Garlic (Allium sativum) chitinases: characterization and molecular cloning

Leaves and bulbs of garlic ( Allium sativum L.) contain a chitinase which can be separated into three different isoforms with similar molecular structure and N- terminal amino acid sequence. SDS-PAGE of the alkylated chitinase revealed two distinct polypeptides of 32 and 33 kDa. Induction studies of the chitinase in leaves of garlic plants indicated that not only treatment with ethephon or salicylate and wounding but also a temperature shock strongly increased the enzyme level.
cDNA libraries constructed from poly(A)-rich RNA isolated from young garlic shoots and bulbs were screened for chitinase clones using the cDNA clone CCH4 encoding a basic potato chitinase as a probe. Two different cDNA clones (designated CHITAS 1 and CHITAS 2)of ca 1 000 bp were isolated and their sequences analyzed. The amino acid sequences deduced from both cDNA clones were homologous though not identical to the N-terminal sequences of the mature chitinases. Although both clones encode highly homologous chitinases their sequences definitely differ in that they have different signal peptides and one of them contains a glycine-rich domain. The garlic chitinases are apparently translated from an mRNA of 1200 nucleotides which encodes a proprotein of approximately 32 or 33 kDa for CHITAS 1 and CHITAS 2, respectively. Co-translational removal of the signal peptide will result in a 30 (for CHITAS 1) or 31 kDa (for CHITAS 2) protein with an isoelectric point of 4. 94 (for CHITAS 1) or 6. 12 (for CHITAS 2). Garlic chitinases are encoded by a small gene family as shown by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA isolated from garlic.
The garlic chitinases show a high degree of sequence homology to the previously isolated chitinases from dicotyledonous as well as monocotyledonous species, indicating that these proteins have been conserved from an evolutionary point of view.     

新鲜大蒜中蒜氨酸酶的分离纯化及性质

用葡聚糖凝胶G-200层析柱分离纯化了新鲜大蒜(Allium sativum)中的蒜氨酸酶, SDS-PAGE结果为单一条带, 分子量为53 kD在35 ℃下以蒜氨酸为底物, Km为0.693 mmol.L-1, Vmax 为0.353 mmol.min-1, 最适反应温度为30 ℃, 热稳定的温度在50 ℃以下。Zn2+对酶有抑制作用, Mn2+使酶活力增加。     

新鲜大蒜中蒜氨酸酶的分离纯化及性质

用葡聚糖凝胶G-200层析柱分离纯化了新鲜大蒜(Allium sativum)中的蒜氨酸酶,SDS-PAGE结果为单一条带,分子量为53 kD在35℃下以蒜氨酸为底物,Km为0.693 mmol·L-1,Vmax为0.353 mmol·min-1,最适反应温度为30℃,热稳定的温度在50℃以下.Zn2 对酶有抑制作用,Mn2 使酶活力增加.     

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori by garlic extract (Allium sativum)

Abstract The antibacterial effect of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) was investigated against Helicobacter pylori . Sixteen clinical isolates and three reference strains of H. pylori were studied. Two different varieties of garlic were used. The concentration of AGE required to inhibit the bacterial growth was between 2–5 mg ml⁻¹. The concentration, for both AGE types, to inhibit 90% (MIC₉₀) of isolates was 5 mg ml⁻¹. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was usually equal to, or two-fold higher than, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Heat treatment of extracts reduced the inhibitory or bactericidal activity against H. pylori ; the boiled garlic extract showed a loss of efficacy from two-to four-fold the values of MIC and the MBC obtained with fresh AGR. The antibacterial activity of garlic was also studied after combination with a proton pump-inhibitor (omeprazole) in a ratio of 250:1. A synergistic effect was found in 47% of strains studied; an antagonistic effect was not observed.     

Receptors of Garlic (Allium sativum) Lectins and Their Role in Insecticidal Action

Garlic (Allium sativum) lectins are promising candidate molecules for the protection against chewing (lepidopteran) as well as sap sucking (homopteran) insect pests. Molecular mechanism of toxicity and interaction of lectins with midgut receptor proteins has been described in many reports. Lectins show its effect right from sensory receptors of mouth parts by disrupting the membrane integrity and food detection ability. Subsequently, enter into the gut lumen and interact with midgut glycosylated proteins like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminopeptidase-N (APN), cadherin-like proteins, polycalins, sucrase, symbionin and others. These proteins play critical role in life cycle of insect directly or indirectly. Lectins interfere with the activity of these proteins and causes physiological disorders leading to the death of insects. Lectins further transported across the insect gut, accumulated in various body parts (like haemolymph and ovary) and interact with intracellular proteins like symbionin and cytochrome p450. Binding with cytochrome p450 (which involve in ecdysone synthesis) might interfere in the development of insects, which results in growth retardation and pre-mature death.     

大蒜化学成分的气-质联用分析

本文采用环己烷、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇对大蒜（Allium sativum L.）新鲜鳞茎的95%乙醇提取物进行萃取,并与水蒸气蒸馏法提取的挥发油成分进行比较,用GC-MS对其成分进行定性和定量分析.在环己烷萃取物中共检出112个成分,鉴定了38个化合物,占环己烷萃取物总量的80.08%;在乙酸乙酯萃取物中检出86个成分,鉴定了26个化合物,占乙酸乙酯萃取物总量的56.70%;在正丁醇萃取物中未检出挥发性成分.在水蒸气蒸馏法提取的挥发油中共检出109个成分,鉴定了29个化合物,占挥发油总量的83.58%.大蒜95%乙醇提取物的环己烷和乙酸乙酯萃取物及大蒜挥发油中皆以含硫化合物为主.在环己烷和乙酸乙酯萃取物中,阿霍烯的含量分别为生药的0.00395%和0.00145%,大蒜中阿霍烯含量达0.00540%.     

大蒜体细胞胚胎发生研究进展

大蒜生产主要靠无性繁殖 ,因此 ,进行大蒜体细胞胚发育研究具有重要意义。本文对大蒜体细胞胚发育的影响因子进行了综述 ,其中较高浓度的维生素B1 及还原态氮源可能有利于胚胎发生 ,而大蒜体细胞内含物则不利于胚胎发生。此外 ,对大蒜体细胞胚培养中存在的主要问题进行了讨论 ,并认为系统开展体细胞胚发生的细胞分子生物学机理研究、建立悬浮培养体系以及进行大蒜体细胞胚无性系变异的研究等 ,具有广阔的前景。     

Isolation and Characterization of Viruses Present in Four Clones of Garlic (Allium sativum) in Venezuela

Isolation and characterization of viruses infecting garlic in Venezuela indicate the presence of onion yellow dwarf virus [OYDV] in most field-grown plants of the clones Criollo venezolano, Morado peruano and Blanco, while 14% of the Criollo venezolano plants showed co-infection of leek yellow stripe virus [LYSV] and OYDV. In leaf tissues OYDV showed an average concentration of 165 μg/g fresh wt., the value being similar among clones. In Criollo venezolano plants co-infected by LYSV and OYDV the concentration of the former was three fold lower than that of OYDV. Serological tests on leaf extracts of garlic plants indicated the absence of the garlic yellow streak virus [GYSV], shallot latent virus [SLV] and garlic latent virus [GLV] in the clones Criollo venezolano, Morado peruano and Blanco. GLV was found to infect plants of the clone Gigante. Physicochemical analysis of purified GLV strongly supports the inclusion of this virus as a definitive member of the carlavirus group.     

Isolation and Characterization of Viruses Present in Four Clones of Garlic (Allium sativum) in Venezuela

Isolation and characterization of viruses infecting garlic in Venezuela indicate the presence of onion yellow dwarf virus [OYDV] in most field-grown plants of the clones Criollo venezolano, Morado peruano and Blanco, while 14% of the Criollo venezolano plants showed co-infection of leek yellow stripe virus [LYSV] and OYDV. In leaf tissues OYDV showed an average concentration of 165 μg/g fresh wt., the value being similar among clones. In Criollo venezolano plants co-infected by LYSV and OYDV the concentration of the former was three fold lower than that of OYDV. Serological tests on leaf extracts of garlic plants indicated the absence of the garlic yellow streak virus [GYSV], shallot latent virus [SLV] and garlic latent virus [GLV] in the clones Criollo venezolano, Morado peruano and Blanco. GLV was found to infect plants of the clone Gigante. Physicochemical analysis of purified GLV strongly supports the inclusion of this virus as a definitive member of the carlavirus group.     

大蒜花序轴离体培养器官发生途径的解剖学研究

以大蒜品种‘三月黄’(Allium sativum L.cv. Sanyuehuang)花序轴为外植体进行离体培养,对其器官发生过程进行了形态学和解剖学观察。结果显示:大蒜花序轴离体培养不经过愈伤组织,通过器官直接发生途径形成不定芽,其不定芽起源于大蒜花序轴维管组织韧皮部一侧周围的皮层薄壁细胞,属于外起源;皮层薄壁细胞经脱分化后,由最先形成的拟分生组织发育为茎尖分生组织,然后环绕其形成叶原基,茎尖和叶共同构成一个完整的不定芽;大蒜花序轴离体培养发生的不定芽与花苞中自然形成的营养芽发生部位一致。不定芽通过壮苗、生根培养可正常生根形成植株,如果继代培养周期超过21 d,鳞茎形成率可达90.56%。     

Antimicrobial properties of Allium sativum (garlic)

Although garlic has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years, investigations into its mode of action are relatively recent. Garlic has a wide spectrum of actions; not only is it antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal, but it also has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular and immune systems. Resurgence in the use of natural herbal alternatives has brought the use of medicinal plants to the forefront of pharmacological investigations, and many new drugs are being discovered. This review aims to address the historical use of garlic and its sulfur chemistry, and to provide a basis for further research into its antimicrobial properties.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of leek (Allium porrum) and garlic (Allium sativum)

Transgenic leek (Allium porrum) and garlic (Allium sativum) plants have been recovered by the selective culturing of immature leek and garlic embryos via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using a method similar to that described by Eady et al. (Plant Cell Rep 19:376–381, 2000) for onion transformation. This method involved the use of a binary vector containing the m-gfp-ER reporter gene and nptII selectable marker, and followed the protocol developed previously for the transformation of onions with only minor modifications pertaining to the post-transformation selection procedure which was simplified to have just a single selection regime. Transgenic cultures were selected for their ability to express the m-gfp-ER reporter gene and grown in the presence of geneticin (20 mg/l). The presence of transgenes in the genome of the plants was confirmed using TAIL-PCR and Southern analysis. This is the first report of leek and true seed garlic transformation. It now makes possible the integration of useful agronomic and quality traits into these crops.     

Isolation and Identification of Sodium 2-Propenyl Thiosulfate from Boiled Garlic (Allium sativum) That Oxidizes Canine Erythrocytes

Sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate was identified in boiled garlic (Allium sativum). When canine erythrocytes were incubated with sodium 2-propenyl thiosulfate, the methemoglobin concentration and Heinz body percentage in erythrocytes were both increased, indicating that the compound induced oxidative damage in canine erythrocytes. It seems that this compound is one of the causative agents of garlic-induced hemolysis in dogs.     

Effect of Shade on Leaf and Cell Size and Number of Epidermal Cells in Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic cultivars ‘Bangladesh Local’ and ‘Fructidor’were grown under field conditions in the south-east of Englandand subjected to different shading treatments. The effects ofshading on final leaf size were related to cell numbers anddimensions. An increase in light intensity reduced leaf lengthand size of epidermal cells. In the cv. Fructidor, cell lengthwas reduced, but in the cv. Bangladesh Local, both length andwidth of cells were reduced. The stomatal index decreased withincreasing light intensity in both cultivars. Leaf thicknessincreased with light intensity, resulting in corresponding gainsin leaf d. wt per unit area. Data from cv. Fructidor growing in full sunlight indicated thatthe epidermal tissue adjacent to the abaxial leaf surface hada greater number of cells than that next to the adaxial surface,but no significant differences were found in the correspondingcell depths. The size of epidermal cells in both epidermisesdecreased from the base to tip of the leaf due to reductionin cell length and width. The influences of environmental factorson leaf growth in general, and those related to shade, are alsodiscussed. Allium sativum L. cv. Bangladesh Local, Allium sativum L. cv. Fructidor, epidermal cells, garlic, light intensity, shade, stomatal index     

大蒜辣素UPLC检测体系优化及其在大蒜资源评价中的应用

大蒜是重要的调味蔬菜,大蒜辣素的含量是评价大蒜品质的最重要的一项指标.本研究通过对样品处理、提取方法和检测方法的研究,建立了完善的大蒜辣素超高效液相色谱(UPLC)检测方法:使用UPLC BEH C18色谱柱,流动相为甲醇∶水=1∶1,检测波长为254nm,进样体积为1μl,流速为0.3ml/min.大蒜辣素在2.04 ～ 510mg/L范围内呈良好线性关系(R2 =0.9991).利用建立的方法对212份大蒜鳞茎的大蒜辣素含量进行检测,发现供试212份大蒜资源的大蒜辣素含量差异显著,含量分布在0.82％ ～3.01％之间,最高含量与最低含量之间相差近4倍.     

大蒜种质产量和品质性状主成分聚类分析与综合评价

以40个大蒜品种为供试材料,依据数值分类学的性状选择原则,分别于大蒜生长期和采收后进行农艺性状指标的采集。估算40个大蒜品种16个农艺性状及4个品质指标的主成分,并以前3个主成分和遗传相似性系数为基础,分别作二维散点图和系统聚类分析。40份大蒜品种前7个主成分累计贡献率达85%。根据品种性状主成分表现,评选出性状优良的大蒜品种共10个。在聚类图中,在0.14的遗传相似性水平上可以把40份品种分成4类,即由5份种质组成的类群Ⅰ;由28份种质聚成的类群Ⅱ;由改良蒜等4份种质组成的类群Ⅲ,及苏联蒜等3份种质组成的类群Ⅳ。全部种质的遗传相似性系数在0.07～0.64之间,很好地揭示了品种类群间存在的亲缘关系。     

Toll-like receptor-4 mediates lipopolysaccharide-induced signal transduction

TLR4 is a member of the recently identified Toll-like receptor family of proteins and has been putatively identified as Lps, the gene necessary for potent responses to lipopolysaccharide in mammals. In order to determine whether TLR4 is involved in lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway, HEK 293 cells were transiently transfected with human TLR4 cDNA and an NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter plasmid followed by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide/CD14 complexes. The results demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide stimulates NF-kappaB-mediated gene expression in cells transfected with the TLR4 gene in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Furthermore, E5531, a lipopolysaccharide antagonist, blocked TLR4-mediated transgene activation in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 approximately 30 nM). These data demonstrate that TLR4 is involved in lipopolysaccharide signaling and serves as a cell-surface co-receptor for CD14, leading to lipopolysaccharide-mediated NF-kappaB activation and subsequent cellular events.