植物维生素E合成及其生物技术改良

维生素E是一种抗氧化剂 ,对植物、动物和人类自身都具有十分重要的作用 ,而植物则是人类维生素E的主要来源 ,因此克隆植物中维生素E合成的相关酶基因 ,对维生素E含量进行改良 ,具有重要意义。对植物中维生素E的合成途径 ,相关酶基因的克隆以及用生物技术的方法对维生素E含量进行遗传改良进行了综述。     

植物维生素E生物强化研究进展

维生素E是一种只能在光合组织中合成的脂溶性小分子有机化合物,是人体和动物营养不可缺少的重要维生素。由于植物中维生素E含量较低,人类大多处于慢性缺乏维生素E--“隐性饥饿”的状态,而动物饲料中则需要添加外源合成的维生素E以满足其营养需求。因此,提高植物中维生素E的含量是改善维生素E缺乏的重要途径之一。从维生素E的合成途径入手,详细地综述了维生素E合成关键酶基因的表达变化以及前体物质的含量变化对维生素E合成的影响,发现三烯生育酚和α-生育酚的生物强化效果较好,而生育酚总量提高受限;进而从遗传的角度探讨了维生素E合成受限的原因以及遗传上可能影响维生素E合成的其他代谢途径;最后结合可能影响维生素E合成的调控因子以及其前体物质的转运等方面为今后维生素E的生物强化提出了新的思路。     

高等植物中维生素C 的功能、合成及代谢研究进展

植物体内合成的维生素C在植物抗氧化和自由基清除、光合作用和光保护、细胞生长和分裂以及一些重要次生代谢物和乙烯的合成等方面具有非常重要的生理功能。维生素C的生物合成途径及其代谢调控的基因工程研究最近取得了突破。     

高等植物中维生素C的功能、合成及代谢研究进展

植物体内合成的维生素C在植物抗氧化和自由基清除、光合作用和光保护、细胞生长和分裂以及一些重要次生代谢物和乙烯的合成等方面具有非常重要的生理功能.维生素C的生物合成途径及其代谢调控的基因工程研究最近取得了突破.     

利用基因工程提高植物维生素E营养品质的策略

维生素E是一种对植物、动物和人类都具有重要作用的脂溶性维生素。而植物则是人类维生素E的主要来源。对维生素E的结构和合成途径进行了简单的介绍,并重点综述了利用基因工程提高植物维生素E营养品质的策略。这些策略主要包括导入编码影响维生素E总量相关酶的基因来提高维生素E的总量;导入编码影响维生素E组成相关酶的基因,提高α-生育酚在总生育酚中所占的比例,从而提高维生素E的活性。     

天然维生素E的研究进展

维生素E是一类脂溶性、具抗氧化功能的维生素,按其来源可分为天然维生素E和人工合成维生素E.对天然维生素E的功能、生物合成途径以及相关酶基因的研究方面进行了综述.其中,维生素E合成相关酶基因已经克隆及定位,尤其VTE5的发现,为生育酚合成研究开辟了一条新途径.人们已经开始利用基因工程技术研究提高植物天然维生素E产量的方法.     

植物果实中维生素C合成代谢及其基因表达研究

维生素C(Vitamin C),又名抗坏血酸（Ascorbate acid,AsA）,是生物体中具有多效功能的必需化合物。整理了植物果实中维生素C的生理功能以及其中参与维生素C合成的L-半乳糖途径、D-半乳糖醛酸途径、L-古洛糖途径、肌醇途径和维生素C循环途径,并分析了相关基因的功能和表达。对参与维生素C合成与循环的16个基因：PMI、PMM、GMP、GME、GGP、GPP、GalDH、GLDH、GalUR、MIOX、GuLDH、MDHAR、DHAR、AO、APX、GR,及其在维生素C代谢途径中的作用进行了综述。植物果实中维生素C合成代谢途径多样,关键基因的表达会在不同程度上影响其合成代谢,了解植物果实中维生素C合成代谢及相关基因的功能和表达,可为生产富含维生素C的转基因水果和蔬菜奠定基础。     

植物维生素E代谢工程研究

维生素E是一种脂溶性维生素,仅在光合细菌和高等植物中合成,是人体中必不可少的一种营养物质,具有重要的生物学功能。维生素E合成代谢研究一直受到人们的关注,已通过生物信息学及转基因技术完成了维生素E合成代谢关键酶基因的分离及功能鉴定,近来研究重点转移到利用代谢工程方法提高植物维生素E含量与活性上来。综述了维生素E合成代谢途径及其代谢工程的研究现状,并对未来维生素E代谢工程研究提出了展望。     

植物维生素E基因工程研究进展

维生素E(vitamin E)是一种脂溶性维生素,是生物体内最主要的抗氧化剂之一。本文综述了植物维生素E的合成途径及所涉及的相关基因,针对提高植物中维生素E含量的基因工程改造,提出三条途径,即提高代谢底物水平、提高植物生育酚总量和提高α 生育酚比例,分析了维生素E基因工程改造过程中需要考虑的因素,最后展望了未来作物维生素E的品质改良的研究方向。     

提高植物维生素含量的基因工程

维生素是维持生物正常生长发育必需的一大类微量营养物。对利用基因工程的方法提高植物中维生素A、E和C含量的研究进展作了综述 ,指出了该类研究的一般方法并对未来做了展望。     

Radical Exchange Reactions between Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Phospholipids in Autoxidizing Polyunsaturated Lipids

Antioxidant reactions of mixtures of vitamin E, vitamin C and phospholipids in autoxidizing lipids at 90°C have been studied by ESR spectroscopy. When the phospholipid contained a tertiary amine (e.g. phosphatidylcholine), the vitamin C and the vitamin E radicals were successively observed as these two vitamins were sequentially oxidised during lipid oxidation. In the presence of the primary amine contained in phosphatidylserine, the vitamin E oxidation was delayed for a few hours. In this case neither the vitamin C, nor the vitamin E radicals but a nitroxide radical derived from the phospholipid was observed. Similar results to those obtained with PS were obtained in the presence of either phospha-tidylethanolamine or soybean lecithin. The participation in the radical reactions of phospholipids possessing a primary amine can therefore explain the synergistic effect of these phospholipids in a mixture of vitamins E and C.     

Vitamins A, C, and E and β-Carotene Content in Seeds of Seven Species of Vicia L.

To determine the vitamins A, C, and E and β-carotene content of Vicia species that can be used in animal feed, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to investigate the vitamin and β-carotene content in mature and immature seeds of seven Vicia species (Vicia anatolica Turrill., V. ervilia (L.) Willd., V. michauxii Sprengel, V. mollis Boiss. et Hausskn. ex Boiss., V. noeana Reuter ex Boiss., V. peregrina L., and V. sericocarpa Fenzl.), which are useful plants in animal feed in the eastern Anatolia region in Turkey. The vitamin content was found to differ between mature and immature seeds. The levels of vitamins A, C, and E and β-carotene were higher in mature seeds than in immature seeds (P ＜ 0.01).     

Antioxidants and cataract

Abstract

The major causes for cataract formation are free radicals, and these free radicals are neutralized by the presence of endogenous antioxidants in the eye. Using xenobiotics, it has been confirmed that free radicals mediate the formation of cataract. Two cataract model-selenite model and the diabetic cataract model-have been developed to study the pathophysiology of cataract formation due to free radicals and the role of antioxidants during the process of cataractogenesis. This review focuses on natural compounds with antioxidant properties that could actually be applied as an interventional strategy on a large scale and are also relatively inexpensive. A brief overview of plants with antioxidant properties that in addition possess potential anti-cataract properties has been discussed. In addition to plants, three natural compounds (curcumin, vitamin C and vitamin E), on which a lot of data exist showing anti-cataract and antioxidant activities, have also been discussed. These antioxidants can be supplemented in the diet for a better defence against free radicals. Studies on vitamin C and vitamin E have proved that they are capable of preventing lipid peroxidation, thereby preventing the generation of free radicals, but their efficacy as anti-cataract agent is questionable. Unlike vitamins C and E, curcumin is well established as an anti-cataract agent, but the issue of curcumin bioavailability is yet to be addressed. Nanotechnology proves to be a promising area in increasing the curcumin bioavailability, but still a lot more research needs to be done before the use of curcumin as an effective anti-cataract agent for humans.     

Investigation of antioxidant vitamins (A,E and C) and selenium levels in chickens receiving estrogen or testosterone

In the present study estrogen or testosterone was administered to broiler chickens (6 weeks old) for 5 weeks and levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, E and C) and selenium (Se) were determined. In animals who received estrogen, vitamins A, E, C and Se levels were 0.70 +/- 0.19, 11.0 +/- 2.45, 20.0 +/- 5.17 and 130.0 +/- 25.0 microg l(-1), respectively. Vitamins A, E, C and Se levels in the testosterone-administered group were found to be 0.54 +/- 0.16, 9.9 +/- 1.96, 18.0 +/- 5.18 and 100.0 +/- 18.0 microg l(-1), respectively. Vitamins A, E, C and Se levels were found to be significantly increased in the estrogen-administered group compared to the controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). Although all parameters were increased in testosterone-treated animals, only increases in vitamins A and E were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Based on the present findings, estrogen and testosterone show direct antioxidant effects by increasing the activities of some enzymes and they also cause an increase in antioxidant vitamin levels and hence indirectly also contribute to antioxidant capacity.     

Vitamins A, C, and E and β-Carotene Content in Seeds of Seven Species of Vicia L.

Abstract: To determine the vitamins A, C, and E and β-carotene content of Vicia species that can be used in animal feed, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to investigate the vitamin and β-carotene content in mature and immature seeds of seven Vicia species ( Vicia anatolica Turrill., V. ervilia (L.) Willd., V. michauxii Sprengel, V. mollis Boiss. et Hausskn. ex Boiss., V. noeana Reuter ex Boiss., V. peregrina L., and V. sericocarpa Fenzl.), which are useful plants in animal feed in the eastern Anatolia region in Turkey. The vitamin content was found to differ between mature and immature seeds. The levels of vitamins A, C, and E and β-carotene were higher in mature seeds than in immature seeds ( P < 0.01).
(Managing editor: Wei WANG)     

Vitamin production in transgenic plants

Plants are a major source of vitamins in the human diet. Due to their significance for human health and development, research has been initiated to understand the biosynthesis of vitamins in plants. The pathways that are furthest advanced in elucidation are those of provitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. There is little knowledge about the regulation, storage, sink and degradation of any vitamin made in plants, or the interaction of vitamin biosynthetic pathways with other metabolic pathways. Researchers as well as life science companies have endeavoured to manipulate levels of vitamins in order to create functional food with enhanced health benefits, and even with the goal of achieving levels worth extracting from plant tissues. Thus far, metabolic engineering has resulted in transgenic plants that contain elevated levels of provitamin A, vitamin C and E, respectively. Additional research is necessary to identify all relevant target genes in order to further improve and tailor plants with elevated vitamin contents at will.     

Changes in the Level of Sialic Acid in Plasma,Brain and Liver of Inherently Scorbutic Rats during Vitamin C and E Deficiencies

The plasma level of sialic acid (NeuAc) in inherently scorbutic [Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi (ODS)] rats was increased by 21 days of vitamin C deficiency and simultaneous vitamins C and E deficiency. The brain content of NeuAc was decreased by deficiencies of these vitamins. The NeuAc level in the liver was not affected significantly by these deficiencies.     

Protective role of intraperitoneally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the levels of lipid peroxidation in the lens of rats made diabetic with streptozotocin

The aim of this work was to determine the protective effects of intraperitoneally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the lipid peroxidation (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (rGSH) activities in the lens of rats induced diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ). Lenses in the diabetic control group had a slightly higher mean level of MDA compared with lenses of the vitamin E and selenium groups, although the mean levels of MDA were significantly lower in control, combination, and vitamin C groups than in the diabetic control group (p < 0.05 andp < 0.01). However, MDA levels were significantly lower in vitamin C, vitamin E, and combination groups than in controls (p < 0.01). The GSH-Px activities of lenses were significantly higher in vitamin C-, vitamin E- and selenium-injected groups than that in the diabetic control group (p < 0.01), whereas, the activity of GSH-Px was significantly lower in the diabetic control group than in the control group. In addition, the rGSH content was seen to decrease only in the vitamin C group compared to both control and diabetic control groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results from these experiments indicate that vitamins C and E and selenium can protect the lens against oxidative damage, but the effect of vitamin C appears to be much greater than that of vitamin E and selenium.     

Plant amino acid-derived vitamins: biosynthesis and function

Vitamins are essential organic compounds for humans, having lost the ability to de novo synthesize them. Hence, they represent dietary requirements, which are covered by plants as the main dietary source of most vitamins (through food or livestock’s feed). Most vitamins synthesized by plants present amino acids as precursors (B₁, B₂, B₃, B₅, B₇, B₉ and E) and are therefore linked to plant nitrogen metabolism. Amino acids play different roles in their biosynthesis and metabolism, either incorporated into the backbone of the vitamin or as amino, sulfur or one-carbon group donors. There is a high natural variation in vitamin contents in crops and its exploitation through breeding, metabolic engineering and agronomic practices can enhance their nutritional quality. While the underlying biochemical roles of vitamins as cosubstrates or cofactors are usually common for most eukaryotes, the impact of vitamins B and E in metabolism and physiology can be quite different on plants and animals. Here, we first aim at giving an overview of the biosynthesis of amino acid-derived vitamins in plants, with a particular focus on how this knowledge can be exploited to increase vitamin contents in crops. Second, we will focus on the functions of these vitamins in both plants and animals (and humans in particular), to unravel common and specific roles for vitamins in evolutionary distant organisms, in which these amino acid-derived vitamins play, however, an essential role.     

Enhanced testicular antioxidant capacity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is associated with diabetic impairment of testicular function, ultimately leading to reduced fertility. Its etiology may involve oxidative damage by reactive oxygen substances, and protection against this damage can be offered by antioxidant supplementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal administration of vitamin C and E, selenium (Se), and vitamin E plus Se (COM) on concentrations of lipid peroxide (as malondialdehyde; MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and vitamin E concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the testes of rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Sixty groups were used (10 animals each) and these animals were initially allocated to two groups: control group and diabetic group. The diabetic group was subdivided into five groups as follows: diabetic control (DC), vitamin E, Se, COM, and vitamin C. Animals in the DC group and vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups were made diabetic by the injection of STZ on 4 d after an injection of vitamins C and E, Se, and COM. Those vitamins and Se were also administered for 21 consecutive days. The MDA, vitamin E, GSH levels, and GSH-Px activities in testes were determined. Although the vitamin E concentration was higher in the control than in the DC group, the MDA levels were found to be lower in the control than in the DC group. The MDA levels in the testes samples of vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups were lower than the DC group. However, GSH-Px activity and GSH levels in the testes were not significantly different between the control and DC groups. Vitamin E concentrations in the vitamin C, vitamin E, Se, and COM groups and GSH levels and GSH-Px activities in the Se, COM, and vitamin C groups were higher than either the control or DC group. The results indicate that reactive oxygen substances may be involved in possible testicular complications in diabetes of rats. Administration of vitamins C and E and Se reduced the testicular lipid peroxidation; these vitamins and Se had significant protective effects on testes of rats against oxidative damage in diabetes. Abstract of the study was presented at the conference Trace Elements in Men and Animals-11. June 2–6, 2002; Dr. Naziroğlu has been awarded a TEMA11 Investigative Scientist Award.