Microbial Oxidation of Cephalosporins to Cephalosporin Sulfoxides

The highest inhibition rate of conidial germination of Pyricularia oryzae was shown by extracts of rice plant leaves inoculated by a pathogen after treatment with probenazole, a rice blast controlling agent. Four anti-conidial germination substances were isolated from these extracts. Substances A, C and D inhibited the germination of the conidia at concentrations between 100 and 200 mcg/ml, and substance B caused morphological changes in the germination tubes of the conidia with a little inhibition of germination. These substances were differentiated from momilactone A, B and the degraded or metabolized products of probenazole. Besides anti-conidial germination activity, they showed antimicrobial activities against several kinds of phytopathogenic bacteria of fungi on agar plates by diffusion method.     

The Enantioselective Synthesis of Marmelo Oxides A and B and the Assignment of the Absolute Configurations of Marmelo Oxides

(+)-Marmelo oxide A and (—)-marmelo oxide B were stereoselectively synthesized from d-glutamic acid via (—)-marmelo lactones A and B. The absolute configurations of marmleo oxides were thus determined to be the (+)-oxide A having the (2R, 4R) and (+)-oxide B having (2S, 4R) configurations.     

Characterization of 12-oxo-phytodienoic Acid reductase in corn: the jasmonic Acid pathway

12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase, an enzyme of the biosynthetic pathway that converts linolenic acid to jasmonic acid, has been characterized from the kernel and seedlings of corn (Zea mays L.). The molecular weight of the enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, was 54,000. Optimum enzyme activity was observed over a broad pH range, from pH 6.8 to 9.0. The enzyme had a K_m of 190 micromolar for its substrate, 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. The preferred reductant was NADPH, for which the enzyme exhibited a K_m of 13 micromolar, compared with 4.2 millimolar for NADH. Reductase activity was low in the corn kernel but increased five-fold by the fifth day after germination and then gradually declined.     

The hydroperoxide lyase branch of the oxylipin pathway protects against photoinhibition of photosynthesis

Main conclusion

This study describes a new role for hydroperoxide lyase branch of oxylipin biosynthesis pathway in protecting photosynthetic apparatus under high light conditions.

Lipid-derived signaling molecules, oxylipins, produced by a multi-branch pathway are central in regulation of a wide range of functions. The two most known branches, allene oxide synthase (AOS) and 13-hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) pathways, are best recognized as producers of defense compounds against biotic challenges. In the present work, we examine the role of these two oxylipin branches in plant tolerance to the abiotic stress, namely excessive light. Towards this goal, we have analyzed variable chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of intact leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes with altered oxylipin profile, followed by examining the impact of exogenous application of selected oxylipins on functional activity of photosynthetic apparatus in intact leaves and isolated thylakoid membranes. Our findings unequivocally bridge the function of oxylipins to photosynthetic processes. Specifically, HPL overexpressing lines display enhanced adaptability in response to high light treatment as evidenced by lower rate constant of photosystem 2 (PS2) photoinhibition and higher rate constant of PS2 recovery after photoinhibition. In addition, exogenous application of linolenic acid, 13-hydroperoxy linolenic acid, 12-oxophytodienoic acid, and methyl jasmonate individually, suppresses photochemical activity of PS2 in intact plants and isolated thylakoid membranes, while application of HPL-branch metabolites—does not. Collectively these data implicate function of HPL branch of oxylipin biosynthesis pathway in guarding PS2 under high light conditions, potentially exerted through tight regulation of free linolenic acid and 13-hydroperoxy linolenic acid levels, as well as competition with production of metabolites by AOS-branch of the oxylipin pathway.

     

Biosynthese de l'acide linolenique dans la feuille de pois

During the development of pea seedlings in complete darkness or under a short-day photoperiod, the capacity of linolenic acid biosynthesis reaches a maximum about 7 days after germination. At all stages of development the light markedly and specifically increases the incorporation of 1-¹⁴C-acetate into the linolenic acid, causing a 20-fold increase in the labelling at the maximum as compared with dark incubation. The evolution of the capacity of linolenic acid biosynthesis in leaves follows strictly the ability to produce chlorophyll under light. First analysis shows that the linolenic acid biosynthesis observed occurs specifically into the galactolipids.     

The effects of soybean lipoxygenase-1 on chloroplasts from wheat

Chloroplasts were isolated from primary leaves of wheat 12 days after germination and incubated at 25° for 45 min in the dark with soybean lipoxygenase-1. The lipoxygenase action was evident from a weak oxygen uptake of ca 0.18, μmol/hr per mg chloroplast protein. The lipoxygenase treatment caused a marked decrease in the photochemical activity, as measured by the reduction rate of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. However, both the content and composition of the lipids as well as those of total fatty acids remained largely unchanged except for a slight but significant decrease in the total linolenic acid content. It is proposed that soybean lipoxygenase-1 selectively attacks free linolenic acid present in chloroplasts, followed by a chlorophyll-catalysed reaction of hydroperoxylinolenic acid with components of the electron transfer system.     

Characterization of a new <Emphasis Type="Italic">GmFAD3A</Emphasis> allele in Brazilian CS303TNKCA soybean cultivar

Key Message

We molecularly characterized a new mutation in the GmFAD3A gene associated with low linolenic content in the Brazilian soybean cultivar CS303TNKCA and developed a molecular marker to select this mutation.

Abstract

Soybean is one of the most important crops cultivated worldwide. Soybean oil has 13% palmitic acid, 4% stearic acid, 20% oleic acid, 55% linoleic acid and 8% linolenic acid. Breeding programs are developing varieties with high oleic and low polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic) to improve the oil oxidative stability and make the varieties more attractive for the soy industry. The main goal of this study was to characterize the low linoleic acid trait in CS303TNKCA cultivar. We sequenced CS303TNKCA GmFAD3A, GmFAD3B and GmFAD3C genes and identified an adenine point deletion in the GmFAD3A exon 5 (delA). This alteration creates a premature stop codon, leading to a truncated protein with just 207 residues that result in a non-functional enzyme. Analysis of enzymatic activity by heterologous expression in yeast support delA as the cause of low linolenic acid content in CS303TNKCA. Thus, we developed a TaqMan genotyping assay to associate delA with low linolenic acid content in segregating populations. Lines homozygous for delA had a linolenic acid content of 3.3 to 4.4%, and the variation at this locus accounted for 50.83 to 73.70% of the phenotypic variation. This molecular marker is a new tool to introgress the low linolenic acid trait into elite soybean cultivars and can be used to combine with high oleic trait markers to produce soybean with enhanced economic value. The advantage of using CS303TNKCA compared to other lines available in the literature is that this cultivar has good agronomic characteristics and is adapted to Brazilian conditions.

     

Characterization of the fan1 locus in soybean line A5 and development of molecular assays for high-throughput genotyping of FAD3 genes

Soybean is one of the most important oil crops worldwide, and reducing the linolenic acid content of soybean oil will provide increased stability of the oil to consumers and limit the amount of trans fat in processed foods. The linolenic content in soybean seed is controlled by three fatty acid desaturase (FAD) three enzymes, FAD3A, B, and C. The soybean lines with 1 % linolenic acid content which are widely used in breeding for reduced linolenic acid in the USA have mutations in each of the three FAD genes derived from lines A5 (deletion of FAD3A), A26, and A23 (missense mutations in FAD3B and C, respectively). Although soybean line A5 has been released for 30 years, the extent and definition of the deletion of the FAD3A gene has not been characterized, which has prevented researchers from designing robust molecular markers for effective marker-assisted selection (MAS). Using a PCR-based genomic strategy, we have identified a 6.4-kbp deletion of the FAD3A gene in A5 and developed a TaqMan detection assay by targeting the deletion junction in A5, which could be used to distinguish the homozygotes and heterozygotes of the gene. In addition, based on mutant single nucleotide polymorphisms in FAD3B and FAD3C identified in A26 and A23, respectively, we have also developed TaqMan assays for high-throughput MAS. The TaqMan assays have proven to be a very effective platform for detecting the mutant FAD3 alleles and thus will greatly facilitate high-throughput MAS for development of soybean lines with reduced linolenic acid content.     

Antimicrobial Browning-Inhibitory Effect of Flavor Compounds in Seaweeds

Since ancient times, the antimicrobial properties of seaweeds have been recognized. However, antimicrobial activities of volatile compounds in seaweeds have not been explored so far. Here, essential oils from seaweeds including green, brown and red algae such as Laminaria japonica, Kjellmaniella crassifolia, Gracilaria verrucosa and Ulva pertusa were prepared by using SDE (simultaneous distillation and extraction) apparatus. Volatile compounds in the essential oils were identified as aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, alcohols and hydrocarbons by comparison of GC-retention times and MS data with those of authentic specimens. Flavor compounds such as (3Z)-hexenal, (2E)-hexenal and (2E)-nonenal in some essential oils showed strong antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli TG-1, and Erwinia carotovora. Inhibition of browning can be achieved during either of two stages, namely, oxidation reaction by tyrosinase or subsequent non-enzymatic polymerization. Tyrosinase activity was measured by monitoring absorbance at 475 nm originating from dopachrome formed from L-DOPA. Many kinds of aliphatic carboxylic acids, aldehydes and alcohols were used as inhibitors for PPO activity. The results indicated that the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds strongly inhibit tyrosinase activity. When seaweeds are damaged or macerated, the α,β-unsaturated aldehydes such as (2E)-hexenal and (2E)-nonenal are biosynthesized via the corresponding (3Z)-unsaturated aldehydes from linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. The flavor compounds that are formed could be valuable as safe antimicrobial browning-inhibitory agents of edible seaweed origin.     

Identification of methionine oxidation in human recombinant erythropoietin by mass spectrometry: Comparative isoform distribution and biological activity analysis

Background: Oxidative degradation of human recombinant erythropoietin (hrEPO) may occur in manufacturing process or therapeutic applications. This unfavorable alteration may render EPO inefficient or inactive. We investigated the effect of methionine/54 oxidative changes on the amino acid sequences, glycoform distribution and biological activity of hrEPO. Methods: Mass spectrometry was applied to verify the sequence and determine the methionine oxidation level of hrEPO. Isoform distribution was studied by capillary zone electrophoresis method. In vivo normocythemic mice assay was used to assess the biological activity of three different batches (A, B, and C) of the proteins. Results: Nano-LC/ESI/MS/MS data analyses confirmed the amino acid sequences of all samples. The calculated area percent of three isoforms (2–4 of the 8 obtained isoforms) were decreased in samples of C, B, and A with 27.3, 16.7, and 6.8% of oxidation, respectively. Specific activities were estimated as 53671.54, 95826.47, and 112994.93?mg/mL for the samples of A, B, and C, respectively. Conclusion: The observed decrease in hrEPO biological activity, caused by increasing methionine oxidation levels, was rather independent of its amino acid structure and mainly associated with the higher contents of acidic isoforms.     

Some physiological abnormalities induced by aflatoxin B1 in mung seeds (Vigna radiata variety Pusa Baishakhi)

Physiological processes of mung seeds (Vigna radiata variety Pusa Baishakhi) and their germination were found to be affected by different concentrations of aflatoxin B₁. Inhibition in seed germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll, protein and nucleic acid syntheses was found to be due to aflatoxin B₁. The range of inhibition varied with the concentration of the toxin added.     

Effect of Cl-Substitution on Rooting- or Cytokinin-like Activity of Diphenylurea Derivatives

Twenty-eight Cl-substituted diphenylurea derivatives differing in either the number and the position of the substituents, or in the type of substitution, that is, symmetric or asymmetric, were synthesized. Their hypothetical enhancement of rooting activity was assayed using the mung bean shoot bioassay; their possible cytokinin-like activity was assessed using the betacyanin (so-called amaranthin) accumulation test and the tomato regeneration test. Seven Cl-substituted diphenylurea derivatives (2E, 4A, 4B, 4E, 4G, 6A, 6B) having two substituted phenyl rings showed the capacity to enhance adventitious root formation in mung bean shoots. Furthermore the presence of a halogen substituent was not sufficient to reach the adventitious rooting activities shown by the N,N -bis-(2,3-methylenedioxyphenylurea) and the N,N -bis-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenylurea), two diphenylurea derivatives for which an interaction with auxin was the first reported in enhancing adventitious root formation. Seven compounds (1B, 3E, 3D, 4B, 4E, 4F, 6B) showed cytokinin-like activity and three of them (4B, 4E, 6B) also evidenced rooting activity, once more demonstrating the wide action spectrum of diphenylurea derivatives.     

The effects of aflatoxin B1 and palmotoxins B0 and G0 on the germination and leaf colour of the cowpea (vigna sinensis)

Aflatoxin B₁, crude aflatoxins and palmotoxins B₀ and G₀ were tested for seed germination and chlorophyll formation using the cowpea. It was found that aflatoxin B and crude aflatoxins inhibited both chlorophyll formation and seed germination and palmotoxins inhibited these processes to a lesser extent. 3 — Indolylacetic acid reduced the inhibitory effects of the aflatoxins in seed germination and chlorophyll formation in the cowpea.     

Modulation of antioxidant enzyme activities, platelet aggregation and serum prostaglandins in rats fed spray-dried milk containing n-3 fatty acid

Spray-dried milk enriched with n-3 fatty acids from linseed oil or fish oil were fed to rats to study its influence on liver lipid peroxides, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, serum prostaglandins and platelet aggregation. Significant level of α linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were accumulated at the expense of arachidonic acid in the liver of rats fed n-3 fatty acid enriched formulation. The linseed oil and fish oil enriched formulation fed group had 44 and 112% higher level of lipid peroxides in liver homogenate compared to control rats fed groundnut oil enriched formulation. Catalase activity in liver homogenate was increased by 37 and 183% respectively in linseed oil and fish oil formulation fed rats. The glutathione peroxidase activity decreased to an extent of 25–36% and glutathione transferase activity increased to an extent of 34–39% in rats fed n-3 fatty acids enriched formulation. Feeding n-3 fatty acid enriched formulation significantly elevated the n-3 fatty acids in platelets and increased the lipid peroxide level to an extent of 4.2–4.5 fold compared to control. The serum thromboxane B₂ level was decreased by 35 and 42% respectively in linseed oil and fish oil enriched formulation fed rats, whereas, 6-keto- prostaglandin F1α level was decreased by 17 and 23% respectively in linseed oil and fish oil enriched formulation fed rats. The extent and rate of platelet aggregation was decreased significantly in n-3 fatty acids enriched formulation fed rats. This indicated that n-3 fatty acids enriched formulation beneficially reduces platelet aggregation and also enhances the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and glutathione transferase. (Mol Cell Biochem xxx: 9–16, 2005)     

Synthesis and Physiological Activity of Methyl 6′6′-Didemethyl Abscisate and New Chiral Analogs

Methyl 6′, 6′-didemethyl abscisate (5) was synthesized and assayed to elucidate the physiological activity of methyl substituents on the cyclohexene ring of abscisic acid (ABA). During this study two new chiral stereoisomeric analogs 6 and 7 were synthesized from l-and d-carvone. The rice seedling assay and germination assay of garden radish showed that 6′-methyl groups of ABA were not important in biological activity and that 5′-isopropenyl analogs 6 and 7 were inactive.     

Linolenic acid binding by chloroplasts

The binding of linolenic acid with chloroplasts was investigatedwith ¹⁴C-labelled linolenic acid. The effect of the fatty acidon the activity of the electron transport system was also studied. The amount of linolenic acid bound to chloroplasts increasedwith increasing concentration of the fatty acid added in a mannersuggesting a cooperative mode of binding. At the highest concentrationof linolenic acid added (100 µM), the molar ratio of boundfatty acid to chlorophyll was four. The bound fatty acid to chlorophyll ratios were inversely proportionalto the amounts of chloroplasts added. The bound fatty acid wasreleased by addition of bovine serum albumin or by washing ofthe chloroplasts. The mode of release during repeated washingindicates that binding of linolenic acid to chloroplast membraneoccurred through partition of the fatty acid between the membraneand the aqueous medium. Time courses and temperature dependency of the development oflinolenic acid-induced inhibition of the Hill reaction weremarkedly different from those of the fatty acid binding. Theinhibition was at least partially reversible. The results indicatethat inactivation of electron transport is due to disorganizationof the functional integrity of the membrane caused by penetrationof the fatty acid molecules into the hydrophobic region of membrane. ¹ Present address: Biological Laboratory, Nippon Medical School,Kosugi, Kawasaki, Japan. (Received December 16, 1976; )     

Changes in Lipoxygenase Components of Rice Seedlings during Germination

Changes in lipoxygenase (LOX) activity were followed duringthe germination of rice seeds. The enzyme activity of 3-day-oldseedlings was 20 times higher than that of ungerminated seeds.Sixty per cent of the increased activity was found in shoots.The increase in LOX activity was mainly due to an increase inlipoxygenase-2 (LOX-2), a minor component in ungerminated seeds;this increase was inhibited by cycloheximide. LOX-2 was isolatedfrom the 3-day-old seedlings and compared for its enzymologicalproperties with rice lipoxygenase-3 (LOX-3), a major componentin ungerminated seeds. Both LOX-2 and LOX-3 were stable at pH5 to 8, but LOX-2 was more heatstable than LOX-3. Apparent K_mvalues of LOX-2 and LOX-3 for linoleic acid were 170 and 59µM, and those for linolenic acid were 5,300 and 88 µM,respectively. Both LOXs were inhibited by some metal ions andantioxidants. (Received February 5, 1986; Accepted May 9, 1986)     

武夷菌素高产基因工程菌株Streptomyces albulus OoWysR活性成分的分离鉴定

【背景】武夷菌素高产基因工程菌株Streptomyce albulus OoWysR具有明显的抑菌效果。【目的】明确S.albulus OoWysR的活性成分。【方法】采用柱层析法,利用大孔吸附树脂、离子交换树脂和高效液相色谱等对S.albulus OoWysR的活性成分进行分离纯化,经高分辨率电喷雾电离质谱(high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry,HR-ESI-MS)和核磁共振(nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR)等波谱技术对化合物化学结构进行鉴定,并通过生长速率法测定化合物的生物活性。【结果】从S.albulus OoWysR中分离鉴定出4个化合物,分别为对羟基苯甲酸(1)、吡咯-2-羧酸(2)、对羟基苯乙醇(3)和云南霉素(4)。化合物1对玉米弯孢病菌、番茄叶霉病菌、玉米小斑病菌和烟草赤星病菌具有一定的抑制作用;化合物2对番茄灰霉病菌、大豆菌核病菌、苹果腐烂病菌、玉米小斑病菌、小麦赤霉病菌、稻瘟病菌和烟草赤星病菌具有一定的抑制作用;化合物3对番茄灰霉病菌、苹果轮纹病菌、玉米小斑病...     

Sucrose requirements and lipid utilization during germination of interior spruce (Picea glauca engelmannii complex) somatic embryos

Both somatic and excised zygotic embryos of interior spruce (Picea glauca engelmannii complex) required exogenous sucrose in the medium for germination in vitro. Over a period of 29 days on sucrose-containing medium germinants with roots and epicotyls developed from both kinds of embryo, and their content of linolenic acid (9,12,15-18:3) increased about six- to eightfold. Without added sucrose, embryos showed retarded growth or were necrotic, and the content of linolenic acid was barely detectable in their fatty acid profiles. Through¹⁴C-sucrose uptake studies, it was determined that germinants consumed only 25% of the sucrose available in a 1% (wt/vol) sucrose-containing medium. Since no radiolabelled fatty acids were detected, it appears that externally supplied sucrose was not used in the synthesis of lipids. Although sucrose was present during plantlet development, 72% of the initial lipids were consumed. To some extent, the plantlets appeared to be obligate storage lipid utilizers.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - FAMEs Fatty acid methyl esters - HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography