Effects of short chain fatty acids on seedlings

Abstract. Primary roots of lettuce show no appreciable diminution of sensitivity of SCFA between 24 and 72 h, so it is likely that all actively growing primary roots are susceptible to inhibition by SCFA. While roots do not recover from long exposures to high concentrations of SCFA, partial recovery is seen following exposure to intermediate levels.
SCFA inhibit elongation of lettuce and turnip hypocotyls as well as roots. However, higher concentrations are required to produce a given inhibition of hypocotyl. In contrast with the inhibition of roots, inhibition of shoots is markedly dependent on the chain length of the fatty acid. Thus, either access to sites of action or action at the sites differs between shoots and roots of the same seedling plants.     

Promotive effect of capillarol and related compounds on root growth

The promotion of root growth by capillarol [methyl 3-(3-methylbut-2-enoyl)-4-hydroxycinnamate] and related phenolic compounds were studied in relation to structure-activity relationships. Concentrations above 5 × 10⁻⁵ M capillarol stimulated the root growth of rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Tanginbozu and cv. Nihonbare) seedlings to about 180% of the control value at 5 × 10⁻⁴ M . Capillarol had no promotive and hardly any inhibitory effect on the growth of the second leaf sheath. Capillarol promoted the root growth also in seedlings of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) to ca 150% of the control value at 5 × 10⁻⁴ M . The free acid form of capillarol (capillaric acid) was about as effective as capillarol. Para -hydroxy- but not m -methoxy- substituted cinnamic acid, phenylpyruvic acid, phenylacetic acid and amino-hydrocinnamic acid could stimulate root growth, but p -hydroxybenzoic acid was inactive. It is concluded that the important structural requirements for high root growth-promoting activity of phenolic compounds are the hydroxyl group substitution at the C-4 position of the benzene ring, and the propanoic or propenoic acid side chain at the C-1 position. A possible mode of the action of capillarol on root growth-promoting activity is also discussed.     

Isotopomer enrichment assay for very short chain fatty acids and its metabolic applications

The present work illustrated an accurate GC/MS measurement for the low isotopomer enrichment assay of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic aicd, butyric acid, and pentanoic acid. The pentafluorobenzyl bromide derivatives of these very short chain fatty acids have high sensitivity of isotopoic enrichment due to their low natural isotopomer distribution in negative chemical ionization mass spectrometric mode. Pentafluorobenzyl bromide derivatization reaction was optimized in terms of pH, temperature, reaction time, and the amount of pentafluorobenzyl bromide versus sample. The precision, stability, and accuracy of this method for the isotopomer analysis were validated. This method was applied to measure the enrichments of formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid in the perfusate from rat liver exposed to Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate buffer only, 0–1 mM [3,4-¹³C₂]-4-hydroxynonanoate, and 0–2 mM [5,6,7-¹³C₃]heptanoate. The enrichments of acetic acid and propionic acid in the perfusate are comparable to the labeling pattern of acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA in the rat liver tissues. The enrichment of the acetic acid assay is much more sensitive and precise than the enrichment of acetyl-CoA by LC-MS/MS. The reversibility of propionyl-CoA from succinyl-CoA was confirmed by the low labeling of M1 and M2 of propionic acid from [5,6,7-¹³C₃]heptanoate perfusates.     

Effect of Aloe vera whole leaf extract on short chain fatty acids production by Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium infantis and Eubacterium limosum

Aims: To investigate the effect of Aloe vera whole leaf extract on pure and mixed human gut bacterial cultures by assessing the bacterial growth and changes in the production of short chain fatty acids. Methods and Results: Bacteroides fragilis, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Eubacterium limosum were incubated with Aloe vera extracts [0%, 0·5%, 1%, 1·5% and 2%; (w/v)] for 24 and 48 h. Short chain fatty acids production was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. A significant linear increase in growth response to Aloe vera supplementation was observed at 24 h for each of the bacterial cultures; however, only B. infantis and a mixed bacterial culture showed a significant positive linear dose response in growth at 48 h. In pure bacteria cultures, a significantly enhanced dose response to Aloe vera supplementation was observed in the production of acetic acid by B. infantis at 24 h and of butyric acid by E. limosum at 24 and 48 h. In the mixed bacterial culture, the production of propionic acid was reduced significantly at 24 and 48 h in a dose‐dependent fashion, whereas butyric acid production showed a significant linear increase. Conclusions: The results indicated that Aloe vera possessed bacteriogenic activity in vitro and altered the production of acetic, butyric and propionic acids by micro‐organisms selected for the study. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of the study suggest that consumption of a dietary supplement, Aloe vera, may alter the production of short chain fatty acids by human intestinal microflora.     

Roles of GPR41 and GPR43 in leptin secretory responses of murine adipocytes to short chain fatty acids

GPR41 is reportedly expressed in murine adipose tissue and mediates short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-stimulated leptin secretion by activating Gα_i. Here, we agree with a contradictory report in finding no expression of GPR41 in murine adipose tissue. Nevertheless, in the presence of adenosine deaminase to minimise Gα_i signalling via the adenosine A1 receptor, SCFA stimulated leptin secretion by adipocytes from wild-type but not GPR41 knockout mice. Expression of GPR43 was reduced in GPR41 knockout mice. Acetate but not butyrate stimulated leptin secretion in wild-type mesenteric adipocytes, consistent with mediation of the response by GPR43 rather than GPR41. Pertussis toxin prevented stimulation of leptin secretion by propionate in epididymal adipocytes, implicating Gα_i signalling mediated by GPR43 in SCFA-stimulated leptin secretion.     

Regulation of lateral root formation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) seedling roots: Interacting effects of α-naphthaleneacetic acid and kinetin

Growth substances, α-naphthaleneacetic (NAA) and kinetin, had an important role in the regulation of lateral root (LR) formation in lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) seedling roots. NAA (10^-5 M ) was a potent stimulator of LR initiation and caused a 600% increase in the number of lateral root primordia (LRP) compared to untreated roots. NAA was required for only the first 20 h of the 72 h treatment period for maximum stimulation of LRP initiation. Kinetin (2 × 10^-5 M ) effectively prevented the spontaneous formation of LRP and inhibited the NAA-stimulated production of LRP. Kinetin inhibition was maximal during the first 20 h of NAA treatment and this effect was not overcome by subsequent supply of NAA. Also, lettuce roots were most sensitive to kinetin at 20 h of NAA treatment, when the first signs of cell division were observed in the pericycle.     

鸡肠道菌群和短链脂肪酸相互关系的研究进展

肠道是动物机体重要的消化和营养吸收器官。肠道菌群决定肠道健康,进而影响机体健康。近来关于肠道菌群的研究越来越多,且肠道菌群酵解底物产生的短链脂肪酸也备受人们关注。短链脂肪酸主要包括乙酸、丙酸、丁酸等及其盐类。在对肠道功效方面,短链脂肪酸发挥着重要作用,如氧化供能、维持水电解质平衡、调节免疫、抗病原微生物及抗炎、调节肠道菌群平衡、改善肠道功能等。因此,本文根据近年来国内外相关研究报道,综述了鸡肠道不同种类、含量的菌群对短链脂肪酸来源和吸收的影响;不同种类、含量和制剂形态的短链脂肪酸对肠道菌群影响的研究进展,为更好地了解鸡肠道菌群和短链脂肪酸的相互关系和提高禽类养殖水平提供理论指导。     

Effects of synthetic plant growth retardants and abscisic acid on root functions of Brassica rapa plants exposed to low root-zone temperature

Possible interactions of two synthetic plant-growth retardants during the short-term response of Brassica rapa L. ssp. oleifera (DC.) Metzger plants to low root-zone temperature were investigated by pretreating with mefluidide or paclobutrazol. Water and solute transfers were studied by measuring xylem sap volume flow (under root pressure exudation) and ion flow from the roots. Relations with nitrate uptake rate were also considered. Root pretreatment with paclobutrazol strongly restricted the cold-inducible processes which normally restore water and solute flow from the root xylem. Paclobutrazol decreased the rates of nitrate uptake and exudation flow from the root xylem (principally by reducing root hydraulic conductivity) with dramatic consequences for ion flow, especially that of nitrate.
The effects of root ABA pretreatment on plant response to root cooling were then studied separately or in association with a pretreatment with paclobutrazol. Despite a slight decrease in nitrate uptake rate, ABA pretreatment of the roots enabled the plant to develop rapid mechanisms for adaptation to cold constraint at the root level. Moreover, this action of exogenous ABA greatly reduced the effect of a simultaneous paclobutrazol pretreatment and partly restored water and solute flows.
Thus, the improvement of plant resistance to cold conditions brought about by treatments with mefluidide and paclobutrazol (previously shown in long-term experiments) cannot simply be explained by their short-term effects.     

Short- and long-term effects of a change in the spatial distribution of nitrate in the root zone on N uptake, growth and root development of young lettuce plants

Abstract. The effects of a change in the distribution of nitrate within the root zone on N uptake and growth were studied using young lettuce plants after reducing the proportion of their root systems supplied with nitrate from 100 to ca 10% in split-root experiments in the glasshouse. The main effects of the localized nitrate supply were concentrated in a 2-week period immediately after the treatment was imposed, when a temporary reduction in nitrate uptake caused the gradual development of N deficiency and a decline in plant growth rate. The plants adapted to the change in nitrate distribution, initially by increasing unit absorption rates (uptake rates per unit weight of root) and more gradually by increasing production of new roots in the high-nitrate zone. As a result, relative N uptake rates and relative growth rates were restored to the same levels as for control plants (given a spatially uniform N supply throughout) after ca 12d, even though only ca 12–15% of their roots were exposed to nitrate at this time. Thereafter, the plants continued to adapt by concentrating new root growth in the nitrate-containing zone, ultimately allowing unit absorption rates to return to normal. There was no evidence of any significant N deficiency in the plants after the initial adaptive response was complete, even though the total-N concentrations of the plants given the localized supply were consistently less than those given the uniform N treatment, and nitrate concentrations in the petiole sap were generally lower in leaves on one side of the plant (because of limited lateral movement of nitrate between xylem vessels during its transport to the shoot). The delay in the initiation of an adaptive response caused a significant check in growth, and the resulting relative weight differences were maintained throughout the subsequent life of the plant. Plants in all treatments matured on the same date, so yields for those grown with the localized supply were less than those of the control, and could not be recovered by delaying final harvest without unacceptable loss of quality. The pattern of the changes in N uptake and plant growth, and the effect on final yield, were similar to those exhibited by young lettuce plants subjected to a temporary interruption in nitrate supply, suggesting that the reduction in final yield for plants grown with the localized supply was largely the effect of the check in growth which occurred whilst the Plants were adapting to the change in nitrate distribution during the early part of the experiment. This implies that the rate of dry matter production of young lettuce plants can be altered by N treatment without affecting their rate of physiological development.     

Interactions of Cd with Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in hydroponic culture

Abstract. The effect and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in lettuce grown by means of the hydroponic technique was investigated by multivariate analysis, and was found to be affected by the concentration of other trace elements. Particularly iron acted in a strongly antagonistic way against Cd. Consequently, no absolute toxicity limits for Cd can be drawn without considering other trace elements.     

The effects of external NaCl on thylakoid stacking in lettuce plants

The average degree of thylakoid stacking was determined for loose-leaf lettuce plants which were grown in complete nutrient solutions containing either 10 or 100mol m^?3 NaCl. Digitonin fractionation and differential centrifugation were used to assay the level of thylakoid stacking. Based on a comparison between 10mol m^?3 NaCl-grown and 100mol m^?3 NaCl-grown lettuce plants of equal ages, digitonin assays indicated that significantly less stacking occurred in 100mol m^?3 NaCl-grown plants. Isolated thylakoid membranes from 100mol m^?3 NaCl-grown plants were also characterized by a greater capacity to absorb divalent cations and by a higher chlorophyll a/b ratio. Since plants from both growth salinities were capable of a marked increase in thylakoid stacking upon a transition from high to low irradiance, the observed differences in thylakoid stacking were not attributed to a salinity-related impairment of stacking mechanisms. Instead, the salinity-induced differences in thylakoid stacking appear to represent a process of controlled adjustment.     

脂肪酸及其氧合物对曲霉属真菌菌丝生长、产孢和黄曲霉毒素合成的影响

黄曲霉毒素是由黄曲霉菌合成的一类毒性极高、致癌性极强的次生代谢物。一般认为,高油脂含量的作物种子被曲霉属真菌感染后容易产生黄曲霉毒素,但是,脂肪酸的处理实验结果表明不同类型的脂肪酸对曲霉属真菌毒素合成的作用不同,有的促进合成,有的抑制合成。最近研究结果显示所有脂肪酸都促进黄曲霉毒素合成,但是多不饱和脂肪酸在暴露空气之后对毒素合成有抑制作用。这种抑制产毒的作用似乎是由多不饱和脂肪酸氧化所产生的脂氧合物所介导。本文结合我们的研究结果,综合评述了脂肪酸和脂氧合物调控曲霉属真菌菌丝生长、产孢和毒素合成研究的最新进展。     

黏质阿克曼菌及其代谢物短链脂肪酸与溃疡性结肠炎肠黏膜屏障的相关性研究

溃疡性结肠炎(ulcerative colitis, UC)已成为当今世界范围内的发病率高、患病人数多、病程缠绵的终身难治性疾病。而黏质阿克曼菌(Akkermansia muciniphila,A.muciniphila)及其代谢物短链脂肪酸(short chain fatty acid, SCFA)是近年来发现的对UC肠黏膜屏障具有保护作用的益生菌及代谢物,但其具体作用机制有待归纳和总结。因此本文从肠黏膜机械、化学、免疫及生物屏障这四个角度综合分析近年来的相关研究,试图探讨A. muciniphila和SCFA对肠黏膜屏障的具体作用机理,为研究UC的发病机制、治疗手段提供新视角和新思路。     

饲养方式对藏猪结肠消化酶活性、菌群结构及短链脂肪酸含量的影响

【目的】为探究饲养方式对藏猪结肠消化酶活性、菌群结构和短链脂肪酸含量的影响。【方法】研究分别选取5头相同月龄的放养藏猪和舍饲藏猪。屠宰采集结肠粪便样品,分别利用酶联免疫吸附法(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA)试剂盒、高通量测序技术和气相色谱仪测定放养藏猪和舍饲藏猪结肠消化酶活性、菌群结构和短链脂肪酸含量。【结果】同一月龄下,放养藏猪的日增重显著低于舍饲藏猪(P<0.05)。放养藏猪结肠中纤维素酶和半纤维素酶的活性均显著高于舍饲藏猪(P<0.05);2种饲养方式藏猪结肠的6种α多样性指数均无显著差异(P>0.05),且主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA)得到放养藏猪和舍饲藏猪结肠菌群存在一定的相似性。在门和科分类水平上,相较于舍饲藏猪,放养藏猪结肠中疣微菌门、黄杆菌科、月形单胞菌科、浮霉状菌科和伊格尔兹氏菌科的相对丰度显著升高,而链球菌科、韦荣氏球菌科、假单胞菌科、红环菌科、红螺菌科、乳杆菌科、理研菌科和巴斯德氏菌科的相对丰度显著降低(P<0.05);在属和种分类水平上,...     

Interactive effects of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), irradiance, and ferulic acid in axenic, hydroponic culture

Ferulic acid (FA) is released by living roots and by decaying plant material and is involved in chemical interactions between plants. Effects of FA on plant growth and root development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) cultivated in axenic nutrient solution were studied in two factorial experiments. Root and shoot growth was impeded when 200 M trans-FA was added to the nutrient solution and the light intensity was in the range of 250–380 mol m^-2 s^-1. Root growth showed a stronger response to FA than did shoot growth. At 200 M, FA strongly inhibited root hair formation and reduced mean lengths of primary, secondary and tertiary roots, but stimulated primary and secondary root branching. Both isomerization to the cis isomer and the presence of the plant reduced the concentration of trans-FA in the nutrient solution during the two weeks exposure period. A third experiment was conducted to assess the influence of irradiance on the phytotoxicity of FA. At a light intensity of 489 mol m^-2 s^-1, or in the presence of microorganisms, the concentration of FA in the nutrient solution was lowered and the phytotoxic effects were reduced.     

Effects of light and temperature on fatty acid desaturation during the maturation of rapeseed

In a winter variety of rapeseed, low temperatures enhance fatty acid desaturation as evidenced by ¹⁴C-acetate incorporation into fatty acids or ¹⁴C-oleate desaturation in vivo; similarly, low temperatures favour polyunsaturated fatty acid accumulation during the maturation of the seeds. Oleate desaturation was slightly higher under 16 hr daylight exposure than under 9 hr treatment.