Calcium ion transport in higher plant mitochondria (Helianthus tuberosus)

A study on Ca²⁺ transport by mitochondria isolated from Jerusalem artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L. cv. OB1) tubers is presented. By following the distribution of Ca²⁺ under respiratory conditions, we have been able to show that Ca²⁺ accumulation into the matrix space depends on membrane potential (ΔΨ) since the uptake is not affected by the protonophore nigericin but fully blocked by valinomycin and carbonyl cyanide- p -trifluoromethoxy phenylhydrazone (FCCP). Ca²⁺ uptake requires phosphate (P_i) and is inhibited by mersalyl and by ruthenium red (RR). In addition to a Ca²⁺ influx route, mitochondria from H. tuberosus possess an RR-insensitive Ca²⁺ efflux pathway which is not stimulated by external Na⁺, Ca²⁺ is rapidly released from Ca²⁺-loaded mitochondria in the presence of ionophores such as A23187 and valinomycin and of the uncoupler FCCP. The P_i-transport inhibitor mersalyl also induces a massive Ca²⁺ release through reversal of the uptake route, the latter process being blocked by RR. Thus Jerusalem artichoke mitochondria possess a Ca²⁺ cycling mechanism which is different from that of animal mitochondria and certain other plant species.     

Ubiquitin conjugation to endogenous proteins in the dormant tuber of Helianthus tuberosus and during the first cell cycle

Ubiquitin is a small protein involved in an ATP-dependent proteolytic pathway in all eukaryotes. This pathway has been demonstrated to be required for both the bulk degradation of cellular proteins and the targeted proteolysis of specific regulatory proteins. We have investigated the presence of ubiquitin (Ub) and the ubiquitin-conjugating system in dormant and activated tubers of Helianthus tuberosus L. cv. OB 1 that represent a widely used model system for studies on the cell cycle in plants. Immunoblot experiments revealed the presence of free ubiquitin and ubiquitin conjugates. Furthermore, the presence of an active ubiquitin-conjugating system, both time- and ATP-dependent, was demonstrated by incubation with ¹²⁵I-labeled ubiquitin. A few proteins able to form thiol esters with ¹²⁵I-Ub and probably corresponding to ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, E1 and E2s, were also found. During the first cell cycle, several proteins become ubiquitinated. In particular a large amount of protein conjugates was present at 6 h when the lowest content of free ubiquitin was found. Subsequently, a dramatic decrease in ubiquitin conjugates occurred. It is well known that cell cycle progression in eukaryotes depends on cyclin levels and cyclin B degradation is ubiquitin- and ATP-dependent. By immunoblot experiments we showed that cyclin B in H. tuberosus is present as at least two protein bands of 50 and 54 kDa and that their amounts undergo profound changes during the cell cycle. The 54-kDa band was also recognized by an anti-ubiquitin antibody. These data seem to indicate that in H. tuberosus activated tuber slices, the ATP-dependent ubiquitin proteolytic pathway is involved in the dedifferentiation process occurring after the artificial break of dormancy when the cells acquire the characteristics linked to the meristematic state.     

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Essential Oil of Athanasia brownii Hochr. (Asteraceae) Endemic to Madagascar

The essential oil obtained from hydrodistillation of flowering aerial parts of Athanasia brownii (Asteraceae) was studied for its chemical composition by GC/FID and GC/MS, and for biological activity, namely, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and chemopreventive potential, by DPPH (=2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (=2,2′‐azinobis[3‐ethylbenzothioline‐6‐sulfonic acid), and FRAP (=ferric reducing antioxidant power), disk diffusion test, and MTT (=3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, respectively. The oil was characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (71.2%), with selin‐11‐en‐4α‐ol (24.6%), caryophyllene oxide (8.7%), humulene epoxide II (5.1%), and (E)‐nerolidol (4.9%) as the predominant compounds. The oil showed a moderate activity against streptococci as well as radical‐scavenging potential, while the inhibitory effects against human cancer cells examined such as A375 (malignant melanoma) and HCT 116 (colon carcinoma) were significant, with IC₅₀ values of 19.85 and 29.53 μg/ml, respectively.     

Purification and characterization of a lectin from wild sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers

A lectin (HTTL) was isolated from Helianthus tuberosus L. (wild sunflower) tubers using ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. The lectin agglutinated both untreated and trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes and did not agglutinate human blood cells of groups A, B, and O. The gel filtration showed the native molecular mass of 72 kDa and subunit molecular masses of 17 and 18.5 kDa on 12% SDS-PAGE. The lectin activity was inhibited by D-mannose. The tetrameric protein revealed a unique characteristic by forming a broad zone of protein in native PAGE at pH 8.3, which dissociated into seven subunits of varying e/m ratios on acid gel at pH 4.3. These seven bands revealed two polypeptide species of molecular masses 17 and 18.5 kDa on 12% SDS-PAGE, as in the case of the native protein. The result indicated that of the seven subunits, three were homotetramers of 17 kDa, one was a homotetramer of 18.5 kDa, and three were heterotetramers of 17 and 18.5 kDa. The lectin was thermostable with broad pH optima (pH 4-8) and had no requirement for divalent metal cations for its activity. The amino acid composition showed that the lectin contained higher amounts of glycine, alanine, and lysine, but no methionine. The sugar content was estimated to be 5.3% mannose equivalent. The HTTL was mitogenic to mouse spleen (total) cells at 25 microg/ml concentration. The lectin showed characteristics different from those of the earlier reported H. tuberosus tuber lectins and hence opens up a new avenue to investigate the structure-function relationship of lectin in Helianthus species.     

Tonoplast H+ pumps are activated during callus formation of tuber tissues of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Changes in tonoplast H⁺-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) and H⁺–PPase (EC 3.6.1.1) activities were examined during the early period of callus formation in tuber tissues of Jerusalem artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L.). In callus-forming tissues cultured on a medium containing 2,4-D, the ATP-dependent H⁺-translocation activity of tonoplast vesicles increased 3-fold after a 2-day lag phase, while the ATP-hydrolytic activity and amount of tonoplast H⁺-ATPase protein were relatively constant after the lag phase. In the control tissue disks cultured on a medium free of 2,4-D, large declines in ATP-hydrolytic and ATP-dependent H⁺-translocation activities were observed. By contrast, the PP-dependent H⁺-translocation activity of tonoplast vesicles increased about 8-fold during the first 3 days of culture without any lag phase, and regardless of the presence of 2,4-D in the culture medium. However, the PP-hydrolytic activity and amount of H⁺-PPase protein did not change during the culture period, independently of callus formation. Transfer of the control tissue disks to the 2,4-D-containing medium, however, resulted in a further rapid stimulation of PP-dependent H⁺-translocation as well as an activation of ATP-dependent H⁺-translocation. These results suggest that both tonoplast H⁺ pumps are involved in callus formation of tuber tissues of Jerusalem artichoke.     

Microtuber formation in micropropagated Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Clonal micropropagation of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) was initiated from axillary meristems of lateral shoots of field-grown plants on medium with MS salts, 2% sucrose, 1 mg l-1 thiamine-HCl, 1 mg l-1 IAA and 0.6% agar. Plantlets were cut into nodal sections and used for subsequent subcultures and for microtuber induction. Microtubers were induced from axillary meristems on medium with half-strength MS salts, 8% sucrose and 0.5 mg l-1 BA in darkness at 18 °C. They had near to 30% of dry matter. Microtubers resumed growth in light room at 23 °C after 4–6 months of cold storage. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同生育期菊芋叶片过氧化物酶同工酶表达特点的研究

用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)法,分离了不同生育期菊芋叶片过氧化物酶(Helianthus tuberosus.1eves peroxidase,HLP)同工酶,并测定了HLP的酶活性;比较了菊芋叶及其他4种植物POD的特点。结果表明:(1)同一植株不同部位的HLP酶活性大小顺序为,中部成熟叶(6.89×103U/g)>底部衰老叶(5.38×103U/g)>上部嫩叶(2.82×103U/g);由嫩叶→成熟叶→衰老叶的发育过程中,HLP同工酶酶带共有9条,出现的方式有稳定型(Rf 0.81带)、酶活性先弱后强型(Rf0.52、0.67、0.74、0.85带)、酶带先有后无型(Rf 0.70、0.72带)、酶带先无后有型(Rf 0.77)4种。(2)几种植物POD的酶活性的大小顺序是:甘蔗叶>竹笋壳>菊芋叶>大豆壳;POD同工酶电泳最大迁移率(Rf)大小顺序是:菊芋叶(0.85)>甘蔗叶(0.70)>竹笋壳(0.61)>大豆壳(0.57)>辣根(0.55),HLP同工酶属阴离子型。探讨了菊芋POD的表达特点。     

钙离子对菊芋海水胁迫的缓解效应研究

以南芋2号为材料,设计1/2Hoagland(H)、1/2H 10mmol·L-1CaCl2、1/2H 30%海水、1/2H 30%海水 10mmol·L-1CaCl2、1/2H 30%海水 5mmol·L-1EGTA5个处理水平,研究了Ca2 对海水胁迫下菊芋鲜重以及菊芋叶片中MDA含量、相对电导率、叶绿素含量和净光合速率(Pn)的影响,以探索Ca2 对缓解植物海水胁迫作用机制。结果表明:正常生长条件下外施10mmol·L-1Ca2 对菊芋的生长没有显著影响;在1/2H 30%海水处理下,菊芋的正常生理代谢明显受到抑制;在1/2H 30%海水 10mmol·L-1CaCl2处理下,与1/2H处理相比菊芋生物产量、叶绿素含量和Pn显著增加,与1/2H 30%海水相比菊芋生物产量、叶绿素含量和Pn显著增加,MDA含量和相对电导率显著降低。由此证明外源Ca2 可有效缓解海水胁迫所致的氧化损伤,抑制脂质过氧化作用,增加叶绿素含量,维持较高的光合速率,促进干物质积累,从而使生物产量增加。     

菊芋组织培养快繁技术的建立

以菊芋带芽点的薯盘及带节的幼嫩茎段为外植体,MS为基本培养基,附加不同种类和浓度的生长调节物质,研究菊芋组织培养和快速繁殖的技术环节,最终筛选出最优技术参数组合,建立菊芋再生体系。试验结果表明：茎段外植体是理想的快速繁殖材料,正接（形态学下端向下）是最佳的接种方式。芽诱导最佳培养基为MS＋1.0mg·L-16-BA＋0.2mg·L-1IBA,诱导率为95%;继代增殖最适宜培养基为MS＋2.0mg·L-16-BA;壮苗培养最佳培养基为MS＋0.1mg·L-16-BA;生根适宜培养基为MS＋0.2mg·L-1NAA,生根率达100%;移栽成活率达95%,大田种植成活率达95%以上。     

菊芋叶片提取物抑菌活性与化学成分的研究

为了开发新型植物源杀菌剂和充分利用菊芋(Helianthus tuberosus L.)资源,本文尝试用石油醚、乙醚、乙酸乙酯和水等4种溶剂对菊芋叶片进行平行提取,采用生长速率法测定菊芋叶片提取物对水稻纹枯菌(Rhizoc-tonia solaniKühn)、小麦赤霉菌[Gibberella zeae(Schw.)Petch]、番茄早疫菌[Alternaria solani(Ellis et Martin)Jones et Grour]和番茄灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea Pers.)生长量的抑制活性;并通过试管法和滤纸法对菊芋叶片内化学成分进行初步预试。抑菌实验结果表明:(1)菊芋叶片各溶剂提取物处理与对照处理相比差异显著;(2)菊芋叶片水提取物处理与各有机溶剂提取物处理差异也基本显著;(3)菊芋叶片各溶剂提取物同浓度处理对水稻纹枯菌、番茄早疫菌和番茄灰霉菌抑制效果较好;(4)菊芋叶片乙酸乙酯提取物抑菌效果最为显著,浓度为20mg/mL时对番茄早疫菌和番茄灰霉菌已达到完全抑制,对水稻纹枯菌抑制率也达到77.91%。初步化学预试结果说明,菊芋叶片中含有蛋白质、氨基酸、还原糖类、有机酸、酚类和鞣质、黄酮类、内酯类、强心甙以及油脂等化学成分。     

Cloning and Functional Analysis of the Bifunctional Agglutinin/Trypsin Inhibitor from Helianthus tuberosus L.

In order to find new insect resistance genes, four homologous cDNAs, hta-a, hta-b, hta-c and hta-d with lengths of 775, 718, 784 and 752 bp, respectively （GenBank accession numbers AF477031-AF477034）, were isolated from a tuber cDNA expression library of Helianthus tuberosus L. Sequence analysis revealed that all four cDNAs contain an open reading frame of 444 bp, coding a polypeptide of 147 amino acid residues, and that the sequences of the cDNAs are very similar to those of the mannose-binding agglutinin genes of the jacalin-related family. In hemagglutination reactions and hapten inhibition assays, affinity-purified HTA （Helianthus tuberosus agglutinin） from induced Escherichia coli BL21（DE3） expressing GST-HTA shows hemagglutination ability and a higher carbohydrate-binding ability for mannose than other tested sugars. Trypsin inhibitory activity was detected in the crude extracts of induced E. coli BL21（DE3） expressing HTA, and was further verified by trypsin inhibitory activity staining on native polyacrylamide gel. The mechanism of interaction between HTA and trypsin was studied by molecular modeling. We found that plenty of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions can be formed between the supposed binding sites of HTA-b and the active site of trypsin, and that a stable HTA/trypsin complex can be formed. The results above imply that HTA might be a bifunctional protein with carbohydrate-binding activity and trypsin inhibitory activity. Moreover, Northern blotting analysis demonstrated that hta is predominantly expressed in tubers of H. tuberosus, very weakly expressed in stems, but not expressed at all in other tissues. Southern blotting analysis indicated that hta is encoded by a multi-gene family. The insect resistance traits have been described in another paper.     

Cloning and Expression Pattern of a Gene Encoding a Putative Plastidic ATP/ADP Transporter from Helianthus tuberosus L.

Herein, we report the cloning and molecular characterization of a full cDNA encoding a putative plastidic ATP/ADP transporter, designated HtAATP, for Helianthus tuberosus L. The ATP/ADP translocator protein was isolated from the tuber-cDNA library of H. tuberosus for the first time. The predicted HtAATP protein was judged as a plastidic ATP/ADP translocator protein from its high homology at the amino acid sequence level to the two Arabidopsis thaliana plastidic ATP/ADP translocator proteins AATP1 and AATP2 （84.8% and 79.9% identity, respectively）. Amino acid sequence analysis of the primary structure of HtAATP revealed that it belonged to the plastidic ATP/ADP transporter family. Hydropathy prediction indicated that HtAATP gene product is a highly hydrophobic membrane protein that contains 10 transmembrane domains to form a spanning topology. Southern blotting analysis showed that the HtAATP gene is a single-copy gene in the H. tuberosus genome. Tissue distribution analysis showed that the HtAATP gene is prominently expressed in sink tissues. A stable expression pattern in tubers at different developmental stages implies an active involvement of HtAATP during carbohydrate formation.     

Purification and characterization of the reconstitutively active adenine nucleotide carrier from mitochondria of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers

The adenine nucleotide carrier from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus Tuberosus L.) tubers mitochondria was solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified by sequential chromatography on hydroxapatite and Matrex Gel Blue B in the presence of cardiolipin and asolectin. SDS gel electrophoresis of the purified fraction showed a single polypeptide band with an apparent molecular mass of 33 kDa. When reconstituted in liposomes, the adenine nucleotide carrier catalyzed a pyridoxal 5-phosphate-sensitive ATP/ATP exchange. It was purified 75-fold with a recovery of 15% and a protein yield of 0.18% with respect to the mitochondrial extract. Among the various substrates and inhibitors tested, the reconstituted protein transported only ATP, ADP, and GTP and was inhibited by bongkrekate, phenylisothiocyanate, pyridoxal 5-phosphate, mersalyl and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (but not N-ethylmaleimide). Atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside (at concentrations normally inhibitory in animal and plant mitochondria) were without effect in Jerusalem artichoke tubers mitochondria. V _max of the reconstituted ATP/ATP exchange was determined to be 0.53 mol/min per mg protein at 25°C. The half-saturation constant K _m and the corresponding inhibition constant K _i were 20.4 M for ATP and 45 M for ADP. The activation energy of the ATP/ATP exchange was 28 KJ/mol between 5 and 30°C. The N-terminal amino acid partial sequence of the purified protein showed a partial homology with the ANT protein purified from mitochondria of maize shoots.     

Seasonal and Geographical Influences on the Chemical Composition of Juniperus phoenicea L. Essential Oil Leaves from the Northern Tunisia

The essential‐oil composition of 60 individual trees of Juniperus phoenicea L. from four Tunisian populations in three different periods were investigated by GC and GC/MS analyses. 59 Compounds were identified in the oils, and a relatively high variation in their contents was found. All the oils were dominated by the terpenic hydrocarbon fraction, and the main component was α‐pinene (20.28–40.86%). The results of the oil compositions were processed by hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) allowing establishing four groups of essential‐oils differentiated by one compound or more. Pattern of geographic variation in essential‐oil composition indicated that individuals from the continental site (Makthar) were clearly distinguished from those from littoral localities (Tabarka, Hawaria, and Rimel).     

NaCl胁迫对菊芋幼苗生长及其离子吸收运输的影响

在温室采用砂培试验,比较研究了NaCl胁迫对2个菊芋(Helianthus tuberosusL.)品种‘南芋8号’(Ht 1,耐盐性较强)和‘南芋1号’(Ht 2,耐盐性较弱)幼苗生长及其离子吸收运输的影响。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,低浓度NaCl处理(255、0 mmol.L-1)促进了Ht 1根干物质积累和根冠比增加,有利于其养分吸收;较高浓度NaCl处理(1002、00 mmol.L-1)均显著降低2个品种的总干物质重以及叶片、茎、根干物质重,且Ht 2降幅较Ht 1大;(2)NaCl处理对菊芋幼苗根部相对含水量(RWC)没有显著影响,但对叶片和茎部RWC的影响较大,而且高浓度盐胁迫(200 mmol.L-1)下,耐盐品种Ht 1较Ht 2叶片能够保持较高的RWC;(3)NaCl处理下,Ht 1比Ht 2根部对K 的选择性较强,且由根部吸收的大量Na 和Cl-在运输过程中被区域化在茎部,因而向代谢活性较高的叶片运输量相对较少,这是Ht 1耐盐能力较强的一个重要原因。     

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis. (Lamiaceae)

Characterization by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses of the Stachys officinalis (L.) Trevis . essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the aerial parts allowed the identification of 190 components that represented 97.9% of the total oil content. The main constituents identified were germacrene D (19.9%), β‐caryophyllene (14.1%), and α‐humulene (7.5%). Terpenoids were by far predominant (89.4%), with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (69.1%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (14.8%) being the most abundant compounds detected in the oil. Based on the present and previously published results, multivariate statistical comparison of the chemical composition of the essential oils was performed within the species. Principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) of the data on the volatile profiles of S. officinalis taxa revealed no pronounced differences among the samples originated from the Balkan Peninsula. Additionally, the oil was screened for in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity using the broth microdilution assay. The oil's best antimicrobial activities were obtained against the mold Aspergillus niger (minimal inhibitory (MIC) and minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/ml, resp.) and the yeast Candida albicans (MIC and MFC of 5.0 mg/ml).     

寡糖类能源植物菊芋及其综合利用研究进展

菊芋作为我国最具发展前景的非粮寡糖类能源植物之一,具有宜于边际地生长、生物质产量高、抗逆性强、易转化等优点。综合国内外菊芋研究现状,以菊芋生物质原料生产为核心,从能源植物分类、菊芋生长特性、种质资源、遗传改良、丰产栽培、采后贮藏、生物燃料研发等方面对其研究现状进行了详细阐述,并展望了菊芋在生物质原料生产方面的未来研究趋势和重点,为我国寡糖类能源植物的长远发展和科学研究提供参考。