase gene expression in soybean

Soybean seeds contain substantial amount of diverse triterpenoid saponins that influence the seed quality, although little is known about the physiologic functions of saponins in plants. We now describe the modification of saponin biosynthesis by RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing targeted to β-amyrin synthase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of a common aglycon of soybean saponins. We identified two putative β-amyrin synthase genes in soybean that manifested distinct expression patterns with regard to developmental stage and tissue specificity. Given that one of these genes, GmBAS1, was expressed at a much higher level than the other (GmBAS2) in various tissues including the developing seeds, we constructed two RNAi vectors that encode self-complementary hairpin RNAs corresponding to the distinct regions of GmBAS1 under the control of a seed-specific promoter derived from the soybean gene for the α′ subunit of the seed storage protein β-conglycinin. These vectors were introduced independently into soybean. Six independent transgenic lines exhibited a stable reduction in seed saponin content, with the extent of saponin deficiency correlating with the β-amyrin synthase mRNA depletion. Although some transgenic lines produced seeds almost devoid of saponins, no abnormality in their growth was apparent and the antioxidant activity of their seeds was similar to that of control seeds. These results suggest that saponins are not required for seed development and survival, and that soybean seeds may therefore be amenable to the modification of triterpenoid saponin content and composition through molecular biologic approaches.     

Impact of Ca2+ on structure of soybean CDPKβ and accessibility of the Tyr-24 autophosphorylation site

Several plant CDPKs were recently shown to be dual specificity kinases rather than Ser/Thr kinases as traditionally classified by sequence analysis. In the present study we confirm the autophosphorylation of recombinant soybean His₆-GmCDPKβ at the Tyr-24 site using sequence- and modification- specific antibodies. Homology modeling of soybean CDPKβ based on recent structures determined for several apicomplexan CDPKs suggested that phosphotyrosine-24 may be inaccessible to phosphatases. However, we report that dephosphorylation of CDPKβ by the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, PTP1B, was not restricted in the presence of calcium. Thus, despite conformational changes likely associated with calcium binding to the CDPKs, phosphotyrosine sites remain fully accessible to dephosphorylation suggesting the possibility of conformational breathing and flexing.